How much does SQE1 cost?
The SQE1 assessment fee is £1,934 in 2026, rising to £2,006 from September 2026, paid to Kaplan who deliver it for the SRA. That is the fee to sit the exam — preparation is separate, and it is where the real choices about cost are made.
The 2026 SQE1 fee
SQE1 costs £1,934 for sittings up to mid-2026, and the SRA has confirmed a rise to £2,006 from September 2026. The fee is paid to Kaplan and covers the assessment plus the SRA registration element, so there is no separate SRA charge on top. Fees are reviewed each year, so confirm the current figure on the official cost page before you budget.
The full cost to qualify
The exam fees are only part of the picture. To qualify through the SQE you also sit SQE2, which is £2,974, rising to £3,086 from September 2026. So the assessment fees alone come to £4,908 today and £5,092 from September 2026 — and that is before any preparation.
Preparation is where costs diverge
The fee buys you the exam, nothing more. Revision is separate, and the range is enormous: a full taught SQE1 course can run into several thousand pounds, while a verified question bank costs a small fraction of that. Since the exam rewards practising single-best-answer questions at the real standard, many candidates make a question bank the engine of their revision and add teaching only where they need it — which keeps the total down. See SQE1 prep options compared.
Keep the avoidable costs out
The most expensive thing is a resit, because you pay the assessment fee again. Budgeting for one well-prepared attempt — full syllabus coverage and a readiness read before you book — is the cheapest route in practice. See how to prepare and what happens if you fail.
Before you spend anything — try one free
Straight from the bank. Answer it, then see the worked reasoning and the tutor — no signup to try.
A supplier delivered industrial machinery to a manufacturer under a commercial sale contract. The machinery was defective and caused a fire that injured a factory worker employed by the manufacturer. The worker suffered burns and knew at once that the defective machine had caused his injuries. He wishes to bring a personal injury claim. Separately, the manufacturer wishes to sue the supplier under their contract for the financial loss it suffered when the fire damaged its factory premises. The breach and the fire both occurred on 3 March 2024. Which statement best describes the relevant primary limitation periods?
Before you book a £1,934 exam
You’ll pay nearly £4,900 in SQE fees alone. The most expensive line is a £1,934 resit — so the cheapest move is one clean pass. Find your weak spots free, first.
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Common questions
How much does SQE1 cost in 2026?
The SQE1 assessment fee is £1,934 in 2026, rising to £2,006 from September 2026. It is paid to Kaplan, who deliver SQE1 for the SRA, and it covers both the assessment and the SRA registration element. Always confirm the current figure on the official SQE cost page.
What is the total cost to qualify through the SQE?
The assessment fees alone are SQE1 (£1,934, rising to £2,006 from September 2026) plus SQE2 (£2,974, rising to £3,086 from September 2026), so the exam fees total £4,908 now and £5,092 from September 2026 — before any preparation. On top of that come preparation costs — courses or question banks — which vary widely.
Does the SQE1 fee include preparation?
No. The fee covers sitting the assessment only. Revision is separate, and this is where costs differ most: a full taught course runs into thousands, while a verified question bank costs a fraction of that. Many candidates make a question bank the core of their prep to keep the total down.
Are there extra SQE1 costs?
Possibly. Sitting at a test centre outside the UK can carry an additional location fee, and a resit means paying the assessment fee again. Budgeting for one clean, well-prepared attempt is the cheapest route in practice.
Independent SQE1 preparation for study — not legal or careers advice. Assessment fees are set by the SRA and reviewed annually; confirm the current figure on the official SQE cost page.