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SQE1 July 2023 Assessment Report

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is a single rigorous assessment for all aspiring solicitors. It consists of two parts: SQE1 which tests candidates’ functioning legal knowledge and SQE2 which tests candidates’ practical legal skills.

This report includes statistics that provide some simple feedback on the July 2023 SQE1 assessments and their performance. The table below shows the number of candidates, the passing score, and the overall pass rate for FLK1 and FLK2. It also shows the number of candidates who sat both parts of SQE1 and their pass rate.

Statistic	FLK1	FLK2	SQE1 overall
Passing Score	53%	52%	-
Candidates (All)	3647	3755	3475
Pass Rate (All Candidates)	66%	58%	53%
Candidates (First attempt only)	3038	3035	3005
Pass rate (First attempt only)	68%	59%	56%

Descriptive Statistics

The following table shows the average (mean) score, the standard deviation, median, minimum, maximum and range of observed scores for FLK1 and FLK2.

Statistic	FLK1	FLK2
Mean %	56.9	52.8
Std. Dev %	12.6	13.6
Median %	58	54
Min %	0	0
Max %	88	89
Range %	88	89

Score Distribution Charts

These charts show the distribution of scores for FLK1 and FLK2, with a red line showing the passing score required for each assessment.

FLK1 Score Distribution

Y axis showing Frequency

300

250

200

150

100

3647 candidates

Pass mark = 53%

100

X axis showingFLK1 Score (%)

FLK2 Score Distribution

Y axis showing Frequency

300

250

200

150

100

3755 candidates

Pass mark = 52%

100

X axis showingFLK2 Score (%)

Score Quintile Chart

This chart shows the quintile score ranges for FLK1 and FLK2, with a minimum possible score of 0% and a maximum possible score of 100%. A fifth of candidates fall within each quintile, with Q1 showing the top fifth and Q5 showing the bottom fifth of candidates.

FLK1

FLK2

Graph key showingQuintile

Graph key showing how Q1is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q2is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q3is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q4is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q5is represented in the graph

100

X axis showingSQE Score (%)

Performance by Practice Area

These charts show the scores for the different practice areas within FLK1 and FLK2, with a minimum possible score of 0% and a maximum possible score of 100%. A fifth of candidates fall within each quintile, with Q1 showing the top fifth and Q5 showing the bottom fifth of candidates.

This chart show the scores for different practice areas within FLK1.

Y axis showing Practice area

BLP

LSys

LSrv

Graph key showingQuintile

Graph key showing how Q1 is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q2is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q3is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q4is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q5is represented in the graph

100

X axis showingScore (%)

This chart show the scores for different practice areas within FLK2.

Y axis showing Practice area

CLi

CLP

Graph key showingQuintile

Graph key showing how Q1 is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q2is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q3is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q4is represented in the graph
Graph key showing how Q5is represented in the graph

100

X axis showingScore (%)

Pass Rates

The SRA collects diversity and socio-economic data to help understand how candidates with different characteristics and backgrounds perform in the assessments. The data categories are consistent with data collected by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Social Mobility Commission.

Based on responses to the online diversity survey, completed ahead of assessment registration, the following is provided in each table for FLK1 and FLK2:

Proportion of candidates in each group (Candidates %)
Average score within each group (Mean %)
Pass rate for each group (Pass Rate %)

The proportion of candidates along with the pass rate is also provided for SQE1.

These tables provide data for the first attempt candidates, with data not reported for groups with fewer than 10 candidates. Performance of all candidates, including resitting candidates, will be presented in the SQE Annual Report.

What is your ethnic group?	FLK1			FLK2			SQE1
	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Pass Rate %
	Asian / Asian British	31	56	62	31	51	52	31	49
Black / Black British	6	51	50	6	47	37	6	34
Mixed / multiple ethnic groups	5	58	72	5	54	58	5	55
Other ethnic group	6	55	60	6	50	47	6	45
White	45	60	76	45	57	70	45	66
Prefer not to say	7	57	67	7	53	55	7	54

Do you consider yourself to have a disability according to the definition in the Equality Act 2010?	FLK1			FLK2			SQE1
	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Pass Rate %
	Yes	6	56	67	6	52	52	6	49
No	88	58	68	88	54	60	88	57
Prefer not to say	6	58	72	6	54	58	6	56

What is your sex?	FLK1			FLK2			SQE1
	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Pass Rate %
	Female	63	56	65	63	53	57	63	53
Male	34	59	74	35	55	63	35	61
Other	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Prefer not to say	3	60	71	2	55	65	2	64

What is your religion or belief?	FLK1			FLK2			SQE1
	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Pass Rate %
	Buddhist	1	56	59	1	49	44	1	47
Christian	26	58	70	27	54	58	26	56
Hindu	5	53	50	5	48	43	5	40
Jewish	1	65	87	1	62	75	1	71
Muslim	11	50	45	11	46	38	11	34
No religion or belief	40	60	76	39	57	70	40	67
Sikh	1	52	48	1	50	48	1	38
Other	1	58	71	1	53	56	1	50
Prefer not to say	14	57	67	14	52	56	14	53

Which age category are you in?	FLK1			FLK2			SQE1
	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Pass Rate %
	16-24	27	57	63	27	54	57	27	54
25-34	53	58	71	53	54	62	53	59
35-44	14	58	70	14	52	55	14	54
45-54	4	54	58	4	50	49	4	45
55-64	<1	54	53	<1	50	47	<1	47
65+	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Prefer not to say	2	57	67	2	54	62	2	60

Did either of your parents attend university by the time you were 18?	FLK1			FLK2			SQE1
	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Pass Rate %
	Yes, one or more of my parents attended university	53	59	72	53	54	61	53	59
No, neither of my parents attended university	35	56	65	35	53	58	35	53
Do not know / not sure	3	52	49	3	48	40	3	36
Prefer not to say	9	57	67	9	54	60	9	57

Have you undertaken any qualifying work experience?	FLK1			FLK2			SQE1
	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Pass Rate %
	Yes	57	58	70	57	54	61	57	58
No	33	57	64	32	53	55	33	53
Prefer not to say	10	58	71	11	53	61	10	59

What is your highest level of education?	FLK1			FLK2			SQE1
	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Pass Rate %
	At least an undergraduate degree	91	58	69	91	54	60	91	57
Qualifications below degree level	1	60	80	1	53	56	1	56
No formal qualifications	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Prefer not to say	4	55	64	4	48	42	4	39
Not applicable	4	56	62	4	51	52	4	51

What was your undergraduate degree classification?	FLK1			FLK2			SQE1
	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Pass Rate %
	1st	21	62	83	21	59	73	21	71
2:1	42	57	67	42	54	60	42	56
2:2	9	52	48	9	47	39	9	35
3rd	1	45	32	1	42	24	1	24
Commendation	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Distinction	3	61	76	3	55	65	3	65
Pass	3	49	49	3	42	33	3	34
Prefer not to say	4	55	62	4	52	57	4	51
Not applicable	17	58	70	17	53	57	17	55

Are you a qualified lawyer?	FLK1			FLK2			SQE1
	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Pass Rate %
	Yes	38	59	74	38	54	61	38	59
No	62	56	64	62	53	58	62	55
Prefer not to say	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

What type of school did you attend for the most time between the ages of 11 and 16?	FLK1			FLK2			SQE1
	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Pass Rate %
	State	28	57	66	28	54	61	28	56
State-selective	13	59	73	13	56	66	13	62
Independent	10	59	74	10	56	64	10	61
Independent-bursary	1	58	74	1	52	59	1	54
Outside the UK	38	57	68	38	52	55	38	54
I don't know	1	49	48	1	47	50	1	45
Other	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Prefer not to say	9	57	65	9	53	58	9	55

What was the occupation of your main household earner when you were aged about 14?	FLK1			FLK2			SQE1
	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Mean %	Pass Rate %	Candidates %	Pass Rate %
	Professional background	54	59	71	54	54	62	54	59
Intermediate background	12	58	68	12	54	60	12	56
Working class background	13	56	65	13	53	60	13	55
Other background	3	53	51	3	49	41	3	34
Prefer not to say	18	57	64	18	53	56	18	54

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Create your personal SQE account and book your assessments.

Have you passed the SQE?

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

Learn more

SQE1 July 2023 Assessment Report

Descriptive Statistics

Score Distribution Charts

Score Quintile Chart

Performance by Practice Area

Pass Rates

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About SQE

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