SQE in Welsh

Mae'r dudalen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg.

England and Wales share a single legal jurisdiction with two official languages: English and Welsh. We are committed to supporting access to legal services — in both languages.

This page provides practical guidance for candidates who wish to sit the SQE assessments in Welsh. We also have this page in Welsh. Mae'r dudalen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg.

Key information at a glance

  • There is no difference in cost between sitting the SQE in Welsh or English.
  • You must give advance notice if you wish to take the assessment in Welsh.
  • SQE1 in Welsh is available in both the January and September assessment windows.
  • SQE2 (oral and written) in Welsh is available in the April and October assessment windows only.
  • Some parts of the SQE may only be delivered in English — details are below.

Giving notice to take the SQE in Welsh

To make sure the assessment is made available in Welsh, you must complete an advance notice form before the relevant deadline.

If no candidates give advance notice by the deadline, that assessment sitting will not be offered in Welsh. You may still book to take the assessment in English if places are available.

Upcoming advance notice deadlines

  • SQE2 October 2025: this deadline has now passed
  • SQE1 January 2026: 1 September 2025
  • SQE2 April 2026: 31 December 2025

Advance notice form – SQE in Welsh

If you change your mind about sitting the assessment in Welsh, you can cancel your booking and rebook to take the assessment in English, as long as you do so before the booking deadline, subject to our terms and conditions and availability. Please note that there is no guarantee you will be able to rebook the same seat or location.

It is not possible to change your choice of language after the booking deadline.


Taking SQE1 in Welsh

You can sit SQE1 in Welsh at any Pearson VUE test centre with available space when booking. SQE1 is taken over two days.

If you give notice that you intend to sit SQE1 in Welsh, the Kaplan SQE team will contact you to arrange your booking.

What’s in Welsh?

If you choose to take SQE1 in Welsh, the following will be provided in Welsh:

  • All SQE1 questions (including answer options)
  • The on-screen tutorial before your assessment
  • The Fit to Sit declaration and Candidate Confidentiality Agreement

All other aspects of the exam will be the same as the English version. Test centre staff will communicate with you in English.


Taking SQE2 in Welsh

You may sit the SQE2 assessments in Welsh during the April and October assessment windows only.

The written assessments can be taken at any available Pearson VUE test centre.

The oral assessments (Client Interview and Advocacy) in Welsh are only offered in one oral sitting per window, in Cardiff.

You can choose to take:

  • the written assessments in Welsh and the oral in English;
  • the oral assessments in Welsh and the written in English; or
  • both in Welsh.

You’ll be asked to specify your preferences when giving advance notice.

As with SQE1, the Kaplan SQE team will contact you after receiving your notice to confirm your arrangements.

What’s in Welsh?

  • Candidate instructions for written and oral assessments
  • On-screen tutorial, Fit to Sit declaration and Candidate Agreement
  • The oral assessments will be conducted in Welsh by bilingual examiners

Other assessment documents may remain in English. Details are in the section below.

Test centre staff will communicate with you in English.


Translation principles and supporting documents

Kaplan’s Welsh translators who are members of Cymdeithas Cyfieithwyr Cymru (the Association of Welsh Translators and Interpreters) follow rigorous standards, with input from a panel of solicitors who practise in the Welsh language and language experts, including Canolfan Bedwyr (Bangor University's Centre for Welsh Language Services, Research and Technology).

Certain specialist or technical Welsh terms in an assessment may include English equivalents in brackets. In addition, a glossary of the translated terms that Kaplan’s Welsh translators consider to be difficult, specialist or technical will be provided in the assessment to candidates taking the SQE2 assessment in Welsh.

In SQE2, the Candidate Email (setting out your task) will be translated into Welsh. Any accompanying documents will normally be translated from English into Welsh to reflect, as far as possible, what a newly-qualified solicitor would commonly encounter in practice. Where a document would not be read in Welsh in real life, for example, because there is no official Welsh translation, the document will not be translated into Welsh and will only be provided in English to candidates.

Examples of documents that will not be translated from English into Welsh include UK legislation, case law, or any documents subject to copyright.

Although all candidates taking the SQE2 assessments in Welsh are expected to answer or respond in Welsh, occasionally, you may be advised to provide your answer in English. This may occur, for example, to reflect what would happen in practice, or to mitigate any potential unfairness to candidates. For example, if the task requires candidates to read materials that are mainly provided in English, to avoid being put at a disadvantage, candidates may be advised that they can provide their answers in English (but can still provide their answers in Welsh if preferred).


Resources to help you decide

To help you make an informed decision, we recommend reviewing the SQE1 and SQE2 sample questions in Welsh:

These include SQE2 glossaries and examples of the translated format. You can also explore a live demonstration of the exam interface in Welsh on the Pearson VUE system.

We also have a dedicated page for additional resources you might find useful. This page is also available in Welsh.


Language expectations

If you choose to take an assessment in Welsh, you are expected to have a good command of written and spoken Welsh. However:

  • You are responsible for deciding whether your Welsh is suitable.
  • If you struggle during the SQE2 exam, you may respond in English without being penalised.

Please note that you will not be provided with a Welsh dictionary if you take the SQE1 or SQE2 assessments in Welsh, nor will you be provided with the English version of the assessment.


Policies, results and administration

  • The Pearson VUE platform is available in Welsh, including all pre-assessment declarations.
  • SQE administrators at the test centre (e.g. invigilators, marshals) will communicate in English.
  • Your results will be issued in English, but you can request to receive the results email in Welsh.

You can also access SQE policies in Welsh: SQE policies in Welsh

Learn more: Additional Welsh resources

Dysgu rhagor: Adnoddau Cymraeg ychwanegol

Ready to register for the SQE?

Create your personal SQE account and book your assessments.

Register for SQE 

Have you passed the SQE?

Find out what happens after passing the SQE and admission to the roll of solicitors.

Learn more

Ready to register for the SQE?

Create your personal SQE account and book your assessments.

Register for SQE 

Have you passed the SQE?

Find out what happens after passing the SQE and admission to the roll of solicitors.

Learn more about Have you passed the SQE?