SQE2 July 2023 Statistical 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 and knowledge. SQE2 can only be taken if a candidate has passed SQE1 or is exempt from it.

The fourth round of SQE2 assessments ran between 31 July and 18 August 2023. SQE2 comprises 16 stations — 12 written stations and four oral stations — that assess both skills and application of legal knowledge.

All candidates sat the same written stations on the same dates (31 July – 2 August). Candidates then sat one of four oral sittings covering two consecutive days between 7 August and 18 August. To protect the integrity of the assessments, different oral stations took place on different dates with the sittings identified below.

This report includes statistics that provide feedback on the assessments and their performance.

SQE2 has a single pass mark for the overall 16 station assessment. There may be different pass marks between sittings due to the oral stations being different. There is no pass mark for an individual station or for all of the oral stations or written stations. Find out more about how the SQE2 is marked.

The table below shows the number of candidates, the pass mark, and the pass rate for each sitting, as well as the overall pass rate.

Sitting 1 – Written (31 July - 2 August) and Oral (7-8 August)

Descriptive Statistics

The following table shows the average (mean) score, the standard deviation, median score, minimum score, maximum score, and range of observed scores for SQE2 Sitting 1.

Sitting 2 – Written (31 July-2 August) and Oral (9-10 August)

Descriptive Statistics

The following table shows the average (mean) score, the standard deviation, median score, minimum score, maximum score and range of observed scores for SQE2 Sitting 2.

Station Score Quintile Charts

This chart shows the 16 station scores for Sitting 2 divided into quintiles. Each quintile shows the range of scores achieved by a fifth of the candidates, with Q1 showing the top fifth and Q5 showing the bottom fifth of scores.

Sitting 3 – Written (31 July-2 August) and Oral (15-16 August) 

Descriptive Statistics

The following table shows the average (mean) score, the standard deviation, median score, minimum score, maximum score and range of observed scores for SQE2 Sitting 3.

Sitting 4 – Written (31 July-2 August) and Oral (17-18 August)

Descriptive Statistics

The following table shows the average (mean) score, the standard deviation, median score, minimum score, maximum score and range of observed scores for SQE2 Sitting 3.

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 the responses provided in the online diversity survey completed ahead of registering for the assessment, the following is provided in each table:

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

These tables provide data for candidates taking SQE2 as a first attempt. Data is not reported for groups with fewer than 10 candidates. Performance data from all candidates, including resitting candidates, will be presented in the SQE Annual Report.