SQE 1 Update: SRA Rationales vs. The Law Society Toolkit
SQE 1 Update: SRA Rationales vs. The Law Society Toolkit. SRA confirms no new questions for 2026. Learn how to use these two in your prep.
The SRA confirmed on 22 May 2026 that no new SQE 1 sample questions will be released this year. Instead, candidates are getting rationale on the existing 220 questions late in 2026.
At the same time the Law Society has released a new digital toolkit. With the aim to identify single best answer questions, filling the same gap candidates have flagged for years.
SQE 1 Update
What the SRA is publishing and when
Toward the end of 2026, the SRA will publish the rationale for the correct options in the existing SQE 1 sample materials. This is the first time stakeholders will get an official rationale alongside each sample question, rather than reverse engineering it themselves or relying entirely on prep provider commentary. The SRA explicitly cites further feedback from stakeholders as the reason for the shift.
Why this matters for your prep
For three years running, new sample questions have dropped at the end of the calendar year. This year, redirect that energy. Use the rationale to review your reasoning on the 220 sample questions already published, even when you got the answer right. Most marks are lost on the wrong answer reasoning, where you eliminated an option for the wrong cause and got lucky.
What the law society toolkit adds
The Law Society’s new SQE 1 Toolkit fills a similar gap, available now. You get detailed rationale from subject specialists on why the correct option is the single best answer, alongside training on time management and exam day technique. The toolkit also covers stress management and revision planning. It is online and instant access, which suits candidates who want structure without committing to a full prep course.
How to use both together
If you sit in January 2027, the Law Society toolkit is what you have right now. Use it to build the habit of asking why each option is right or wrong, not just which one to pick. When the SRA’s official rationale lands at year end, treat it as your benchmark. Compare your reasoning against the regulator’s logic, and use the toolkit’s explanations as a second perspective.
Links: SQE 1 Update
- SRA May 22, 2026 news release
- SRA SQE 1 Sample questions
- Law Society SQE 1 tool kit
