Updated April 2026
Along with sharing the most recent SQE1 pass rates, The Solicitors Regulation Authority (“SRA”) also publishes detailed reports after every SQE1 assessment, and at the end of each year.
Given that the SQE has been running for a number of years now, I thought it might be useful to amalgamate some of the performance data to illustrate pass rate trends over time. (As far as I know, the SRA publishes SQE1 stats on a per-test basis, but does not present historical pass rates in any one document).
Below I’ve shared what I think are the most useful and interesting SQE1 stats from the past…
Historical SQE1 Pass Rates
Let’s start by looking at the overall candidate numbers, and pass rates, since the introduction of the SQE in late 2021:
| Exam Session | Number of SQE1 Candidates | SQE1 Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|
| November 2021 | 1073 | 53% |
| July 2022 | 1829 | 53% |
| January 2023 | 3031 | 51% |
| July 2023 | 3475 | 53% |
| January 2024 | 6061 | 56% |
| July 2024 | 5006 | 44% |
| January 2025 | 6718 | 56% |
| July 2025 | 5851 | 41% |
| January 2026 | 7918 | 53% |
Key Observations:
1. Growing Candidate Numbers. The number of candidates attempting SQE1 has increased significantly since the introduction of the exam. Numbers have risen from 1,073 candidates in November 2021 to nearly 8,000 in January 2026 (a 638% increase).
A clear seasonal pattern has also emerged, with January sittings consistently attracting more candidates than the July sessions.
2. Pass Rate Volatility. SQE1 pass rates have fluctuated between 41% and 56%. July sittings consistently deliver lower pass rates than January sessions (with July averaging a pass rate of just 47.75%, compared to January’s 54%).
The most recent July sittings, in 2024 and 2025, showed fairly dramatic pass rate drops – to 44% and 41% respectively.
SQE1 Exam Results: Performance in FLK1 vs. FLK2
Here’s a separate breakdown of FLK1 pass rates and FLK2 pass rates:
| Exam Session | FLK1 Pass Score | FLK1 Pass Rate | FLK2 Pass Score | FLK2 Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2021 | 57% | 67% | 56% | 54% |
| July 2022 | 56% | 64% | 55% | 55% |
| January 2023 | 57% | 59% | 56% | 56% |
| July 2023 | 53% | 66% | 52% | 58% |
| January 2024 | 300* | 63% | 300* | 61% |
| July 2024 | 300* | 55% | 300* | 50% |
| January 2025 | 300* | 64% | 300* | 61% |
| July 2025 | 300* | 51% | 300* | 48% |
| January 2026 | 300* | 62% | 300* | 57% |
*In January 2024, the SRA started sharing numerical passing scores, rather than passing percentages ,for the FLK1 and FLK2 portions of the SQE1 exam. The score required to pass the assessment is now expressed as a scaled score out of 500, and the passing score for each of FLK1 and 2 is 300. For more information see the SQE Marking and Standard Setting Policy.
Key Observations:
1. Higher pass rates for FLK1 than for FLK2. For as long as SQE1 has been around, FLK1 pass rates have consistently exceeded FLK2 pass rates – with FLK1 averaging success rates of approximately 60%, whilst FLK2 averages around 55%.
The pattern holds true across all 9 SQE1 exam sessions so far – indicating that this is a structural characteristic of the assessment (rather than an anomaly).
2. Volatility Despite Standardisation. Despite the introduction of standardised scoring in January 2024, pass rate volatility has persisted. The range of pass rates has widened over time, with FLK1 success rates ranging from 51% to 67% and FLK2 rates ranging anywhere from 48% to 61%.
SQE1 Pass Rates by Number of Candidate Attempts
Here you can see how many candidates have taken the exam for a 1st, 2nd or 3rd time:
| Assessment Window | Number of Candidates | Number of 1st Attempt Candidates | Number of 2nd Attempt Candidates | Number of 3rd Attempt Candidates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2021 | 1073* | 1073 (100%) | n/a | n/a |
| July 2022 | 1829* | 1736 (95%) | 93 (5%) | n/a |
| January 2023 | 3031* | 2816 (93%) | 184 (6%) | 8 (<1%) |
| July 2023 | 3475* | 3005 (87%) | 425 (12%) | 31 (1%) |
| January 2024 | 6061 | 5581 (92%) | 441 (7%) | 39 (1%) |
| July 2024 | 5006 | 4168 (83%) | 744 (15%) | 71 (2%) |
| January 2025 | 6782 | 5908 (87%) | 689 (10.3%) | 94 (1.4%) |
| July 2025 | 5851 | 4736 (80.9%) | 952 (16.3%) | 126 (2.2%) |
| January 2026 | 7918 | 6760 (85.4%) | TBC | TBC |
*Represents the total number of candidates who sat the full SQE1 exam, regardless of whether they took both FLK1 and FLK2, or just one part.
We can also look at the performance of first-time candidates versus those retaking the exam:
| Exam Session | Pass Rate (SQE1 First Attempt) | Pass Rate (SQE1 Overall) |
|---|---|---|
| July 2022 | 55% | 53% |
| January 2023 | 54% | 51% |
| July 2023 | 56% | 53% |
| January 2024 | 59% | 56% |
| July 2024 | 48% | 44% |
| January 2025 | 60% | 56% |
| July 2025 | 46% | 41% |
| January 2026 | 58% | 53% |
Key Observations:
1. Rising Population of Re-takers. The proportion of second-attempt candidates has grown from 5% in July 2022 to 16.3% in July 2025, whilst third-attempt candidates (though still small in number) have increased from less than 1% to over 2%.
This trend indicates a growing cohort of candidates who require multiple attempts to pass SQE1.
2. First-Time Advantage. First-attempt candidates demonstrate notably higher pass rates compared to the overall cohort, with the performance gap ranging from 2 to 5 percentage points. This pattern is consistent across all SQE1 sittings.
3. July Sessions Present Particular Challenges. July sessions usually have a higher proportion of re-sitters than do those in January. For example, the percentage of re-takers was 19.1% in July 2025, while in January 2026 it was 14.6%.
First-attempt pass rates in July sessions have dropped as low as 46% (in July 2025) compared to 60% in the preceding January – suggesting that sitting in July is challenging for all candidates.
SQE1 Pass Rates by Legal Practice Area
In January 2024, the SRA started sharing numerical passing scores rather than passing percentages for the FLK1 and FLK2 portions of the SQE1 exam. (The passing score for both FLK1 and 2 is now set at 300). See Table 6 below for mean FLK1 scores (starting from 2024) and Table 8 for mean FLK2 scores (from 2024 – present).
Average FLK1 Scores (2021 – 2023)
| Practice Area | Average Score (All Candidates) % | Average Score (for Candidates Who Passed SQE1) % | Average Score (for Candidates Who Failed SQE1) % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethics | 71.3 | 77.8 | 59.0 |
| Contract Law | 67.8 | 76.2 | 52.0 |
| Legal System | 60.8 | 67.9 | 47.2 |
| Legal Services | 60.7 | 67.0 | 48.9 |
| Tort | 59.8 | 67.1 | 45.9 |
| Dispute Resolution | 54.3 | 61.1 | 41.5 |
| Business Law and Practice | 54.1 | 62.2 | 39.0 |
Mean FLK1 Scores (2024 – present)
| Practice Area | Mean Score (all candidates) | Mean Score (candidates who passed SQE1) | Mean Score (candidates who failed SQE1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethics | 357.0 | 393.0 | 306.5 |
| Contract Law | 325.0 | 369.5 | 261.5 |
| Legal System | 293.0 | 335.5 | 234.5 |
| Legal Services | 296.5 | 336.5 | 240.5 |
| Tort | 299.5 | 348.0 | 231.0 |
| Dispute Resolution | 284.5 | 327.0 | 224.0 |
| Business Law and Practice | 285.5 | 334.0 | 218.0 |
Average FLK2 Scores (2021 – 2023)
| Practice Area | Average Score (All Candidates) % | Average Score (for Candidates Who Passed SQE1) % | Average Score (for Candidates Who Failed SQE1) % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethics | 69.9 | 79.6 | 58.4 |
| Criminal Liability | 65.3 | 74.9 | 53.8 |
| Land Law | 58.0 | 69.7 | 43.9 |
| Trust Law | 56.4 | 66.6 | 44.1 |
| Criminal Law and Practice | 54.7 | 63.9 | 43.6 |
| Wills and Intestacy | 53.2 | 63.7 | 40.4 |
| Property Practice | 47.4 | 56.6 | 36.3 |
Mean FLK2 Scores (2024 – present)
Again, since January 2024, the passing score for FLK2 has been set at 300 (out of 500).
| Practice Area | Mean Score (all candidates) | Mean Score (candidates who passed SQE1) | Mean Score (candidates who failed SQE1) |
|---|---|---|---|
Ethics | 351.0 | 391.5 | 300.0 |
| Criminal Liability | 317.5 | 368.5 | 253.5 |
| Land Law | 301.0 | 357.5 | 230.0 |
| Trust Law | 297.0 | 347.0 | 234.5 |
| Criminal Law and Practice | 288.5 | 339.0 | 224.5 |
| Wills and Intestacy | 273.5 | 323.5 | 210.0 |
| Property Practice | 281.5 | 332.5 | 219.0 |
Key Observations:
1. Test takers consistently score highest in the Ethics portion of the exam, for both FLK1 and FLK2. Average Ethics scores are 357 and 351 respectively under the new scoring system (well above the 300 passing threshold), with passing candidates averaging scores of 393 and 391.5.
2. After Ethics, Contract Law (2nd place) and the Legal System (3rd place) are historically the strongest areas for candidates in FLK1. Candidate scores in Contract Law are consistently well above those in other subjects.
3. Aside from Ethics, Criminal Liability (2nd place) and Land Law (3rd place) show higher mean scores than other FLK2 areas. There has been notable improvement in Land Law scores in recent years, relative to other subjects.
4. Comparing performance across FLK1 practice areas, candidates consistently perform worse in Business Law and Practice and Dispute Resolution. While Property Practice and Wills and Intestacy are generally the most challenging FLK2 practice areas.
5. Hardest Subject Overall in SQE1. Looking at all SQE1 data from 2021 through 2025, Property Practice emerges as the single most challenging subject across the entire examination. With a historical average of just 47.4% (2021-2023) and a current mean score of 281.5 (2024-2025), it consistently under performs all other subjects.
Even candidates who pass SQE1 average only 332.5 in Property Practice (their lowest score across any subject). This suggests Property Practice poses unique challenges that persist regardless of overall candidate ability.
6. Regardless of whether they pass or fail SQE1, candidates seem to struggle with the same practice areas (and also perform better in the same areas). The parallel performance patterns suggest that subject difficulty is inherent to the content (rather than candidate-specific). Whether a candidate passes or fails SQE1, the data indicate they find Ethics most accessible and Property Practice most challenging.
However, on average, passing candidates maintain “competency” across all subject areas (with their lowest average score being 323.5 (in Property Practice)), whilst failing candidates show dramatic drop-offs in challenging subjects (with their average score in Property Practice being just 210.0).
Does Qualification Status Affect SQE1 Pass Rates?
The SRA provides a lot of demographic data in its regular SQE1 Reports. One part of the report compares the performance of qualified lawyers with that of non-qualified candidates:
| Year | Qualification Status | Proportion of Test Takers | SQE1 Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Not Qualified | 75% | 56% |
| 2021 | Qualified | 25% | 48% |
| 2022 | Not Qualified | 65% | 53% |
| 2022 | Qualified | 35% | 53% |
| 2023 | Not Qualified | 65% | 50% |
| 2023 | Qualified | 35% | 56% |
| 2024 | Not Qualified | 69% | 55% |
| 2024 | Qualified | 31% | 49% |
| 2025 | Not Qualified | 73% | 54% |
| 2025 | Qualified | 27% | 45% |
Key Observations:
1. Consistent Majority of Non-Qualified Candidates: Across all reported years (2021-2025), the majority of SQE1 test-takers were candidates who were not already qualified lawyers. This proportion has fluctuated slightly, ranging from 65% to 75%.
2. Initial Higher Pass Rate for Non-Qualified Candidates: In 2021, non-qualified candidates had a significantly higher pass rate (56%) compared to qualified lawyers (48%).
3. Convergence and Shifting SQE1 Pass Rates: Over the subsequent years, the pass rates for both groups converged. By 2022, both groups achieved a 53% pass rate. In 2023, qualified lawyers had a slightly higher pass rate (56%) compared to non-qualified candidates (50%). In 2024, this trend reversed again, with non-qualified candidates having a higher pass rate (55%) than qualified lawyers (49%). By 2025, qualified lawyers achieved only a 45% pass rate versus 54% for non-qualified candidates – a striking 9 percentage point gap.
SQE1 Pass Rates: FAQs
Where Can I Find More Detailed Data Regarding Historic SQE1 Pass Rates?
As mentioned, the SRA publishes detailed SQE1 reports after every sitting – and at the end of every year. In these reports you can find many more stats than I’ve included here. For example, the SRA publishes diversity and socio-economic data to help understand how candidates with different characteristics and backgrounds perform in the SQE. Their reports also break down pass rates by demographic characteristics (ie. ethnicity, disability, religion, age, sex, education, etc.).
If you are interested in these additional details check out the SRA’s Full SQE Reports.
How is SQE1 Graded?
If you’d like to get into the nitty gritty, check out these pages on the SRA’s website:
Where Can I Find Resources to Help Me Pass SQE1?
We’ve got you covered! There’s a wealth of information in our archives on SQE materials and mock exams and on how to approach the SQE.
Final Comments on SQE1 Pass Rates
1. SQE1 Keeps Growing: Candidate numbers have surged 638% from 1,073 (in 2021) to nearly 8,000, but this growth has been accompanied by increasing pass rate volatility (ranging from 41% to 56%).
2.Seasonal Disparities are Significant and Persistent: January sitters outperform July sitters by 6 to 9 percentage points (with July 2025 recording the lowest ever pass rate at 41%).
3. The First Attempt Advantage: The data shows that first-attempt candidates consistently perform better than others. First-attempt pass rates exceed overall rates by 2 to 5 percentage points consistently.
4. Certain Subjects Are Consistently Less (or More!) Challenging: Ethics stands out as a high-scoring area across both FLK1 and FLK2. More challenging areas include Business Law and Practice (in FLK1) and Wills and Property Practice (in FLK2). These patterns persist regardless of whether candidates pass or fail, suggesting inherent differences in subject difficulty.
5. Non-qualified Candidates Outperform Qualified lawyers: Somewhat unexpectedly, previously qualified lawyers show declining pass rates (down to 45% in 2025) compared to non-qualified candidates (54%), with the performance gap widening over time.
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Lastly, we’ve also written a detailed article on SQE2 Pass Rates. Be sure to check it out as well!
Best,
Lawyer in London