SQE is robust, But

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has published its suite of annual reports. On the fourth full year of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), released on 21 April 2026. The overarching message is the SQE remains a robust. However, the SRA acknowledges that confidence in the qualification is not yet where it needs to be.

SRA Chief Executive Sarah Rapson noted these reports should reassure employers and candidates the SQE is a robust and rigorous assessment. Setting a high bar at the point of qualification is key to our mission to drive public trust in legal services.

SQE is Robust, but… Highlights from 2024/2025 report

On candidate numbers and performance, 13,081 candidates sat one or more SQE1 assessments during the period. Pass rates remained modest, 56% in January 2025 (unchanged from 2024) and 41% in July 2025, slightly down from 44% the previous year.

SQE2 performance improved more notably, with the overall pass rate rising from 76% to 81%, partly attributed to fewer transitional candidates sitting SQE2 without completing SQE1. Solicitor apprentices continued to perform strongly.

Candidates reported improved satisfaction with the booking process and reasonable adjustments year on year. 84% are satisfied with on the day administration. Though overall SQE1 satisfaction dipped slightly.

Fee Increases from September 2026

The SRA confirmed new fees effective from October 2026 bookings:

• SQE1 will rise to £2,006 (up from £1,934)
• SQE2 to £3,086 (up from £2,974)

The increases reflect inflation and partial costs of Welsh language translation.

SQE is Robust, but… Highlights from Independent reviewer 2025

The SQE Independent Reviewer’s role is to provide external assurance the SQE assessments are fair, defensible, and command public confidence. In his 2025 report, Ricardo Lé concludes that the SQE is robust and performing well. However, also identifies several areas still requiring attention.

What’s working well

On site candidate support at SQE2 oral venues, located in Cardiff, Manchester, Birmingham and London, received strong praise. With candidates noting professional and informative interactions with staff. The reasonable adjustments process saw meaningful improvement in 2025. Including a streamlined single application covering both SQE1 and SQE2, resulting in notably higher candidate satisfaction. Standard setting processes are described as fair and defensible. The introduction of scaled scores for SQE2 from January 2025 enables fairer comparison of results across sittings over time.

Concerns

The most significant unresolved issue is the absence of a spell

check function in SQE2 written assessments. Lé reiterates his recommendation that this be treated as urgent. Noting that without it, the assessment does not accurately replicate a real working environment for a day one solicitor. Testing on a browser based platform with spell

check capability is underway, with implementation potentially before the end of 2026.

Go Forward recommendations

Lé makes four forward looking recommendations:

1. Prioritise the spell check rollout
2. Maintain the quality of online marking and calibration sessions as candidate numbers grow in 2026
3. Monitor the impact of the newly introduced assessor performance reports
4. Improve assessment literacy among candidates, helping them better understand why the SQE is designed the way it is.

The be an adult section

This post is my summary of the reports. The reports cover additional topics worth exploring. Read them in full using the below links.

1. SRA New Release, The SRA confirms SQE is robust and improving
2. SRA Solicitors Qualifying Examination Annual Report 2024/25, 21 April, 2026
3. SRA SQE Independent Reviewer Annual Report 2025, by Ricardo Lé, SQE Independent Reviewer 21, April 2026