SQE2 pass mark: how it works
The SQE2 pass mark is one overall mark across all 16 stations, set at the level of a just competent day one solicitor. There is no pass mark for each station, or for the oral or written part. The latest SQE2 pass rate we found was 83% (April 2026).
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How marking works
Each station has several criteria. Each criterion is graded from A (superior) to F (extremely poor). The grades for each station give marks, and the marks from all stations are added up. The total is compared with one overall pass mark. The standard behind that mark is a just competent day one solicitor.
The interview is marked by the assessor who plays the client, on skills only. All other stations are marked by a solicitor on skills and on application of law. Skills and application of law are tested equally. From 1 September 2026 there is also a separate criterion for ethics and professional conduct.
We do not state a figure for the pass mark on this page. For the current position, read the SRA's explanation of marking and overall pass marks, linked in the sources.
The grades
The SRA describes the grades from A to F. They are widely quoted as follows.
| Grade | Descriptor |
|---|---|
| A | Superior performance |
| B | Clearly satisfactory |
| C | Satisfactory |
| D | Unsatisfactory |
| E | Poor |
| F | Extremely poor |
These descriptors show what the assessors are asked to judge. They do not tell you the mark you need. The point to take is that a pattern of satisfactory work across many criteria is what builds a strong total, and that very poor performance on a criterion pulls the total down.
What 'no station pass mark' means for you
- A weak station does not fail you by itself. A strong station elsewhere can make up for it.
- Do not rely on that. If you are weak in a skill, the same weakness appears in several stations. Fix patterns, not single tasks.
- Every station counts. Do not give up on a task because you think you did badly. Finish and move on.
- Marks are added up. Small gains across many criteria matter, such as a clear opening, a next-steps list and an ethics sentence.
- The oral and written parts are not passed separately, so a weak oral day can be offset by strong written work, and the reverse.
Pass rates in context
Pass rates are for all candidates in a sitting. The SQE2 pass rate was 83% in April 2026 (85% for first-time candidates), up from 80% in the previous sitting. In 2024/25, 5,752 people sat SQE2. See our SQE pass rates page for SQE1 and SQE2 together.
Two cautions. First, only people who have passed SQE1 sit SQE2, so the group is already selected, and its rate is not a comparison with SQE1. Second, an average says nothing about your own chances. What helps is practising each skill and finding your weak criteria.
Turning the marking system into a study plan
- List the criteria for each skill from the SRA guidance. Write each one in your own words.
- After each practice task, give yourself a grade for each criterion with a line of evidence.
- Find criteria where you score D or lower more than once. Those are your priorities.
- Practise a fix: a structure, a phrase, a checklist item.
- Repeat a similar task a week later and compare.
You can do this by hand or with our AI client and judge, which give estimated feedback against the published criteria. Try the free taster with no sign-up. See also the SQE2 mock guide.
Checklist
- I know there is one overall pass mark.
- I have read the SRA marking explainer.
- I know the criteria for each skill.
- I grade myself by criterion, not by feeling.
- I have an error log.
- I check ethics in every task.
- I keep working in every station, however it feels.
Questions
What is the SQE2 pass mark?
There is one overall pass mark, set at the level of a just competent day one solicitor. It is not a mark per station. We do not quote a number here; check the SRA's marking explainer for the current position.
Is there a pass mark for each SQE2 station?
No. Marks from all stations are added up and compared with the overall pass mark. There is no separate pass mark for the oral or written part either.
How are SQE2 grades A to F used?
Each criterion is graded from A (superior) to F (extremely poor). The grades give marks for the station, and the marks are added across stations.
What is the SQE2 pass rate?
The latest we saw was 83% overall and 85% for first-time candidates in April 2026, up from 80% in the previous sitting.
Can I resit part of SQE2?
You have three attempts at an assessment within six years. The oral and written parts are not passed separately, so check the SRA's rules on resits before you plan.
Related
- SQE2: what it tests and how to prepare
- SQE pass rates: SQE1 and SQE2
- SQE2 ethics and professional conduct: how it is tested
- SQE2 mock: how to run one that helps
- SQE fees 2026
Sources: SRA: SQE2 marking and overall pass marks explained; SRA presentation: The SQE2 assessment; Law Society: SQE1 and SQE2 assessments; Legal Cheek: SQE2 pass rate climbs again to 83%; SRA: SQE annual report 2024/25. Checked 10 November 2026.