How many times can you sit the SQE?

Mar 24, 2023

Written By Nandini Jadeja

As a relatively new qualification, the ‘Solicitors Qualifying Exam’, or SQE, is still a subject which many students have questions about. Here, we take you through how many times you can sit the SQE, and how retaking the exam(s) works.

How many times can I sit the SQE?

The short answer (from the SRA website):

‘You will only be allowed three attempts at SQE1 and three attempts at SQE2. These have to be taken within six years from the first attempt of an SQE assessment. The clock starts from the first day of the first assessment you sit.’

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Do I need to re-sit the whole exam?

If you fail the SQE 1 exam, you can simply retake the part you failed on. SQE 1 is split into 2 sections, FLK1 and FLK 2 (FLK stands for ‘Functioning Legal Knowledge’). Each consists of 180 multiple choice questions, but you only need to retake the part that you failed in, not the whole of SQE1.

However, with SQE 2, you must re-sit both parts of the exam (oral and written) if you fail.

How do I go about resitting the exam?

You cannot apply to re-sit the exam until you have received all of your results. For SQE1, this is usually five-six weeks following the exam, and for SQE2 it is 14-18 weeks.

What if I fail more than three times in a six year period?

If you fail more than three times in a six year period on any of the SQE exams, you will have to reapply for each exam. Previous passes will not be carried forward into the next six year period.

For instance, if you passed FLK1 but keep failing FLK2, then you may re-sit FLK2 twice more, but only within the six-year period. If you have failed three times and need to reapply after the six year period, you must complete FLK 1 again, as well as FLK2.

Can I resit the SQE if I want to get a better result?

The SRA has strict rules about who can and cannot re-sit an exam and states:

‘You cannot re-sit an assessment you have passed to improve your marks under any circumstances.’

How about funding?

If you are not completing a training contract or being funded for the SQE by another individual/organisation, then you will have to pay to re-sit the SQE exam. Even if you are being funded by a law firm or other organisation, you may have to discuss the payment for retakes with them as there is no general rule.

What have previous pass marks been?

The pass marks in the November 2021 SQE 1 intake were:

FLK1: 57%

FLK2: 56%.

The pass mark for the April 2022 SQE2 intake was 77%

So, you can sit the SQE1 and SQE 2 three times each in a six-year period, after which you must re-apply to sit all the exams again. You can only re-sit any of the exams if you fail them, but not because you want to get a better result.

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