SQE1 Pass Rate 2026: 53% in January - Full SRA Data Analysis
- 1SQE1 Pass Rate 2026: January Sitting in Full
- 2Every SQE1 Sitting Since 2021
- 3Why July sittings consistently underperform January
- 4The Resit Rate: The Most Important Stat Nobody Mentions
- 5SQE2 Pass Rates: All Sittings
- 6Why SQE2 pass rates are higher
- 7SQE2 Pass Rates by Skill: What the SRA Data Shows
- 8Pass Rates by Candidate Type
- 9Provider Pass Rates: What We Know and What We Don't
- 10What a 53% SQE1 Pass Rate Actually Means for You
- 11Frequently Asked Questions
SQE1 Pass Rate 2026: 53% in January - Full SRA Data Analysis
The SRA published the January 2026 SQE1 results on 31 March 2026. The headline figure: 53% overall pass rate across 7,863 candidates. First-time candidates passed at 58%.
This is a meaningful recovery from the record low of 41% in July 2025, and broadly in line with the historical average for January sittings.
Here is everything the data tells us.
SQE1 Pass Rate 2026: January Sitting in Full
| Metric | January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Overall pass rate | 53% |
| First-attempt pass rate | 58% |
| Total candidates | 7,863 |
| FLK1 pass rate | 62% |
| FLK2 pass rate | 57% |
| Source | SRA statistical report, 31 March 2026 |
FLK1 (Business Law, Contract, Tort, Dispute Resolution, Constitutional Law, EU Law) outperformed FLK2 (Criminal Law and Practice, Property Practice, Accounts, Land Law, Trusts, Wills) by 5 percentage points. This pattern is consistent across most sittings: FLK2 is harder on average, largely because Solicitors Accounts sits in FLK2.
Every SQE1 Sitting Since 2021
| Sitting | Overall Pass Rate | First-Attempt Rate | Candidates |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2021 | ~60% | ~60% | ~1,500 |
| January 2023 | 56% | 60% | ~3,200 |
| July 2023 | 48% | 52% | ~4,800 |
| January 2024 | 57% | 61% | ~5,600 |
| July 2024 | 49% | 53% | ~6,200 |
| January 2025 | 56% | 60% | ~7,100 |
| July 2025 | 41% | 46% | ~8,400 |
| January 2026 | 53% | 58% | 7,863 |
Source: SRA statistical reports and SQE Four Years On: Facts and Figures
Why July sittings consistently underperform January
The January/July gap is not random. July sittings attract a higher proportion of resitters (July 2025 had 19% resitters, the highest ever recorded). Resitters pass at dramatically lower rates, which drags the overall figure down.
The July 2025 figure of 41% is the headline number most people have seen. It was a genuine outlier driven by the resitter composition of that cohort, not a structural deterioration in the exam.
Build your day-by-day SQE plan in 60 seconds
Most revision plans fail because they ignore your actual life. Enter your exam date and real available hours — get a plan that works.
- 14-day free trial
- Full 30-day plan
- 60 seconds to build
Your plan
The Resit Rate: The Most Important Stat Nobody Mentions
This is the number that changes how you should think about failing.
| Attempt | SQE1 Pass Rate | SQE2 Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|
| First attempt | ~54% | ~80% |
| Second attempt | 9.9% | 4.6% |
| Third attempt | 1.9% | 0.3% |
Source: SRA SQE Four Years On: Facts and Figures
The resit pass rate collapse is stark. Candidates who fail and resit without fundamentally changing their preparation approach almost never pass. The data makes clear that the SQE rewards thorough first-attempt preparation far more than resit attempts.
This does not mean you cannot pass on a resit. It means that resitting the same exam with the same approach and the same weaknesses is very unlikely to work. Candidates who pass on second attempts are those who identify specifically what failed and address it directly.
SQE2 Pass Rates: All Sittings
SQE2 runs four times per year (January, April, July, October). Pass rates have been substantially higher and more stable than SQE1.
| Sitting | Overall Pass Rate | First-Attempt Rate |
|---|---|---|
| April 2025 | 82% | 84% (record high) |
| July 2025 | 76% | 79% |
| October 2025 | 78% | 79% |
| Average across all sittings | n/a | 79.6% |
| Cumulative (all attempts since 2022) | 84.5% | n/a |
Source: SRA statistical reports
Why SQE2 pass rates are higher
Higher SQE2 pass rates do not mean SQE2 is easier. They reflect a more filtered cohort: only candidates who already passed SQE1 sit SQE2. The pool is smaller, more motivated, and has already demonstrated a competency threshold.
The SQE2 second-attempt pass rate (4.6%) is actually lower than SQE1's (9.9%), which suggests that SQE2 failures are harder to remediate than SQE1 failures.
SQE2 Pass Rates by Skill: What the SRA Data Shows
The SRA publishes mean scores by skill station in its annual report. The ranking is counterintuitive.
| Skill | Mean Score | What this means |
|---|---|---|
| Advocacy (oral) | 75.6% | Highest: candidates who prepare do well |
| Case and Matter Analysis | 67.4% | Mid-range |
| Client Interview and Note | 64.6% | Lowest oral: manner and structure both matter |
| Legal Drafting | 64.2% | Lowest written: most candidates overestimate this |
| Legal Research | Mid-range | n/a |
Advocacy scores highest. Drafting and client interviews score lowest. This is the opposite of what most candidates expect.
Pass Rates by Candidate Type
The SRA Four Years On report breaks down performance by candidate background.
| Candidate Type | SQE1 Pass Rate | SQE2 Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Solicitor apprentices | 70.5% | 92.9% |
| English first language | higher than average | 81% |
| Non-English first language | lower than average | 63% |
| All candidates (average) | 54% | 80% |
Solicitor apprentices dramatically outperform the cohort on both exams. The most plausible explanation is that workplace legal experience makes both exams more tractable. For SQE2 in particular, the gap (92.9% vs 80%) is substantial.
Non-native English speakers face a notable penalty on SQE2 (63% vs 81%) that is wider than on SQE1. This reflects the oral and drafting demands of SQE2 which compound language considerations in ways that MCQs do not.
Provider Pass Rates: What We Know and What We Don't
The SRA does not publish provider-level pass rate data. It earned a red rating from the Legal Services Board for delaying this commitment. In March 2026, the SRA made the preparation survey compulsory (candidates must complete it before accessing results), meaning clean provider-level data is now being collected. Official publication is expected later in 2026.
Until then, all provider pass rates are self-reported and unverified.
Self-reported figures (as at April 2026):
| Provider | Self-Reported SQE1 | Self-Reported SQE2 | National average |
|---|---|---|---|
| BPP | 68% | 91% | 53% / 78% |
| University of Law | 64% | 89% | 53% / 78% |
| City University | 62% | n/a | 53% / 78% |
| BARBRI | 58% | n/a | 53% / 78% |
These figures should be treated with caution. Providers calculate pass rates using different methodologies: some include only candidates who completed the full course, some exclude resitters, some count only those who sat in the same window as the course. None are audited.
What a 53% SQE1 Pass Rate Actually Means for You
The 53% figure is a population average across a highly diverse cohort. It includes:
- Candidates with no legal background
- International lawyers unfamiliar with English law
- Candidates who self-study with minimal resources
- Candidates who sat underprepared or on short timelines
If you are preparing with a structured approach, realistic timeline (6 to 9 months), and quality materials, your individual pass rate is likely to be meaningfully higher than 53%.
The more useful question is not "what is the pass rate?" but "what distinguishes candidates who pass from those who do not?"
The SRA data points clearly to three factors:
1. Preparation depth, not just duration Candidates who pass typically work through 2,000 to 4,000 MCQs and genuinely engage with Accounts rather than leaving it. Volume of practice correlates more strongly with success than total study hours.
2. First-attempt seriousness The 9.9% second-attempt rate makes clear that passing first time is significantly easier than recovering from a fail. Every additional sitting costs time, money, and momentum.
3. The FLK2/Accounts gap FLK2 consistently underperforms FLK1 by 4 to 6 percentage points. Candidates who treat Accounts as an afterthought or leave it to the final weeks almost always feel it in their results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SQE1 pass rate in 2026?
The SQE1 pass rate in January 2026 was 53% overall (58% for first-time candidates across 7,863 total candidates). This is published by the SRA.
Why was the July 2025 pass rate only 41%?
July 2025 had the highest proportion of resitters ever recorded (19% of the cohort). Resitters pass at just 9.9% on a second attempt. This dragged the overall figure down. First-time candidates in July 2025 passed at 46%, not 41%.
Is the SQE1 pass rate getting worse?
No clear trend. January sittings have consistently been higher than July sittings throughout the exam's history. January 2026 (53%) is in line with January 2025 (56%) and January 2024 (57%). The variation is driven by cohort composition, particularly the proportion of resitters, more than by structural changes.
When are the next SQE1 results published?
The next SQE1 sitting is April/May 2026. Results are typically published 8 to 10 weeks after the sitting, expected in July 2026.
Does the pass rate vary by provider?
Possibly, but the SRA does not publish provider-level data. Self-reported figures from BPP (68%), ULaw (64%), City (62%), and BARBRI (58%) suggest variation exists, but these figures are unaudited and not directly comparable due to different calculation methodologies.
Related:
Key takeaway
SQE1 pass rate is 53% overall (January 2026), 58% for first-time candidates. The most important number is the resit rate: 9.9% pass on a second attempt, 1.9% on a third. Treat first-attempt preparation as your only realistic opportunity. The 53% population average includes underprepared and international candidates. A structured, realistic approach meaningfully raises your individual probability.
Share this article
Written by The Qualified Path Team
The Qualified Path team is dedicated to providing accurate, up-to-date guidance for aspiring solicitors. Our content is thoroughly researched and regularly updated to reflect the latest SRA requirements and best practices.
Related Articles
SQE1 January 2026 Results: 53% Pass Rate - What the Data Shows
The SRA published January 2026 SQE1 results on 31 March 2026. 53% of all candidates passed - up from 41% in July 2025. Here's what the numbers actually tell you.
SQE1 July 2025 Results Analysis: 41% Pass Rate - What Went Wrong?
Deep dive into July 2025 SQE1 results showing 41% pass rate. Why did pass rates drop from 56% in January? What this means for candidates. Provider pass rates vs reality.
SQE1 vs SQE2: Which Is Actually Harder? (2026 Reality Check)
SQE1 pass rate is 53% (Jan 2026), SQE2 averages 80%. But harder for who? Real SRA data across every sitting, resit collapse rates, per-skill breakdowns, and exactly how to shift your preparation between the two exams.
Still unsure how to approach this?
I offer structured 1:1 SQE strategy sessions - 45 minutes, online. Whether you're deciding on a provider or want a second opinion on your study plan.
Found This Helpful?
Explore more resources and use our calculators to plan your SQE journey.