Latest SQE2 results show a 76% pass rate among 959 candidates who sat the exam this summer
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has released the latest Solicitors Qualifying Examination 2 results, confirming that 76% of candidates passed the assessment. The exam was taken by 959 students between late July and early August, and the newly published figures show a one-point increase on the 75% pass rate recorded in May.
The SRA report states that 809 of those sitting the exam were first-time candidates. This group achieved a slightly higher pass rate of 79%, indicating a small uplift compared with the wider cohort. SQE2 is designed to test practical legal skills and the application of legal knowledge, and the assessment includes 16 stations in total. Twelve of those stations take the form of written exercises, while four are oral assessments.
The examination forms the second stage of the SQE route to qualification. Candidates must first pass SQE1, which focuses on functioning legal knowledge. The most recent SQE1 results, released in October, showed a pass rate of 41%, the lowest recorded since the introduction of the centralised assessments. This contrast between the SQE1 and SQE2 outcomes forms part of the developing data set that the regulator publishes after each assessment cycle.
According to the SRA, SQE2 is constructed to assess a range of skills typically required by solicitors, including legal drafting, analysis, advocacy and interviewing. Each station is designed to test competence in applying legal knowledge in practical scenarios rather than recalling information in isolation. Together, the 16 stations form a broad-based assessment of a candidate’s readiness for practice.
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The SRA’s reporting structure aims to improve transparency around the new qualification route. The regulator publishes pass rates and candidate numbers after each exam cycle, and the latest data for SQE2 reflects continuing interest in the new pathway. The statement confirms that the exam was delivered to candidates over a period spanning late July to early August, with results issued in November.
The small increase in the overall pass rate is recorded without further comment in the SRA’s statistical release. The figures are presented as part of the regular reporting schedule that accompanies each sitting. Pass rates can vary between assessment windows, and the SRA publishes the raw numbers without interpretation or speculation on underlying causes.
SQE2 is taken by candidates following completion of SQE1, and the contrasting performance between the two assessments continues to attract attention. While SQE2 results have remained broadly consistent in recent sittings, the most recent SQE1 outcome showed a significant drop in performance. The 41% pass rate recorded in the latest SQE1 cohort marks the lowest result since the centralised exam regime was introduced, according to the regulator’s published figures.
The SRA states that the two assessments measure different competencies. SQE1 tests functioning legal knowledge, using a multiple-choice format, while SQE2 focuses on practical application and skills. The SRA publishes separate reports for each stage to reflect the different nature of their assessment design.
The latest SQE2 data confirms that most candidates sitting the skills-based exam this summer were successful. With 959 candidates overall and 809 taking the exam for the first time, the majority of candidates passed, and first-time candidates recorded a higher success rate. The SRA continues to provide the data as part of its reporting framework for the SQE qualification regime.