SQE1 Exam at a Glance

Facts verified Oct 28, 2026 against Solicitors Regulation Authority. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.

What the SQE1 is and how it works

According to Solicitors Regulation Authority, “Therefore, the total number of questions candidates answer in SQE1 overall will be 340, rather than 360.”^[1]

SQE1 forms part of the Solicitors Regulation Authority qualification route. New solicitors must follow this route unless eligible for LPC transition arrangements. The route requires a degree in any subject or an equivalent level 6 qualification, and passing both SQE1 and SQE2.

The assessment is computer-based at Pearson VUE test centres in the UK and internationally. From January 2027, SQE1 has 340 questions: 170 per FLK and 85 per session. There are 4 sessions over 2 days, with 153 minutes per session. Each FLK has a separate pass mark set by the assessment board; there is no shared pass mark to quote for both.

The SQE1 fee is £2,006, or £1,003 per FLK, and is VAT exempt. Resitting a part costs £1,003; resitting both costs £2,006. You can attempt each FLK up to 3 times. You have 6 years from the first day of your first SQE assessment attempt to pass all parts of SQE1 and SQE2.

For official details, consult the SRA’s SQE assessment-day, cost, results and resits pages. Use its booking windows and locations pages to check the published sitting dates and delivery locations.

Worked examples: how to reason through SQE1 questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: In which of the following circumstances would a statement made during 'without prejudice' negotiations be admissible in court proceedings?

1. To show that the party making the statement has admitted liability.
2. To prove that a binding settlement agreement was reached during the negotiations.
3. To argue about the costs of the proceedings after judgment has been given.
4. To demonstrate that the other party was acting unreasonably by refusing to mediate.

Answer: B. To prove that a binding settlement agreement was reached during the negotiations.

Explanation:

B is correct: without prejudice communications can be admitted to establish whether negotiations produced a binding settlement and what its terms were. This exception allows the court to resolve a dispute about the settlement itself. A is wrong because using a negotiating statement as an admission of liability is what the rule ordinarily prevents. C is not a general exception for ordinary without prejudice negotiations; wording such as without prejudice save as to costs matters. D does not automatically make protected negotiating statements admissible merely because a party alleges unreasonable refusal to mediate. Remember the distinction between proving the underlying claim and proving a settlement agreement.

Example 2

Question: A clause in a commercial contract excludes all liability for negligence. Under the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 (UCTA), such a clause between two businesses is:

1. Always void and unenforceable
2. Valid only if it satisfies the reasonableness test
3. Always valid between commercial parties
4. Valid only if agreed by a court in advance

Answer: B. Valid only if it satisfies the reasonableness test

Explanation:

B is the intended answer, but the question needs a qualification. For negligence causing loss other than death or personal injury, UCTA makes exclusion of liability subject to the reasonableness test. Liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence cannot be excluded. Because the stem says all liability, B does not accurately describe the clause’s effect across every type of loss. A is too broad because an exclusion may be effective for other loss if reasonable. C wrongly assumes commercial parties can exclude negligence liability without restriction. D invents a requirement for advance court approval. Remember to identify the type of harm before assessing whether an exclusion can operate.

Example 3

Question: What is a 'partnership' under the Partnership Act 1890?

1. A company registered at Companies House with limited liability
2. The relation which subsists between persons carrying on a business in common with a view of profit
3. A formal agreement requiring written incorporation documents
4. Two or more employees working together in an organisation

Answer: B. The relation which subsists between persons carrying on a business in common with a view of profit

Explanation:

B is correct: it gives the statutory definition of partnership under the Partnership Act 1890. The key elements are persons carrying on a business in common with a view of profit. A describes an incorporated company with limited liability, which is a different legal structure. C is wrong because a partnership can arise informally; written incorporation documents are not required to create that relationship. D is wrong because employees working together do not, merely through that cooperation, carry on a business in common as partners. Remember to examine the business relationship against the definition, rather than assuming that paperwork or a shared workplace determines partnership status.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the free SQE1 practice test to identify uncertainty. For each answer, record the rule you applied and the fact that made you choose it. Review correct answers too: a guess can hide a gap in understanding.

Choose a focused set based on those gaps, such as Contract Law, Criminal Law or Ethics & Professional Conduct. Before reading an explanation, say why the alternatives fail. If an answer depends on an unstated assumption, note that limitation rather than memorising the answer letter.

Compare your revision topics with the current official SRA assessment material. Treat our set titles as practice labels, not a verified official syllabus. Check uncertain legal rules against authoritative material, then return to the question and explain the distinction in your own words.

As test day approaches, practise maintaining attention within the official session timing of 153 minutes for 85 questions. Use the SRA’s booking and assessment-day information to check your arrangements. Keep revisiting rules you confuse instead of relying on a practice score as evidence that you will pass.