SQE2 April 2025 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 eleventh round of SQE2 assessments ran between 28 April and 16 May. SQE2 comprises 16 stations — 12 written stations and four oral stations — that assess both skills and application of legal knowledge.

Candidates sat one of four oral sittings each covering two consecutive days. Candidates also sat one of two written sittings in either the mornings or the afternoons of the written assessment dates. To protect the integrity of the assessments, different oral stations were used on the different oral sitting dates with the oral sittings identified in the table below, and different written stations were used in the morning and afternoon sessions on the written sitting dates.

Station Type Sitting 1 Sitting 2 Sitting 3 Sitting 4
Oral 28 - 29 April 30 April - 1 May 13 - 14 May 15 - 16 May
Written 6 - 8 May

This report includes statistics that provide some simple feedback on the April 2025 SQE2 assessment and the performance.

SQE2 has a single pass mark for the overall 16 station assessment. 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 passing score and the pass rate for this SQE2.

Statistic Overall
Pass Mark 300
Candidates (all graded) 2753
Pass Rate (all graded) 82%
Candidates (first attempt) 2577
Pass Rate (first attempt) 84%

Descriptive Statistics

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


Score Distribution Chart

The following chart shows the distribution of scaled scores for this SQE2, with a red line showing the passing score required.

SQE2 Scaled Score Distribution

Y axis showing Frequency

275
250
225
200
175
150
125
100
75
50
25
2753 candidates
Pass mark = 300
Graph item showing 0 people scored 0-10
Graph item showing 0 people scored 11-20
Graph item showing 0 people scored 21-30
Graph item showing 1 people scored 31-40
Graph item showing 0 people scored 41-50
Graph item showing 0 people scored 51-60
Graph item showing 0 people scored 61-70
Graph item showing 0 people scored 71-80
Graph item showing 0 person scored 81-90
Graph item showing 0 person scored 91-100
Graph item showing 0 people scored 101-110
Graph item showing 0 people scored 111-120
Graph item showing 0 people scored 121-130
Graph item showing 0 people scored 131-140
Graph item showing 0 people scored 141-150
Graph item showing 2 people scored 151-160
Graph item showing 2 people scored 161-170
Graph item showing 1 people scored 171-180
Graph item showing 1 people scored 181-190
Graph item showing 2 people scored 191-200
Graph item showing 3 people scored 201-200
Graph item showing 10 people scored 211-220
Graph item showing 15 people scored 221-230
Graph item showing 17 people scored 231-240
Graph item showing 29 people scored 241-250
Graph item showing 46 people scored 251-260
Graph item showing 80 people scored 261-270
Graph item showing 99 people scored 271-280
Graph item showing 114 people scored 281-290
Graph item showing 157 people scored 291-300
Graph item showing 169 people scored 301-310
Graph item showing 159 people scored 311-320
Graph item showing 222 people scored 321-330
Graph item showing 257 people scored 331-340
Graph item showing 237 people scored 341-350
Graph item showing 233 people scored 351-360
Graph item showing 198 people scored 361-370
Graph item showing 197 people scored 371-380
Graph item showing 162 people scored 381-390
Graph item showing 140 people scored 391-400
Graph item showing 94 people scored 401-410
Graph item showing 62 people scored 411-420
Graph item showing 36 people scored 421-430
Graph item showing 12 people scored 431-440
Graph item showing 4 people scored 441-450
Graph item showing 1 people scored 451-460
Graph item showing 0 person scored 461-470
Graph item showing 0 people scored 471-480
Graph item showing 0 people scored 481-490
Graph item showing 0 people scored 491-500
A red line showing the passing score required for each assessment
 
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X axis showingSQE2 Score

Total Score Quintile Chart

This chart shows the quintile scaled score ranges for the total SQE2 scores. 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.

 
 
Quintile graph showing the range of scores achieved by the top fifth of the candidates
Quintile graph showing the range of scores achieved by the second fifth of the candidates
Quintile graph showing the range of scores achieved by the third fifth of the candidates
Quintile graph showing the range of scores achieved by the fourth fifth of the candidates
Quintile graph showing the range of scores achieved by the bottom fifth of the candidates

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
 
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X axis showingSQE2 Scaled Score

Station Score Quintile Chart

This chart shows the quintile scaled score ranges for the 16 SQE2 stations scores. 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.

Station Quintile Score Distributions

Y axis showing Station

A-CL
A-DR
CM-B
CM-CL
CM-PP
IA-PP
IA-W
LD-B
LD-CL
LD-PP
LR-B
LR-DR
LR-W
LW-B
LW-DR
LW-W
SQE2 Quintile graph for Advocacy - Criminal Litigation showing the range of scores achieved by the top fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Advocacy - Criminal Litigation showing the range of scores achieved by the second fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Advocacy - Criminal Litigation showing the range of scores achieved by the third fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Advocacy - Criminal Litigation showing the range of scores achieved by the fourth fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Advocacy - Criminal Litigation showing the range of scores achieved by the bottom fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Advocacy - Dispute Resolution showing the range of scores achieved by the top fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Advocacy - Dispute Resolution showing the range of scores achieved by the second fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Advocacy - Dispute Resolution showing the range of scores achieved by the third fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Advocacy - Dispute Resolution showing the range of scores achieved by the fourth fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Advocacy - Dispute Resolution showing the range of scores achieved by the bottom fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Case+Matter - Business showing the range of scores achieved by the top fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Case+Matter - Business showing the range of scores achieved by the second fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Case+Matter - Business showing the range of scores achieved by the third fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Case+Matter - Business showing the range of scores achieved by the fourth fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Case+Matter - Business showing the range of scores achieved by the bottom fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Case+Matter - Criminal Litigation showing the range of scores achieved by the top fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Case+Matter - Criminal Litigation showing the range of scores achieved by the second fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Case+Matter - Criminal Litigation showing the range of scores achieved by the third fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Case+Matter - Criminal Litigation showing the range of scores achieved by the fourth fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Case+Matter - Criminal Litigation showing the range of scores achieved by the bottom fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Case+Matter - Property Practice showing the range of scores achieved by the top fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Case+Matter - Property Practice showing the range of scores achieved by the second fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Case+Matter - Property Practice showing the range of scores achieved by the third fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Case+Matter - Property Practice showing the range of scores achieved by the fourth fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Case+Matter - Property Practice showing the range of scores achieved by the bottom fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Int+AttNote - Property Practice showing the range of scores achieved by the top fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Int+AttNote - Property Practice showing the range of scores achieved by the second fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Int+AttNote - Property Practice showing the range of scores achieved by the third fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Int+AttNote - Property Practice showing the range of scores achieved by the fourth fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Int+AttNote - Property Practice showing the range of scores achieved by the bottom fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Int+AttNote - Wills showing the range of scores achieved by the top fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Int+AttNote - Wills showing the range of scores achieved by the second fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Int+AttNote - Wills showing the range of scores achieved by the third fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Int+AttNote - Wills showing the range of scores achieved by the fourth fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Int+AttNote - Wills showing the range of scores achieved by the bottom fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Drafting - Business showing the range of scores achieved by the top fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Drafting - Business showing the range of scores achieved by the second fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Drafting - Business showing the range of scores achieved by the third fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Drafting - Business showing the range of scores achieved by the fourth fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Drafting - Business showing the range of scores achieved by the bottom fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Drafting - Criminal Litigation showing the range of scores achieved by the top fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Drafting - Criminal Litigation showing the range of scores achieved by the second fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Drafting - Criminal Litigation showing the range of scores achieved by the third fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Drafting - Criminal Litigation showing the range of scores achieved by the fourth fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Drafting - Criminal Litigation showing the range of scores achieved by the bottom fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Drafting-Property Practice showing the range of scores achieved by the top fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Drafting-Property Practice showing the range of scores achieved by the second fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Drafting-Property Practice showing the range of scores achieved by the third fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Drafting-Property Practice showing the range of scores achieved by the fourth fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Drafting-Property Practice showing the range of scores achieved by the bottom fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Research - Business showing the range of scores achieved by the top fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Research - Business showing the range of scores achieved by the second fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Research - Business showing the range of scores achieved by the third fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Research - Business showing the range of scores achieved by the fourth fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Research - Business showing the range of scores achieved by the bottom fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Research -Dispute Resolution showing the range of scores achieved by the top fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Research - Dispute Resolution showing the range of scores achieved by the second fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Research - Dispute Resolution showing the range of scores achieved by the third fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Research - Dispute Resolution showing the range of scores achieved by the fourth fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Research - Dispute Resolution showing the range of scores achieved by the bottom fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Research - Wills showing the range of scores achieved by the top fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Research - Wills showing the range of scores achieved by the second fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Research - Wills showing the range of scores achieved by the third fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Research - Wills showing the range of scores achieved by the fourth fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Research - Wills showing the range of scores achieved by the bottom fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Writing-Business showing the range of scores achieved by the top fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Writing-Business showing the range of scores achieved by the second fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Writing-Business showing the range of scores achieved by the third fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Writing-Business showing the range of scores achieved by the fourth fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Writing-Business showing the range of scores achieved by the bottom fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Writing-Dispute Resolution showing the range of scores achieved by the top fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Writing-Dispute Resolution showing the range of scores achieved by the second fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Writing-Dispute Resolution showing the range of scores achieved by the third fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Writing-Dispute Resolution showing the range of scores achieved by the fourth fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Writing-Dispute Resolution showing the range of scores achieved by the bottom fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Writing-Wills showing the range of scores achieved by the top fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Writing-Wills showing the range of scores achieved by the second fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Writing-Wills showing the range of scores achieved by the third fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Writing-Wills showing the range of scores achieved by the fourth fifth of the candidates
SQE2 Quintile graph for Legal Writing-Wills showing the range of scores achieved by the bottom fifth of the candidates

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
 
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X axis showingSQE Scaled Score

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 are provided in each table:

  • Proportion of candidates in each group (Candidates %)
  • Average scaled 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. The performance of all candidates, including resitting candidates, will be presented in the SQE Annual Report.

What is your ethnic group
Candidates % Mean Score Pass Rate %
Asian / Asian British 18 336 78
Black / Black British 4 309 64
Mixed / multiple ethnic groups 7 335 78
Other ethnic group 4 334 80
White 61 348 88
Prefer not to say 6 332 77
Do you consider yourself to have a disability according to the definition in the Equality Act 2010?
Candidates % Mean Score Pass Rate %
Yes 9 338 84
No 81 342 84
Prefer not to say 10 339 81
What is your sex?
Candidates % Mean Score Pass Rate %
Female 62 343 85
Male 36 340 81
Other - - -
Prefer not to say 2 330 79
What is your religion or belief?
Candidates % Mean Score Pass Rate %
Buddhist 1 334 86
Christian 26 337 82
Hindu 3 337 78
Jewish 2 351 91
Muslim 7 320 70
Sikh 2 330 76
No religion or belief 46 348 87
Other <1 353 92
Prefer not to say 13 339 83
Which age category are you in?
Candidates % Mean Score Pass Rate %
16-24 58 348 88
25-34 37 336 80
35-44 3 307 60
45-54 1 304 50
55-64 - - -
65+ - - -
Prefer not to say 1 326 68
Did either of your parents attend university by the time you were 18?
Candidates % Mean Score Pass Rate %
Yes, one or both of my parents attended university 60 347 87
No, neither of my parents attended university 29 334 79
Do not know / not sure 2 330 73
Prefer not to say 9 334 80
Have you undertaken any Qualifying Work Experience?
Candidates % Mean Score Pass Rate %
Yes 26 326 74
No 74 347 87
Prefer not to say - - -
What is your highest level of education?
Candidates % Mean Score Pass Rate %
At least an undergraduate degree 97 342 84
Qualifications below degree level - - -
 No formal qualifications - -
Not applicable - - -
Prefer not to say 3 331 76
What was your undergraduate degree classification?
Candidates % Mean  Score Pass Rate %
1st 39 357 93
2:1 52 335 81
2:2 3 284 34
3rd - - -
Commendation - - -
Distinction 1 322 64
Pass - - -
Prefer not to say 3 324 73
Not applicable 2 324 73
Are you a qualified lawyer?
Candidates % Mean Score Pass Rate %
Yes 3 328 73
No 97 342 84
Prefer not to say - - -
What type of school did you attend for the most time between the ages of 11 and 16?
Candidates % Mean Score Pass Rate %
State-run or state-funded school - non-selective 34 337 81
State-run or state-funded school - selective on academic, faith or other grounds 17 347 88
Independent or fee-paying school 19 353 90
Independent or fee-paying school, where I received a bursary covering 90% or more of my tuition 1 350 77
Attended school outside the UK 21 338 81
I don't know - - -
Other - - -
Prefer not to say 8 332 79
What was the occupation of your main household earner when you were aged about 14?
Candidates % Mean Score Pass Rate %
Professional background 62 347 88
Intermediate background 9 337 77
Working class background 13 328 75
Other background 2 333 74
Prefer not to say 14 334 78
Please state what your first language is
Candidates % Mean Score Pass Rate %
English 84 344 85
Other 16 330 75
 Not applicable - - -
Prefer not to say - - -

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Ready to register for the SQE?

Create your personal SQE account and book your assessments.

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Have you passed the SQE?

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

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