Note: Updated on 27 June 2023 with clarification on applicable dates of the updated policies.

We have updated the Appeals, Complaints, and Mitigating Circumstances policies and the approach to clerical checks. The Appeals and Mitigating Circumstances policies and approach to clerical checks will apply for assessments taken from today’s date, and will therefore first apply to the July 2023 SQE1 and SQE2. The previous versions of the Appeals and Mitigating Circumstances policies and the approach to clerical checks will apply to the relevant previous assessments, including the April 2023 SQE2. The new Complaints policy will apply from 27 June.

We would encourage all candidates to read the policies before they book an assessment.

A non-exhaustive summary of the changes are:

Appeals policy

• Additional wording that an upheld appeal cannot result in a change to the pass mark or a change to a candidate’s marks
• Clarification that if a candidate is awaiting the outcome of a mitigating circumstances claim, the candidate must submit their first stage appeal form within 10 working days of the date of notification of the outcome of the mitigating circumstances claim
• The addition of wording relating to the requirement for evidence surrounding late submissions
• Clarification on the deadline for submitting first stage and final stage appeals and wording to clarify when the submission of a first stage and final stage appeal is complete
• Confirmation that candidates will be exempt from payment of the first stage or final stage appeal charge when the appeal relates to certain aspects of reasonable adjustments
• Removal of references to the clerical check procedure (see below)

Complaints policy

• Amended wording to clarify that the policy cannot be used to adjust the mark awarded to the candidate, discount the assessment attempt, challenge decisions in relation to an application relating to mitigating circumstances, or a decision of the Assessment Board or the Appeals Panels
• The addition of wording relating to the requirement for evidence surrounding late submissions
• Merging of the candidate and customer procedures where appropriate
• Wording to clarify that if a formal complaint is in any way connected with an ongoing mitigating circumstances claim or appeal, the investigation of the complaint will be put on hold until the outcome of the claim or appeal is known
• Additional wording to clarify the appointment of the investigating officer
• Clear indication to candidates on what they must explain in a Request for Review

Mitigating Circumstances Policy

• The addition of wording relating to the requirement for evidence surrounding late submissions
• Clarification on when candidates cannot make a claim for mitigating circumstances
• Clarification on when candidates should submit a mitigating circumstances claim and when the cancellation provisions in the terms and conditions will apply
• Clarification on the timescales for submission of mitigating circumstances claim
• More details on the requirement for evidence for a claim

Clerical checks

We have updated the approach to clerical checks.

Since the SQE was introduced, the clerical check process has not found any error in the calculation and collation of marks for any candidate that has made a request since. We follow a rigorous approach to the calculation and collation of candidate marks and the quality assurance process associated with this.

We are therefore removing the option for candidates to request a clerical check for future assessments. A clerical check can therefore be requested for an appeal relating to the April 2023 SQE2. If a candidate does make an appeal, a clerical check will be completed as part of the process of the appeal.

This change to the clerical check process does not impact a candidate’s right to request information about their marks in accordance with the UK GDPR.

Learn more: Results and resits