SQE cost calculator
The SQE costs £5,092 in assessment fees for SQE1 and SQE2 together (£2,006 for SQE1 and £3,086 for SQE2, for assessments from 1 September 2026). Use the calculator to add resits and preparation and see what the whole route may cost you.
What the SQE fees cover
The SQE1 fee covers both functioning legal knowledge assessments, FLK1 and FLK2. The SQE2 fee covers the four oral and twelve written stations. The fees are set by the SRA and paid when you book. They do not include preparation, travel to an assessment centre, or the cost of time off work.
If you fail, you pay again to resit. You can take each assessment up to three times within six years, so a resit is a real cost to plan for. The calculator's resit line uses the full SQE1 fee as an upper estimate; resitting only one FLK assessment costs less, and the SRA lists the current figure on its fees page.
Why budget for a resit?
Recent SQE1 pass rates have been between 41% and 56% of all candidates in a sitting, and SQE2 pass rates have been higher, around 80% to 83% in recent sittings (see SQE pass rates). Many candidates therefore keep money aside for one SQE1 resit even if they do not expect to need it. The cheapest resit is the one you avoid by sitting timed mocks before the real exam.
Preparation costs vary widely
Preparation ranges from free resources to full courses costing a few thousand pounds. Prices seen on 9 November 2026 included question banks from about £70, monthly subscriptions from about £28 a month, and full courses around £2,000 to £3,000. Choose by what you lack: if you know the law but have never interviewed a client or argued before a judge, live SQE2 practice matters more than more reading.
SQE Mock passes cost £19 for 7 days, £49 for 30 days and £99 for 90 days, with a free SQE2 client interview with no sign-up and a free SQE1 sample.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Check exemptions first. Qualified lawyers may be able to apply for an exemption from SQE1 or SQE2. See SQE for foreign lawyers.
- Book when you are ready. A timed mock score tells you whether you are ready to pay £2,006.
- Use free practice before you buy a course. Find your weak subjects with the free SQE1 questions and spend on those.
- Plan your time. The SQE revision timetable shows whether your hours are enough before you book.
Questions
How much does the SQE cost?
The assessment fees are £2,006 for SQE1 and £3,086 for SQE2, £5,092 in total, for assessments from 1 September 2026. Preparation, travel and resits are extra.
How much is an SQE1 resit?
A full SQE1 resit costs the full SQE1 fee. Resitting only one FLK assessment costs less; check the current figure on the SRA fees page before booking.
Did the SQE fees go up in 2026?
Yes. From 1 September 2026 SQE1 rose to £2,006 from £1,932. SQE2 is £3,086.
Is the SQE cheaper than the LPC?
The SQE assessment fees are £5,092 in total. What the whole route costs depends on preparation and resits, which this calculator lets you add.
Do I pay for SQE1 and SQE2 at the same time?
No. You book and pay for each when you register for that assessment, and you must pass SQE1 before SQE2.
Related
Sources: SRA: SQE fees; SQETrack: SQE fee changes from September 2026; Legal Cheek: SQE1 pass rate July 2026; Legal Cheek: SQE2 pass rate April 2026. Checked 10 November 2026.