Is the SQE hard? An honest answer

Is the SQE hard? SQE1 is, by the numbers: 42% of candidates passed in July 2026, and 41% in July 2025, a record low. SQE2 had an 83% pass rate in April 2026, but most people who sit it have already passed SQE1.

Is the SQE hard? What the numbers say

SQE1 pass rates reported in the legal press ranged from 41% to 56% across the sittings we cover: 56% in January 2025, 41% in July 2025, 53% in January 2026 and 42% in July 2026. In July 2026 the rate for first-time candidates was 47%, and 23% to 28% of candidates in each FLK paper were resitting. SQE2 was 83% in April 2026, and 80% the sitting before. See SQE pass rates for the table.

These numbers tell you two things. First, SQE1 is passed by fewer than six in ten candidates, so you cannot treat it as a formality. Second, the SQE2 rate is higher partly because most people who sit it have already passed SQE1. It does not show that SQE2 is easy. Each criterion is graded from A to F, and the skills are new to many candidates.

Is the SQE open book?

No. SQE1 is closed book: two FLK papers, each with single best answer questions with five options. You cannot bring statutes or notes into the room. The SQE1 specification says you need to know a case name or a section number only where it is the normal name for a principle, such as Rylands v Fletcher. SQE2 materials are provided within the tasks, and some stations, such as legal research, give you extracts to work from. Read SQE1 and SQE2 for the formats.

Is the SQE multiple choice?

SQE1 is. Each question gives a short scenario and five options, and exactly one fits best. That is not the same as being easy: several options can be arguable, and you must pick the one that fits best. SQE2 is not multiple choice. It has 16 stations: 4 oral (client interview with attendance note, and advocacy) and 12 written tasks (case and matter analysis, legal research, legal writing and legal drafting). Try the format with SQE1 practice questions and a timed client interview.

Is the SQE harder than the LPC?

We cannot give a fair answer from sources. The two are built differently. The LPC was a taught course, and the SQE is a pair of national assessments that anyone can prepare for in their own way. The LPC route is closed to most new candidates now, so the question matters mainly to those with a choice, see SQE vs LPC. Be wary of providers who claim one is easier.

Is the SQE worth it?

It is the route the SRA now uses for nearly everyone, so the question is usually how to do it well. The costs are real: £2,006 for SQE1 and £3,086 for SQE2 from 1 September 2026, plus preparation and two years of work experience. See SQE fees. The benefit is admission as a solicitor of England and Wales. We make no claims about salaries or job prospects because we have no sourced figures. If you are a qualified lawyer, check exemptions first, since they may reduce the work.

What makes it hard, and what helps

• Volume: 13 subject areas in two papers. Make a plan by subject and review weak ones weekly.
• Pace: under two minutes a question. Practise timed sets.
• Distractors: two options often look right. Learn to say why the second-best fails.
• Skills: SQE2 needs spoken and written practice, not reading. Do it early.

See how to prepare for the SQE.

Questions

Related

• SQE pass rates: SQE1 and SQE2
• SQE1 practice questions: how to answer single best answer items
• SQE2 mock: how to run one that helps
• SQE vs LPC: which route applies to you
• SQE fees 2026
• How to prepare for SQE1 and SQE2

Sources: Legal Cheek: SQE1 pass rate drops to 42%; Legal Cheek: SQE2 pass rate climbs to 83%; SRA: SQE1 assessment specification; SRA: SQE annual report 2024/25. Checked 10 November 2026.