SQE Exams

SQE 1 — January 2025 Sitting

FLK1: 13-17 January 2025
FLK2: 20-24 January 2025

Bookings
Open: 1 October 2024 by seat reservation form*
Close: 5pm, 14 November 2024

Examinable law & practice cut off date (Inclusive)
13 September 2024

Results
11 March 2025

SQE 1 — July 2025 Sitting

FLK1: 14-18 July 2025
FLK2: 21-25 July 2025

Bookings
TBC

Examinable law & practice cut off date (Inclusive)
14 March 2025

Results
10 September 2025

The assessment can be booked on the SRA SQE website.

*For more information on the January 2025 SQE1 booking process, see here

This page is updated periodically but for the latest information, we recommend checking the SRA SQE website.

SQE 2 — October 2024 Sitting

Oral
First sitting: 23-24 October 2024
Second sitting: 29-30 October 2024
Third sitting: 31 October-1 November 2024

Written: 5-7 November 2024

Bookings
Open: 10am, 3 July 2024
Close: 5pm, 20 September 2024

Examinable law & practice cut off date (Inclusive)
23 June 2024

Results
20 February 2025

SQE 2 — January 2025 Sitting

Oral
First sitting: 30-31 January 2025
Second sitting: 4-5 February 2025
Third sitting: 6-7 February 2025

Written
11-13 February 2025

Bookings
Open: 10am, 16 October 2024
Close: 5pm, 12 December 2024

Examinable law & practice cut off date (Inclusive)
30 September 2024

Results
28 May 2025

SQE 2 — April 2025 Sitting

Oral
First sitting: 28-29 April
Second sitting: 30 April-1 May
Third sitting: 13-14 May
Fourth sitting: 15-16 May

Written: 6-8 May

Bookings
Open: 28 January 2025
Close: 20 March 2025

Examinable law & practice cut off date (Inclusive)
28 December 2024

Results
27 August 2025

The assessment can be booked on the SRA SQE website.

This page is updated periodically but for the latest information, we recommend checking the SRA SQE website.

Candidate fees for the SQE assessment (including resits) go up from September 2024. The increased fees will therefore first apply to anyone looking to take the October 2024 SQE2.

SQE1 — £1,888 (£944 for FLK1 and £944 for FLK2)

SQE2 — £2,902

All fees are VAT exempt.

Paying for SQE1:

Candidates book FLK1 and FLK2 separately but pay for them both in a single payment at the time of booking. FLK1 and FLK2 must also be taken in the same assessment window (unless an exemption applies).

Paying for SQE2:

Both the written and oral assessments for the SQE 2 should be booked together, and paid for at the time of booking.

Fees depend on whether the candidate has an exemption and what the exemption is for. Further details can be accessed on the SRA SQE website page.

This page is updated periodically but for the latest information, we recommend checking the SRA SQE website.

SQE1

If you fail FLK1 or FLK2, you will pay £944 to retake the exam you failed.

If you fail both FLK1 and FLK2, you will pay the full SQE1 fee of £1,888 to retake both exams.

SQE2

If you fail SQE2, you will pay the full amount of £2,902 to retake the exam.

All fees are VAT exempt.

This page is updated periodically but for the latest information, we recommend checking the SRA SQE website.

If a candidate cancels their exam after they have paid for it, they may be charged a cancellation fee. This is based on when they instructed the SRA to cancel their booking.

This page is updated periodically but for the latest information, we recommend checking the SRA SQE website.

Candidates can sit the SQE1 and SQE2 written assessments at Pearson VUE test centres in the UK and internationally.

Locations are not guaranteed until a booking window opens and candidates may need to make arrangements to travel to a test centre in a neighbouring or nearby city if the preferred location is unavailable.

Kaplan SQE has partnered with Pearson VUE to provide a network of test centres. Search the Pearson VUE test centre search tool for your nearest active SQE test centre prior to making a booking for an assessment.

SQE2 oral assessments take place in Cardiff, London, Manchester and Birmingham.

Cardiff
Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel and Spa
24 26 Newport Rd, Cardiff CF24 0DD

London
Royal College of General Practitioners
30 Euston Square, London NW1 2FB (London, Euston)

Kaplan, Islington
Main Building, 40-44 Holloway Road, Highbury East, London, N7 8JL (London, Islington)

Royal College of Surgeons of England
38-43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PE (London, Holborn)

Manchester
Marriott Manchester Piccadilly Hotel (formerly Macdonald Manchester)
91 London Road, Manchester, M1 2PG
(Note: not the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel)

Birmingham
Leonardo Royal Hotel Birmingham
245 Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2HQ

Candidates that select London as their preferred SQE2 oral assessment location may be allocated any of the London locations.

Upon arrival of the candidate at the exam centre:

• Complete registration and ID and security checks.

The candidate must bring two forms of identification to SQE1 and SQE2 written (taking place at Pearson VUE test centres).

Preferably, one of these should be the same ID the candidate used when registering.

Recommended to bring current valid passport as the primary form of identification. Alternatively, one of the following documents as a primary form of identification. (Must be valid with photo embedded).

• Photocard driving licence
• Photocard national identification card
• Photocard UK biometric residence permit

The second form of identification must contain your full name and signature (e.g. a signed debit or credit card).

If you fail to present the correct forms of identification, you will be denied entry to the examination and forfeit your examination fee.

Once seated at the workstation the test administrator will:

• log you onto your assigned workstation;
• verify that you are taking the intended assessment;
• start the assessment.

The following documents must be signed before starting the assessment:

• Fit to Sit declaration (Fit to Sit Policy)
• Confirmation of Confidentiality of content (Candidate Confidentiality Policy)
• Bound by Assessment Regulations (Assessment Regulations)

If a candidate feels that something has happened that could affect their performance during the assessment, they can submit a claim for mitigating circumstances.

Key points in the Pearson VUE testing rules:

• No personal items (including but not limited to water, mobile phones, other electronic devices, watches, purses, books and notes) are allowed in the assessment room.
• There will be a secure place to store your items during the assessment.
• You will be provided with an erasable whiteboard notepad and marker pen to be used only during the assessment. (Further details below)
• You must not eat, drink, chew gum, smoke or make noise that disturbs other candidates during the assessments.
• You will be monitored at all times during the assessments. This can include CCTV recordings.
• No dress code.
• You cannot leave the assessments early.
• If you do access water, food or medication, this is an unscheduled break and the assessment timer is not stopped (i.e. your assessment time continues to run).
• You must wear your ID badge at all times when you are in the assessment centre.

SQE1

Your SQE1 assessments will take place in a Pearson VUE test centre. After you book your assessments, an email is sent for each assessment day:

• Confirming the reporting time at the Assessment Centre
• The location
• Duration of your assessment

Please note that candidates may have different report times so please arrive at the time specified to you.

• When you arrive at the Pearson VUE test centre, you will complete registration, including an ID check.

Assessment Structure:

SQE1 consists of two assessments each of 180 questions. Each assessment takes place on a separate day.

• Each day is split into two sessions of 2 hours 33 minutes with 90 questions in each session.
• There will be a 60-minute break between the sessions, during which you may access personal belongings and leave the test centre.

Equipment and comfort aids:

• You will be provided with all necessary equipment, including an online calculator.

You may not use any of your own equipment, unless it is a comfort aid in accordance with the Pearson VUE website.

SQE2 oral assessments in Birmingham, London, Manchester or Cardiff

Assessment centres and arrival times

• Reference to travel and other arrangements– each assessment day runs from 8am – 8pm, with candidates attending for between 4.5 to 7 hours within this window.
• An email is sent after booking the SQE2 oral assessments confirming the assessment dates and the location of the assessment centre.

An email with joining instructions, containing details of what time the candidate must report at the assessment centre, is sent approximately two weeks before the assessments.

• Must arrive on time– Late entry disqualifies one from entering the assessments.

Materials, pens and calculators

All necessary materials and equipment are provided. In relation to stationary, one is provided with a calculator, black ball point pen, writing paper, and a highlighter. One may not use any other equipment.

The legal analysis/attendance note which is completed after the client interview is hand written. Assessment papers are in hard copy format and one may write on these as they see fit. Assessment papers provided to prepare for the client interview and advocacy assessments can be taken to the assessment room.

Dress code for SQE2 oral assessments

Wear clothing suitable for a business environment.

Criminal litigation advocacy assessment

Expected to stand to deliver submissions for the criminal litigation advocacy assessment (subject of course to any agreed reasonable adjustments).

Clocks

Clocks are provided in the preparation or base rooms and the assessment rooms.

• Please note that watches are not permitted to be used during the assessments and should be left with other belongings.

Assessment structure

• One will have preparation time for each assessment in a preparation room.
• Then will be escorted to the assessment room by an exam marshal for the candidate to conduct the client interview or oral presentation as appropriate.
• Post the client interview, a marshal will escort the candidate to a base room to complete the attendance note/legal analysis.
• Marshals will indicate how much time the candidates have for each element of the assessment.

Further details on timings and the assessment structure are available on the assessments in SQE2 page.

Water and refreshments

• Water is freely available in the preparation or base rooms.
• Light refreshments will be provided during registration and scheduled breaks.
• No access to one’s own water or refreshments.

SQE2 oral assessments timetabling:

Timetabling candidates.

• Random allocation of the reporting time is done once the booking window has closed.
• Candidate receives joining instructions for the oral assessment approximately two weeks before the assessment as usual, and that will state if they have been allocated a report time of 12:40 (different rules for this slot).
• This will apply for both days of the oral assessment.

Candidates with a report time of 12:40pm. 

• Includes a supervised waiting period of approximately three hours before the start of the SQE2 oral assessments.
• Seated in a quiet, comfortable environment, with convenient access to bathrooms.
• Complimentary light refreshments (hot drinks, water, fruit and biscuits) will be provided throughout the duration of the waiting period. Encouraged to bring one’s own cold lunch and refreshments as well.
• One can bring and access any hard copy materials such as books, printed materials, notes and magazines. Stationery is provided.
• Can talk to other candidates in the group. A quiet area will also be provided.
• A member of our invigilation team will be on hand to help with any questions.

During the waiting time one is not permitted to:

• Use electronic devices or have access to mobile telephones, laptops, bluetooth headphones etc.
• Leave the area to purchase any food or beverages.
• Leave the assessment centre early and return. If one decides to leave the assessment centre they will not be permitted re-entry.
• Talk to any other candidates not in the designated group.

Length of the assessment.

• The length of the assessment, including briefings, time with the assessors and pre and post oral assessment work, is approximately 2 hours per day.
• However, one may be in the assessment centre for between 4.5 to 7 hours (from the report time).
• This will be confirmed in the candidate’s joining instructions.

SQE 2 – Written Assessments 

Materials, pens, calculators, equipment, and comfort aids

• The SQE2 written assessments are computer based, with one screen per candidate.
• All necessary materials and equipment, including an online calculator, an erasable whiteboard notepad and a marker pen will be provided.
• One may not use any other equipment unless it is a comfort aid in accordance with the Pearson VUE website– provides information on pre-approval.

Length of SQE2 written assessments

• There are 12 written assessments, taken over three separate days.
• On each day, a candidate will sit four assessments.
• On each day there will be two sessions, each consisting of two assessments.

Session 1: 1 hour 30 minutes

Scheduled break: 15 minutes

Session 2: 1 hour 45 minutes

SQE2 assessment functionality

• Please see the Practice the sample questions online section of the website to better understand the functionality of the assessment platform.
• Can also test the SQE2 exam functionality on Pearson VUE in advance of the assessment.