SQE Exam Dates 2026: Every Deadline You Need to Know

Last updated: 20 April 2026

Upcoming deadlines

Exam	Sitting	Registration deadline	Status
SQE1	July 2026	28 May 2026	Open now
SQE2	July 2026	10 June 2026	Open now
SQE2	April 2026	20 March 2026	Closed
SQE2	October 2026	28 August 2026	Opens July 2026
SQE1	January 2027	20 November 2026	Opens September 2026

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The single most important thing to know

SQE1 runs TWICE per year only - January and July.

SQE2 runs FOUR times per year - January, April, July, and October.

Many candidates believe SQE1 has quarterly sittings. It does not. Missing a SQE1 window means a 6-month wait and up to £1,934 in additional fees.

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SQE1 exam dates 2026

SQE1 is taken at Pearson VUE test centres across England, Wales, and internationally. Two papers, both sat in the same assessment window:

• FLK1 - 180 multiple-choice questions, approximately 5 hours
• FLK2 - 180 multiple-choice questions, approximately 5 hours

You must sit both papers in the same sitting. You cannot split them across different windows unless you are resitting a single paper.

January 2026 - complete

Dates: 26-30 January 2026 Results: Published 31 March 2026 - see our analysis of the results

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July 2026 - registration open now

Dates: 13-24 July 2026 Registration deadline: 28 May 2026 - roughly 5 weeks away Results: Approximately 8 September 2026 Fees: £1,934 (both papers) | £967 (single paper resit)

Book early. London Pearson VUE centres fill first and fastest. If you want a central London slot, register as soon as possible after 1 April - do not wait until May.

Test centre cities include: London - Manchester - Birmingham - Leeds - Bristol - Newcastle - Cardiff - Edinburgh - and international centres

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SQE1 fees

If you passed FLK1 but failed FLK2, you resit only FLK2 at £967 - not the full fee. Many candidates do not realise this.

Fee increase from September 2026: SQE1 rises to £2,006 (full sitting) and £1,003 (single paper resit). SQE2 rises to £3,086. July 2026 sittings are unaffected — they use current fees. See our fee increase explainer.

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SQE2 exam dates 2026

SQE2 is a practical skills assessment administered by Kaplan at dedicated assessment centres in four UK cities: Birmingham, Leeds, London, and Manchester. It tests 16 legal skills across written and oral tasks over 5 half-days.

Unlike SQE1, SQE2 runs four times per year - but each sitting has limited places. Kaplan centres are smaller than Pearson VUE networks. Book early.

April 2026 - registration closed

Dates: 28-30 April 2026 Registration closed: 20 March 2026 Results: 27 August 2026

If you missed this window, the next opportunity is July 2026.

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July 2026 - registration open now

Dates: 28–30 July 2026 (written) · 4–7 August 2026 (oral) Registration deadline: 10 June 2026 — open now Results: 17 November 2026 Fee: £2,974

Book early. London Kaplan slots fill quickly. Register as soon as possible — do not wait until June.

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October 2026

Dates: 27–29 October 2026 (written) · 3–11 November 2026 (oral) Registration deadline: 28 August 2026 Results: 23 February 2027 Fee: £2,974

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SQE2 fees

If you partially pass SQE2, you only resit the assessments you failed. The fee is proportionate to the number of assessments remaining.

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How to book

All SQE registrations go through the MySRA portal at sra.org.uk. The process is the same for SQE1 and SQE2:

Step 1 - MySRA account Create or log in to your MySRA account. First-time candidates must complete a character and suitability declaration. Allow 2-4 weeks for approval - start this well before any deadline.

Step 2 - Register for your sitting Navigate to SQE assessments, select your exam, and choose your sitting date.

Step 3 - Choose your centre For SQE1: select a Pearson VUE test centre. For SQE2: choose from Birmingham, Leeds, London, or Manchester.

Step 4 - Pay Full payment is required at booking. No instalment plans. No refunds except in exceptional circumstances (see below).

Step 5 - Confirmation You will receive email confirmation immediately. An admission notice with your exact exam time, centre address, and ID requirements arrives approximately 2-3 weeks before your exam.

ID on exam day: Bring valid photo ID (passport, UK photocard driving licence, or EEA national identity card). The name must exactly match your booking. The SRA has turned candidates away for name mismatches.

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Withdrawals, refunds, and deferrals

There is no deferral option. The SRA does not allow you to move your booking to a future sitting. If you cannot attend, you must withdraw and rebook - paying the fee again.

Refund timeline:

• More than 6 weeks before: possible partial refund (SRA discretion)
• 4-6 weeks before: limited refund
• Less than 4 weeks before: no refund
• Medical or bereavement emergency: full refund possible with supporting evidence - contact the SRA immediately

Always formally withdraw through MySRA if you cannot attend. Do not simply not show up - unexplained absence may affect your character and suitability record.

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Reasonable adjustments

If you have a disability, learning difficulty, or health condition, you can apply for reasonable adjustments including:

• Extra time (25%, 50%, or 100%)
• Separate exam room
• Rest breaks
• Reader or scribe

Apply at registration, not afterwards. Provide medical or educational evidence. Allow at least 4 weeks for approval. Kaplan and Pearson VUE implement approved adjustments at your centre.

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Strategic scheduling: SQE1 to SQE2 pathways

You do not need SQE1 results before booking SQE2. You can register speculatively and withdraw if needed (subject to refund policy). Candidates who are confident in their SQE1 performance often book SQE2 before results to secure a place - particularly for the popular London centres.

How much preparation time do you need?

Do not rush. A failed sitting costs £967-£2,974 in fees plus months of delay. If you are not consistently scoring above 60% on practice questions, defer to the next sitting. The cost of delay is less than the cost of a failed attempt.

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Three planning scenarios

Scenario A: Law graduate targeting qualification by end of 2027

• Now - July 2026: SQE1 preparation + begin QWE as paralegal
• July 2026: Sit SQE1
• September 2026: SQE1 results
• Oct 2026 - Jan 2027: SQE2 preparation (continue QWE)
• January 2027: Sit SQE2
• March 2027: SQE2 results
• Mid-2027: Complete 2 years QWE, apply for admission

Scenario B: Career changer working full-time

• Now - mid-2027: SQE1 part-time study + QWE in current role
• July 2027: Sit SQE1
• 3-4 months later: Sit SQE2
• 2028: Complete QWE, apply for admission

Scenario C: Training contract holder

• TC start (e.g. September 2026): Firm funds SQE prep
• April/July 2027: Sit SQE1
• Oct 2027 / Jan 2028: Sit SQE2
• TC completion: 2-year QWE satisfied, apply for admission

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Quick checklist

Right now:

• SQE1 July 2026 registration deadline: 28 May 2026 — set a reminder now
• SQE2 July 2026 registration deadline: 10 June 2026 — also open now
• If new to SQE, create a MySRA account and start your character declaration — allow 2-4 weeks
• Book SQE1 July 2026 as soon as possible if you are sitting — London slots fill first

Before each sitting:

• Book your preferred test centre early - London fills first
• Apply for reasonable adjustments at registration if needed
• Confirm your admission notice arrives 2-3 weeks before your exam
• Bring valid photo ID with name matching your booking exactly

For SQE2 specifically:

• Confirm you have passed SQE1 before registering
• Check QWE is in progress (2 years required before admission - can run concurrently)
• Choose Kaplan centre: Birmingham, Leeds, London, or Manchester

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All dates sourced from SRA and Kaplan official communications. TBC dates will be updated when published - bookmark this page and check MySRA regularly. Urgent booking queries: contactcentre@sra.org.uk

Related:

• January 2026 SQE1 results analysis
• How to use our revision timetable generator
• Full SQE cost breakdown