SQE Pass Rate 2026: SQE1 53%, SQE2 80% — Full SRA Data Analysis
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.
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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 |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | 80% | 79% |
| 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% / 80% |
| University of Law | 64% | 89% | 53% / 80% |
| City University | 62% | n/a | 53% / 80% |
| BARBRI | 58% | n/a | 53% / 80% |
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.
SQE1 July 2026: What to Expect from the Results
SQE1 July 2026 (Sitting 10) ran from 13 to 24 July 2026. Results are expected on 8 September 2026, approximately seven weeks after the exam window closes.
Based on the historical pattern, a July sitting should be treated differently from a January sitting when forming expectations:
- First-attempt candidates in July sittings have historically passed at 46–53%.
- The overall July rate is dragged lower by resitters, who make up a higher share of July cohorts.
- July 2025 was an outlier at 41% overall, driven by a record 19% resitter share. July 2026 is unlikely to repeat that extreme.
- A reasonable expectation for July 2026, if the cohort composition is similar to July 2024, is an overall pass rate in the 48–52% range, with first-time candidates closer to 52–55%.
If you are waiting for July 2026 results, the 8 September 2026 release date is confirmed. Results arrive by email from Kaplan in the morning. You will receive a score report for FLK1 and FLK2 separately, along with an overall pass or fail determination.
If you fail July 2026, the next SQE1 sitting is January 2027 (11–22 January). Registration opens 8 September 2026 — the same day as your results — and closes 20 November 2026. Note that the fee rises to £2,006 for both papers from September 2026.
SQE1 July 2026 Results: How to Interpret Your Score Report
The SQE1 score report shows a scaled score for each paper (FLK1 and FLK2), not a raw correct/incorrect count. The pass mark is not a fixed number of correct answers; it is set by a standard-setting panel after each sitting using the Modified Angoff method.
Key things to understand about your score report:
If you passed both papers: You have passed SQE1. You can now register for SQE2. The score does not carry forward or affect SQE2 in any way.
If you passed one paper and failed one: You only need to resit the failed paper. You do not need to repeat the paper you passed. A single-paper resit costs £1,003 (from September 2026). This is one of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of SQE1.
If you failed both papers: You must resit both FLK1 and FLK2. The combined resit fee is £2,006 (from September 2026). Review both score reports carefully — a large gap between FLK1 and FLK2 scores tells you where to focus your preparation.
Score bands rather than percentages: The SRA reports results in score bands, not precise percentages. A result close to the pass mark in the fail band is not the same as a result significantly below it. Candidates who narrowly fail frequently pass on a focused resit; those who fall well below the pass mark typically need more fundamental preparation work.
The FLK1 vs FLK2 Gap: Why It Matters for Your Prep
FLK2 consistently underperforms FLK1 across almost every sitting. The gap in January 2026 was 5 percentage points (62% FLK1, 57% FLK2). In some sittings the gap has been as wide as 8 points.
Understanding why this gap exists is the most actionable thing you can take from the pass rate data.
FLK2 subject composition:
| Subject | Difficulty driver |
|---|---|
| Criminal Law and Practice | Procedure-heavy, easy to confuse civil and criminal rules |
| Property Practice | Transaction sequences require precise procedural knowledge |
| Land Law | Case law density; registration vs unregistered complications |
| Trusts Law | Abstract concepts, trust creation formalities |
| Wills and Estates | Succession rules frequently counterintuitive |
| Solicitors Accounts | The only numerical subject; penalises candidates with no accounts background |
Accounts is the single biggest driver of FLK2 underperformance. Roughly 40% of candidates report leaving Accounts topics significantly underprepared. Candidates who build Accounts competency early — before fatigue sets in — consistently score better on FLK2 overall.
A practical rule: if you are in the second half of your SQE1 preparation and you have not yet started Solicitors Accounts in earnest, start it now regardless of where you are in the syllabus order.
What Resitter Data Actually Tells You About Preparation
The resit collapse (9.9% second-attempt pass rate, 1.9% third) is the most counterintuitive finding in the SRA data, and the most practically important.
It does not mean that failing SQE1 is terminal. It means that candidates who fail and resit with the same preparation approach almost never pass. The data reflects what happens when people repeat the same process and expect a different result.
The candidates who pass on a second attempt share identifiable characteristics:
1. They changed their preparation method, not just their effort level. More hours doing the same things produces marginal improvement. Switching from passive reading to active retrieval practice (timed MCQs, blurting, spaced repetition) produces structural changes in retention.
2. They identified specific topic gaps rather than general weakness. "I need to study more" is not a plan. "My FLK2 score was 48%, with Land Law and Accounts as my weakest subjects" is a plan. Score reports give you this information precisely.
3. They treated Accounts as a skill to build, not a topic to memorise. Solicitors Accounts questions test application of the SRA Accounts Rules to specific scenarios. Candidates who pass on resit typically spend 4 to 6 weeks specifically on Accounts practice questions, not notes revision.
4. They sat at a January sitting, not a July sitting. Of resitters who pass on their second attempt, a disproportionate number sit in January. This is not random. January cohorts are less fatigued, and the January sitting historically has a higher pass rate regardless of attempt number.
How Pass Rates Vary by Candidate Background
The SRA Four Years On report provides the most detailed breakdown of pass rates by candidate type ever published.
By legal background:
Solicitor apprentices pass at 70.5% on SQE1 and 92.9% on SQE2 — dramatically above average. The explanation is simple: they are doing legal work full-time while studying. Workplace context makes abstract legal concepts concrete in ways that self-study and classroom learning cannot replicate.
For candidates without current legal experience, this finding is instructive. Taking any legal role — even a paralegal position outside your target practice area — while preparing for SQE1 meaningfully improves your probability of passing.
By first language:
Non-native English speakers pass SQE1 at slightly lower rates than native speakers (the SRA does not publish the precise gap for SQE1). The SQE2 gap is more significant: 63% vs 81%. The oral and drafting components of SQE2 compound language considerations that MCQs do not.
For non-native speakers preparing for SQE2, the practical implication is clear: oral practice in English, specifically using the vocabulary of the five SQE2 practice areas, matters more than additional time on substantive law revision.
By route to SQE:
Candidates who hold a UK law degree pass at higher rates than non-law graduates and overseas lawyers. The gap narrows substantially for SQE2, where prior legal training is less predictive than preparation quality.
Overseas lawyers — particularly US-qualified attorneys — face a specific challenge: the SQE tests English and Welsh law across all subjects, including areas (Land Law, Trusts) that have no direct US equivalent. Candidates who sit without covering these gap subjects thoroughly fail at higher rates than other first-time candidates.
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.
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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.
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