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. 

Understanding what’s included in your SQE1 results

At the top of each set of results it will show your Candidate name you are registered with and the Candidate ID you have been allocated.

Results are then presented separately for SQE FLK Assessment 1 and SQE FLK Assessment 2.

For each FLK assessment you will see the following information:

Date of assessment. The date that the assessment took place

Date of transcript. The date results for the SQE assessment were released

Attempt number. The number of attempts you have had at the assessment

Pass mark. The score required to pass the assessment expressed as a percentage

Your mark. The score you achieved in the assessment expressed as a percentage

Quintile. Quintiles are calculated by dividing the candidates into five equal groups based on performance in the assessment. This shows in which fifth of the data your score was placed relative to all of those who took the assessment with you, with 1 being placed in the highest scoring fifth and 5 in the lowest scoring fifth of the assessment’s scores.

Those five equal groups are:

• 1st (top) quintile received a score in the top 20% for that assessment (i.e. candidates in this quintile are in the top 20% of performers)
• 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% 

Result. This is the overall outcome of your assessment showing if you have passed the assessment

There are also links to other information provided at the bottom of your online results page. This will help you to book your next assessment or resit, understand how the pass mark is set for the assessment, review the assessment regulations and appeals policy, understand how you can apply to the SRA for admission to the roll of solicitors of England and Wales, and contact us if you have any queries.

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

Post-SQE1 processes

A number of steps take place after an SQE1 sitting. Results data must be transferred from all Pearson VUE test centres to Kaplan and then checked for completeness to ensure we have results for all of the candidates. We then combine this with EDI data provided in the pre-booking survey. This is cross checked to ensure all candidate information required for the psychometric analysis to take place has been received.

A detailed analysis of the assessment is undertaken by the Kaplan psychometric team and an independent psychometrician. Cross checks are carried out continuously to ensure the integrity of the data and its interpretations. Analysis includes calculating test and item levels statistics, and performance across a range of measures to support the validation of the exam. If we find any issues such as a question performing in an unexpected way, this information is passed to the academic team to be investigated. When all the data checks have been concluded a provisional pass mark is set before the analysis moves to calculating the pass rates by different key demographic measures such as sex, ethnic background, disability, age, experience and various socio-economic factors. You can see this breakdown in the SQE1 Statistical Report.

Information is then prepared for the assessment board. Their role is to confirm if the outcomes of the assessment are valid and set the pass marks for FLK1 and FLK2. The quintiles are then calculated with final results checked for accuracy before they are released to candidates.

SQE1 results and assessment report

You may find it helpful to review the SQE1 November 2021 Statistical Report to help you better understand the results. It sets out some feedback on the SQE1 assessments, consisting of FLK1 and FLK2, and their performance.

The SRA has also published a statement about the results.

Learn more: SQE reports

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 written stations and 4 oral stations). 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 which is available in your candidate account.

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