How difficult is the SQE exam?

Apr 02, 2023

Written By Sophie Wilson

The change from the LPC to the SQE has left many students wondering what their final year of law studies might look like. But, how difficult really is the SQE? The SQE exams are made up of two core assessments: SQE1 and SQE2. Their content is outlined below:

SQE1

SQE1 is made up of 2 lots of 180 question exams (FLK1 and FLK2). This is to test legal functioning knowledge through multiple choice questions. The areas covered are:

- Business law and practice

- Dispute resolution

- Contract

- Tort

- The legal system of England and Wales

- Constitutional and administrative law

- EU law and legal services

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SQE2

The second part of the assessment is SQE2: a single assessment that has 15 to 18 different exercises that test various skills. The first four oral legal skills assessments take place over two half days and cover interviewing, legal analysis and advocacy. The second half is 12 written legal skills assessments which take place over three half days, covering case analysis, legal research, legal writing and legal drafting.

How difficult is the SQE exam?

In 2022, BPP wrote an article on myth busting regarding the new SQE route. One of the myths that it wanted to bust was that the SQE is easier than the LPC because it is made up of multiple choice questions. They stated that answering multiple choice questions in a timed pressure environment means that finding the single best answer among similar but wrong answers is intensive. But, if it is not any easier- is it any harder?

The pass rate for SQE1 and SQE2 are 53% and 77% respectively. However, the exams were only introduced last year, so the pass rates should improve as people get more familiar with their format. You also have to consider that the SQE1 preparation course is not mandatory as per the Law Society, and so those that enter themselves for SQE1 may not have completed a preparation course.

The College of Legal Practice have also said that getting the exam technique right is a major part of succeeding the SQE. Being able to answer that many questions, and understanding the process of finding the single best answer will take time. It is evidently different to the LPC where multiple choice questions only make up a smaller percentage of the paper.

So, although different in style, the SQE questions may just take some time getting used to rather than be harder.

The final difference to highlight is that the LPC trains students up to the level of trainee where the SQE trains students to the level of a newly qualified solicitor. On the face of it, this makes the assessments seem harder. But, delving into it- surely that is why everyone is completing the course.

The course is designed as a step in the journey to qualification, and so the more it prepares you for the real world of legal work, the better it has done its job. It may be that it is more comprehensive therefore, and so although challenging, definitely beneficial.

So, to conclude- is the SQE hard? The LPC is hard in its own right. There is little point in comparing the difficulty of the two, given that the majority of current law students must now take the exam. The SQE is designed to replace the LPC, and so it is-of course- also going to be difficult. It is hard to say with such little data whether the SQE is harder.

But, instead of thinking about this question, why don’t you think of what you want to get from passing the exams? Preparing for the SQE exams will allow you to be trained to a newly qualified level.

SQE