Results and resits

You will only be allowed three attempts at SQE1 and three attempts at SQE2. These have to be taken within six years from the first attempt of an SQE assessment. The clock starts from the first day of the first assessment you sit.

You will get your results approximately 6-10 weeks after sitting SQE1, and approximately 14-18 weeks after sitting SQE2. The actual date of your results will be confirmed closer to your assessment.

We will send you an email notifying you that the results are available in your SQE account. Results will only be posted within your account on the SQE website and will not be sent out to you. You will be able to save them as a PDF. 

What’s included in your results

SQE1

Your results will include:

• your overall mark as a percentage
• the pass mark for the exam
• a pass or fail outcome
• number of attempts
• candidate quintile
• the dates when you sat the assessments
• date the results were published to your account

This will be shown for each SQE1 paper.

Quintiles are calculated by dividing the candidates into five equal groups based on performance in the assessment.

Those five equal groups are:

• 1st (top) quintile received a score in the top 20% for that assessment
• 2nd quintile in the next 21% to 40%
• 3rd quintile in the next 41-60%
• 4th quintile in the next 61-80%
• 5th quintile in the final 81-100% 

Marking SQE1

SQE1 is a single-best-answer multiple-choice test. Each question will have one answer that is considered to be correct and will score a mark of 1 if you choose it. All other responses, including where multiple responses are recorded, will be awarded a score of 0. Your total score for the assessment is a percentage based on the proportion of correct responses across the assessment.

Learn more: Marking and standard setting policy

SQE2

Your results will include:

• your overall mark as a percentage
• marks for each of the assessment criteria
• the pass mark for the assessment
• the pass or fail outcome
• the number of attempts
• candidate quintile
• the dates when you sat assessments
• the date when the results were published to your account 

The quintile groupings will be the same as for SQE1.

Marking SQE2

You will be assessed on six different legal skills in six types of exercise across 16 stations (12 in the SQE2 written assessment and 4 in the SQE2 oral assessment). Your interview will be marked by the assessor playing the role of the client and will be marked on skills only. The attendance note and all other assessments will be marked by a solicitor who will assess you on both skills and application of law.

Learn more: SQE2 assessment specification

Performance in each of the exercises will be assessed on a scale from A to F, with trained assessors making global professional judgments. Their judgements are related to the standard of competency of the assessment as set out in the SQE2 Assessment Specification, namely that of the just competent Day One solicitor (Threshold Standard).

Each type of exercise has assessment criteria which are set out in the SQE2 Assessment Specification. Marking is based on performance on each of the assessment criteria judged on a scale from A-F as follows:

• Superior performance: well above the competency requirements of the assessment
• Clearly satisfactory: clearly meets the competency requirements of the assessment
• Marginal pass: on balance, just meets the competency requirements of the assessment
• Marginal fail: on balance, just fails to meet the competency requirements of the assessment
• Clearly unsatisfactory: clearly does not meet the competency requirements of the assessment
• Poor performance: well below the competency requirements of the assessment

This grading will then be converted into numerical marks so that A = 5 marks and F = 0 marks.

The marking criteria for each of the exercises has been divided into marks for skills and marks for application of law. Each station has a percentage score calculated from the marks awarded for application of law, and for skills, which are combined with equal weighting to provide a total score for each station. The final candidate percentage score is an average of the 16 station totals. This is to make sure that adequate weighting is given to the quality of the advice provided.

Learn more: Marking and standard setting policy

Clerical checks

You can request a clerical check for errors in the calculation or collation of marks. This can be done via your SQE account.

Learn more: Clerical checks - fees

Appeals

You can appeal against the decision of the Assessment Board if you fail your assessment.

Learn more: Appeals - fees

You may make a first stage appeal on one or more of the following grounds only:

• there are mitigating circumstances which could not have been put before the Assessment Board before it made its decision
• the decision of the Assessment Board, or the manner in which that decision was reached involved material irregularity and/or was manifestly unreasonable and/or irrational
• you dispute the Assessment Board’s finding of malpractice or improper conduct

Following a first stage appeal you may make a final appeal on the following ground only:

• the decision of the First Appeal Panel, or the manner in which that decision was reached involved material irregularity and/or was manifestly unreasonable and/or irrational

If you wish to make a first stage or a final appeal you must do so in writing via the Appeals Form.

If you have concerns or questions, please contact us.

Learn more: Appeals policy

Results for apprentices

Once you’ve passed SQE2, your End Point Assessment, Kaplan SQE will request a certificate from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (EFSA) that states that you have completed your apprenticeship. Your results alone do not prove that you’ve completed your apprenticeship.

We will send your results to your training provider and/or employer.

Learn more: SQE for apprentices

Resits

You have six years from the date you first sat an SQE assessment to complete the entire SQE. The clock starts from day one of the first sitting of your first assessment.

If you fail FLK1 and/or FLK2 at the first attempt, you will have two further opportunities to take the assessment(s) you failed (FLK1 and/or FLK2).

If you fail FLK1 and/or FLK2 three times during this six-year period, you must wait until that six year period expires before re-applying, and previous passes will not be carried forward.

If you fail SQE2 at the first attempt you will have two further opportunities to take that assessment within six years from the date you first sat an SQE assessment.

If you fail SQE2 three times during this six year period, you must wait until that six year period expires before re-applying, and previous passes will not be carried forward.

You cannot resit an assessment you have passed to improve your marks under any circumstances.

Learn more: Resits fees