SQE dates

SQE dates follow assessment windows: SQE1 runs in January and July, and SQE2 has windows including April and October. The exact days change each year, so check the SRA assessment dates page before you plan or book.

SQE1 sittingsJanuary and July

SQE2 windowsIncluding April and October

SQE1 resultsAbout six weeks

SQE2 resultsAbout 14 weeks

How SQE dates work

The SRA sets assessment windows in advance. SQE1 is held twice a year, in January and July. SQE2 windows include April and October, and the oral assessment in Welsh is offered in those two windows. The written tests and SQE1 are taken at Pearson VUE centres, in the UK and abroad. The SQE2 oral assessments are at a smaller number of centres in England and Wales.

We do not list exact days here. They can change and the SRA page is the only place you should trust. Check it here: SRA SQE assessment dates.

Key timings to plan around

These points matter more than the calendar day.

Point	What to know
Order	You must pass SQE1 before you take SQE2.
SQE1 results	About six weeks after the assessment.
SQE2 results	About 14 weeks after the assessment.
Attempts	Three attempts at an assessment within six years.
Law cut-off	Law as it stands four calendar months before the first assessment in a window.
Syllabus change	Updated specifications apply to assessments after 1 September 2026. First affected SQE2 is October 2026; first affected SQE1 is January 2027.

Because SQE2 results take about 14 weeks, a resit after a fail will often fall in a later window than you expect. Plan the second window as a fallback from the start.

The law cut-off in practice

The law cut-off decides which version of the law you revise. Take a window that starts in January. Four calendar months before is September. So the law you are tested on is the law as it stood in September. For January 2027, that means September 2026.

A practical rule: when you revise, write the date next to any recent change (new statute, amended rule) and check it against the cut-off. If a change came in after the cut-off, you are not tested on it.

From January 2027: what changes in SQE1

For sittings from January 2027, each FLK has 170 questions, down from 180, so 340 in total instead of 360. Each FLK has two sessions of 2 hours 33 minutes, and subjects are grouped into set sessions. See FLK1 and FLK2 for what each covers.

A worked timeline

Priya plans to qualify through both stages. Her reasoning (not dates, which she checks on the SRA page):

Choose the SQE1 window that gives her enough months for practice. She notes the law cut-off for it.
Book her SQE1 seat early, once booking opens, so she has a wider choice of centre.
Expect SQE1 results about six weeks later.
If she passes, choose the next SQE2 window. She allows time to practise oral skills out loud. See SQE2 preparation and stations.
Expect SQE2 results about 14 weeks later.

Checklist: how to check SQE dates

Open the SRA assessment dates page and note the window for the stage you want.
Note the booking and registration deadlines on that page.
Work out the law cut-off for your window.
Check your test centre. If you are abroad, check that SQE1 and the SQE2 written tests are offered near you, and plan travel for the oral.
Add the result date and a possible resit window to your calendar.
Review the fee: SQE fees.

Questions

When is the SQE1 exam?

SQE1 is held twice a year, in January and July. Check the SRA assessment dates page for the exact days in your window.

When is the SQE2 exam?

SQE2 has windows including April and October. Check the SRA assessment dates page for exact days and booking deadlines.

How long do SQE results take?

SQE1 results come about six weeks after the assessment. SQE2 results come about 14 weeks after.

Can I sit SQE2 before SQE1?

No. You must pass SQE1 before you can take SQE2.

Where do I find the SQE dates?

On the SRA SQE assessment dates page at sqe.sra.org.uk. It is the only source to rely on for exact days.

Sources: SRA: SQE assessment dates; Law Society: SQE1 and SQE2 assessments; SRA: SQE changes from September 2026. Checked 10 November 2026.