Fit to Sit Policy

Last updated: December 2024

• A Fit to Sit Policy operates for all SQE assessments. It is the responsibility of every candidate to ensure that they sit the assessment only if they are fit to do so. Being ‘Fit to Sit’ means that the candidate knows of no reason why their performance would be adversely affected during the assessment or why they may subsequently bring a claim for mitigating circumstances. Examples of situations this would cover are:
  
  
  • illness of a candidate
  • illness of a close relative
  • bereavement
• The fit to sit requirement is contained in the SQE Assessment Regulations and applies to all SQE assessments. Every candidate is required to sign a declaration or confirm electronically that they are fit to sit the assessment. This declaration is reproduced below. Candidates will not be allowed to commence the assessment unless they have signed a Fit to Sit Declaration.
• If a candidate believes they are not fit to sit an SQE assessment and withdraws before the start of the assessment they must refer to the SQE Assessment Terms and Conditions. A partial refund may be provided in accordance with those SQE Terms and Conditions.
• A candidate who is taken ill or experiences personal circumstances beyond their reasonable control during an assessment, which are having or are likely to have a material and adverse effect on their performance, should decide whether to submit a mitigating circumstances claim. In any event, the candidate must report the illness or other unexpected or unforeseen personal circumstances to the Invigilator or proctor as soon as possible and at the latest before leaving the assessment. Where a candidate subsequently submits a mitigating circumstances claim for illness or personal circumstances that arose during the assessment and has not reported the issue to an invigilator or proctor, the mitigating circumstances claim will usually be rejected unless a candidate can provide details of exceptional circumstances why the issue was not reported.
• Marks will not be adjusted because of illness or other unexpected or unforeseen personal circumstances. Full details are in the SQE Assessment Regulations and the Mitigating Circumstances Policy.
• A mitigating circumstances claim made in respect of circumstances existing before the candidate signed the “fit to sit declaration” will not usually be accepted unless a candidate is able to clearly evidence why they attempted the assessment and signed the ‘fit to sit’ declaration.
• The following are examples of the circumstances which would not be accepted where a candidate has signed the ‘fit to sit’ declaration and subsequently sat the assessment. The list is not exhaustive:
  
  
  • the need to sit the assessment due to employment or training contract dates
  • issues impacting assessment preparation / study time
  • sitting the assessment because of the cost of assessment fees or assessment cancellation charges.

Fit to Sit declaration

I confirm that I have read the Fit to Sit Policy and I know of no reason why my performance might be adversely affected during the ………(insert as appropriate) assessment or why I might subsequently submit a claim for mitigating circumstances relating to today’s assessment.

I confirm that in the event that I am taken ill during this assessment or experience other unexpected or unforeseeable personal circumstances beyond my control I will report this to the invigilator or proctor as soon as possible and at the latest before leaving the assessment.

SQE Fit to Sit Policy - applicable for assessments taken after May 2023 and up to December 2024 (PDF 101KB)