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‘The low SQE pass rate has me stressing’

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By Legal Cheek on

28

One aspiring lawyer is eager to know what the most challenging part is and why

Person sitting online exam
In the latest in of our Career Conundrums series, one aspiring solicitor finds themselves grappling with concerns about taking the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

“Hello, I have a career conundrum for you to post please. I am due to sit SQE1 early next year and I am really worried if I am being honest. I have read some of the comments on your website and posts on different message boards, most of which are really negative about the whole SQE experience. Also the recent story about the SQE1 pass rate dropping to 44% has me stressing! I am looking for a bit of advice for those who have been through the process about what they found the most difficult and why. I am hoping this will help me better prepare. I am also keen to hear from your readers who may not have been successful first time around, and what they did/are doing differently this time. Please keep anon, thanks.”

If you have a career conundrum, email us at tips@legalcheek.com.

SQE Careers Toolkit: Your ultimate companion in navigating the journey to solicitor qualification

28 Comments

P*ssed off

The whole thing is a mess

Reply Report comment
(20)(3)

SQE passer

Read the learning materials twice before spending time on the practice questions. You cannot pass the exam without learning the concepts properly.

I’m astonished by the 44% pass rate. If you put in the hard work, passing is a piece of cake.

Don’t stress. You can resit the exam two times.

Reply Report comment
(12)(29)

strange

What’s more likely?

A. 56% of the people attempting the exam aren’t ‘putting in hard work’.
B. The exam is flawed, overly difficult, and not fit for purpose.

Reply Report comment
(50)(6)

For the love of god

This is a false dichotomy and in any case A is more likely to be the cause of the low pass rate. ‘Putting in the work’ means really hard work (reading and understanding thousands of pages worth of technical content).

Reply Report comment
(0)(4)

Prospective SQE candidate

Any recommendations for learning materials outside of a formal course?
(I suspect part of the anxiety is the threat of TCs being withdraw unless people pass first time!)

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(2)(0)

leading legal mind

A.

Reply Report comment
(1)(6)

You got this!

One factor I think about when I see the pass rates is we actually have no idea about the level of prep each and every candidate undertook before sitting the SQE. You are not required to take a prep course, or even do any prep, to sit the SQE. You are not even required to have any legal experience or any legal knowledge. Obviously, it sounds stupid to suggest that 56% of people did not prep but I do think it is a not insignificant percentage of people who a) have failed to prepare; or b) failed to appreciate the difficulty of the exam and did not do enough prep. Plus, of course, there are those who just are not prepared for an exam style that gives you very little time to read through the question and select the most appropriate answer.
 
Ultimately, all you personally can do is work hard and hope for the best.
 
This isn’t to say that the SQE exams are easy but if people can and have passed, you can too.
 
I hope this comes across as comforting and not condescending.

Good luck!

Reply Report comment
(11)(0)

NQ at magic circle firm

Frankly, it’s an idiotic model that’s not been rolled out properly. I can only speak as someone who did the SQE1 pilot, but my suspicion is that you have to really get to grips with whatever materials the SQE course provider gives (because it is not like a lot of guidance exists such as it does with the LPC and GDL, where you can even buy the equivalent of cliff notes for the modules).

Not to mention that some people who challenged their marks had to jump through absolute hoops to get a re-check, and then it transpired that it was marked badly and they did indeed pass. As I said, terribly executed process that is going to ruin a lot of people’s futures without some urgent overhaul and intervention (or even a standstill so that people can pivot over to the LPC if they need to)

If people failed because they did not prepare well or did not have enough legal background (either academically or professionally, or both) to appreciate the content, I suspect that is only a small % of cases. I think mostly it’s down to the fact that we have a new, badly organised way of qualifying as a lawyer.

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(17)(1)

Elite US associate

If you have to worry about a multiple choice exam, you should rethink whether a legal career is suitable to you.

Reply Report comment
(12)(59)

NQ

Thanks for your valuable input here, Rupert.

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(0)(0)

Bring it on

It’s not a multiple choice exam, it’s a single most effective answer format.

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(1)(0)

Nick

You should rethink your comment you clown

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(0)(0)

But True

Exactly. Those up to the needs of the market won’t have any issue.

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(0)(0)

Senior Academic

When doing the exam, read the actual question (at the bottom of the wall of text) before reading the problem description. That way you save time by filtering out the red herrings as you read. Also, read the answer options *very* carefully and always assume that they are trying to catch you out with weird syntax voodoo.

Let’s not pretend that the SQE is a fit-for-purpose test that actually checks individuals‘ suitability as a solicitor. It’s the toxic love child of gatekeeping and ritual shaming, as dreamt up by people with zero experience in adult education.

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(34)(1)

SQE1 Passer

Unlike what “Elite US Associate” has said, the SQE1 is 0 reflection of someone’s capability to be a solicitor. It’s an incredibly difficult exam, made even more difficult by an early start (I had to get up at 4am to get to the test centre on time) and dehydration because you’re not allowed water with you. I only passed because I paid to do a prep course and studied full time so I was able to do literally hundreds of practice questions in preparation. I would also like to point out to “Elite US Associate” that it’s not simply a “multiple choice” exam. It is a single best answer exam, so you have to decide which of the potentially 5 correct responses is the most correct: a trap that I’m sure even the most “elite” associate would fall into. For people yet to sit SQE1: honestly don’t panic. You have more time in the exam than you think, so don’t stress about time pressure. Just learn the materials as best you can and do practice questions. You only really need to get 60% to pass, so don’t get stressed that you don’t know everything: you don’t need to.
A final comment to “Elite US Associate”: what a grossly unkind and unnecessary comment to make for people to read who are already incredibly stressed and worried.

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(45)(5)

Sensible comment

All sensible advice. And actually, the pass mark varies with each sitting and so tends to be a few points below 60%. Don’t be fooled by the 300/500 nonsense – the pass mark is not a consistent 60% despite the specious logic.

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(5)(0)

Elite US associate

Isn’t an MCQ basically the same as a “single best answer” question? Why make out that the exam is so difficult when over 40% of candidates passed with flying colours?

With all due respect, closing a multi-billion-pound PE deal is much tougher than taking the SQEs. If you can’t handle the SQE, it suggests you may lack the resilience and intellect needed to thrive in a legal career.

You have three chances to pass so you could use the first attempt as a test run. I passed while working full time in a band 1, elite US firm and so if I can do it, you have no excuses.

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(3)(32)

SQE1 Passer

Sadly I think you have missed the point of this post, which was for people to give tips for passing SQE1 and to allay worries. Clearly you have confused it with a platform to brag about being an associate at a “band 1, elite US firm” completing multi-billion-pound deals.

At the risk of sounding like a parent, if you don’t have anything helpful and kind to say, refrain from commenting. The writer of this post is clearly someone who is going through a stressful time, as I’m sure are many of the readers and commenters. You may have the resilience and intellect required to thrive in a legal career but you would do well to gain some empathy.

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(41)(1)

Trainee

Not everyone taking the exam is aiming at that type of legal practice. Those very students may want to practice Wills or Family Law in a high street firm. Why on earth would everybody aiming to qualify as a solicitor need to have the ability to close PE deals? There are so many practice areas that benefit from a degree of emotional intelligence and a different skillset.

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(5)(1)

Apples oranges

Where to start..

MCQ isn’t quite the same thing. If you have genuinely attempted the SQE, you should know.

It is a difficult exam and widely acknowledged to be more difficult than its predecessor the LPC. It might be that some pass with flying colours (quintile bragging), but the pass rate is no where near as high as the LPC.

With respect, closing a multi million pound PE deal is an entirely different skill to sitting the SQE. One is much easier as it does not require you to have any knowledge of case law… just to know how a transaction runs for PE clients, and to copy what your supervisor did on the last deal using the same templates (and bill the client for millions).

3 attempts to pass – these aren’t free. It’s around £5,000 a time, which if you’re lucky enough to be working for US law, is probably a week’s salary. For everyone else in the normal world, it’s a huge financial cost usually paid for by scrimping and saving – not something that most students can do twice let alone three times. And then the time commitment travel and accommodation.

That you passed whilst working for big law – probably means you had it easier – not having to worry about financing it (grants, time off, huge salary, expenses paid for) and having the privilege to be able to focus 100% on studying for it.

Your SQE experience is vastly different from the majority. It is a tough exam.

And working in an area of law that doesn’t actually require you to know much law, doesn’t really entitle you to claim that those who don’t succeed at the SQE won’t make it as lawyers, in fact, with yourself as a case in point, the opposite is more plausible.

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(9)(1)

Another SQE1 passer

“the SQE1 is 0 reflection of someone’s capability to be a solicitor”

Yes, yes, I know that’s currently the only acceptable opinion in certain circles of this profession, but obviously that is still complete nonsense. E.g., why would anyone want someone who failed FLK1 to work on their county court dispute (whether under partner supervision or not)? If I had to choose between a candidate who got 450 for their dispute resolution questions and one who got 250, I’d avoid the latter one like the plague.

If you failed SQE1, that most definitely is a reflection on your current ability to be a solicitor (depending on your individual circumstances, this will be either permanent or temporary). It’s not helpful to anyone to tell each others comfortable lies about it. Not everyone should be permitted to become a solicitor. Just like not everyone should be permitted to give investment advice or design a bridge.

Go ahead, downvote this into oblivion.

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(11)(17)

Butterfly sniffer

This. Let’s be real – no one wants to hire a subpar lawyer. People are coming up with all kinds of excuses.

Reply Report comment
(3)(0)

SQE1 Passer

There are so many points to make about how little the SQE tests the real skills of the job. However, one point that hasn’t been made above: the SQE has absolutely no social welfare law on it. For people going into any of the areas of civil law under Legal Aid, for example, the course is mostly new material and most of it is irrelevant to their jobs or futures. It is harder to pass if the exam is in fields you don’t work in, and don’t intend to work in. It’s pretty outrageous that a community care lawyer needs to know about business law but a business lawyer need never think about the law that protects ordinary people’s rights. This is one of the many ways the course is biased and doesn’t reflect the reality of the job for lots of people sitting the exam. But the examiners seem determined to dismiss these concerns, in addition to the concerns about the huge difference in outcomes for white students Vs students of colour. Clearly this exam is structurally flawed in a variety of ways, and those people defending it come across like soulless jocks who want to think passing an exam makes them special and clever.

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(1)(1)

Anonymous

I think the exam is way too difficult and unrealistic.

The amount of content that we are required to learn is a ridiculous and the exam questions are very niche and very very specific.

Anyone who does the SQE surely does put in the revision and the effort however I think the exam is just really difficult.I think it either needs to be open book or they need to have a mix of questions some easier some more difficult and I don’t think every single question should be an application one.

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(1)(0)

Michael

I highly recommend the QLTS School’s SQE1 preparation course—the mock test are excellent, and they helped me pass on my first attempt.

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(1)(0)

SRA Stan

The exam is hard, but it is not flawed – there is a difference. I passed in quintile one, and gave my all – stayed in for NYE, christmas, most weekends for 3 months. If that’s what it takes to be a part of one of the greatest professions out there, I’d do it again.

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(2)(4)

Another SQE passer

Read the experiences and journey of those who passed the exam through self study. You will identify what kind of effort and preparation is involved. And also what good looks like during the course of study. Ultimately where you source information from (ie course providers) is not as relevant as they would like you to believe.

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(0)(0)

Passed 2nd time

What a silly and ill-considered response from Another SQE passer and completely unhelpful and off-topic as well. There are many competencies that define a good solicitor: ability to get on with people, open-mindedness, curiosity and perceptiveness. Seeing everything in black and white is not one of them. Just because you have passed the first exam does not make you an expert what makes a good solicitor. Passing an MCQ means that you have passed an MCQ and it is not necessary an accurate predictor of what you going to be like at doing the job. I have worked in another capacity before I embarked on solicitors training as a career change and let me tell you there are many bad solicitors out there: sloppy, unable to express themselves well, smug, vindictive as well as downright mad.
Anyway, I passed on the second attempt. My primary mistake was trusting one source as the only material for determining the scope of the exam. I studied with one very reputable exam preparation provider and was under the assumption that if I studied the course manuals and answered thousands of MCQs, I’d pass the exam. Unfortunately, the style of the questions and depth to which some of them went into during the course did not resemble enough the style and the scope of the exam.
My advice is, if you can afford it, go for a reputable preparatory course provider but do not count on it as an ultimate solution. Read some other sources, for example the University of Law SQE1 books or Revise SQE by revise4law. Good source is also online discussions of different law concepts provided by solicitors’ websites. Try to get as thorough knowledge of procedural steps as possible.
I also thought that in my exam set there was a lot of emphasis on business law. So knowing for example how a partnership can end up being terminated, entities that can become a director of a private company and a good knowledge of the status of floating charges on insolvency in relation to ring-fencing can stop you stumbling on these types of questions. It all seems easy after the exam nerves have gone, so it is good on the day to have round, solid understanding of certain key topics.
I would not like to have to get up at 4 am on the day of the exam, so unfortunately I had to spend even more and I stayed in a hotel near the testing centre.

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(2)(1)

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