SQE1 pass rate: every sitting since 2021
The SQE1 pass rate recovered to 53% in January 2026, after falling to a record low of 41% in July 2025. Here is the full history from the SRA — every sitting since the exam began — what drives the swings, and how to land on the right side of them.
Reflects the January 2026 sitting · every figure verified against the SRA source, last verified 5 July 2026 · download the data (CSV) — free to cite with attribution.
The latest sitting (January 2026)
- 53% overall pass rate — a recovery from July 2025’s record low.
- 58% of first-time candidates passed.
- 7,863 candidates sat both papers; about 14% were resitting.
Every SQE1 sitting, 2021–2026
| Sitting | Candidates | First-attempt | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2021 | 1,073 | 53% | 53% |
| July 2022 | 1,829 | 55% | 53% |
| January 2023 | 3,031 | 54% | 51% |
| July 2023 | 3,475 | 56% | 53% |
| January 2024 | 6,061 | 59% | 56% |
| July 2024 | 5,006 | 48% | 44% |
| January 2025 | 6,782 | 60% | 56% |
| July 2025 | 5,851 | 46% | 41% (record low) |
| January 2026 | 7,863 | 58% | 53% |
Overall means candidates who passed both FLK1 and FLK2, and the candidate count is those who sat both papers. The rate has moved between 41% and 56% across the nine sittings, with a clear seasonal pattern: January sittings run higher (53% in January 2026, 56% in January 2025) and July sittings lower (41% in July 2025, 44% in July 2024). November 2021’s first-attempt rate equals its overall rate because every candidate at the inaugural sitting was sitting for the first time.
How many candidates eventually pass
A single sitting’s rate undersells the full picture. The SRA reports that across all attempts about 54% pass first time, a further 10% on the second attempt, and 2% on the third — a cumulative pass rate of roughly 66%. Around two-thirds of everyone who attempts SQE1 gets there, but resits cost the full fee again and you only get three attempts in six years.
Do practice scores predict real results? A pre-registered pilot
On 8 September 2026 the SRA releases the July 2026 results. Before any of those outcomes are knowable, we have registered the mock performance of Lawdojo’s July-sitting cohort — so that when results land, the comparison between practice scores and real outcomes is verifiable rather than assembled after the fact. We will publish what the comparison shows either way.
The registration rule, fixed on 14 July 2026:
- Finalised full 90-question Lawdojo mock papers only.
- First attempt per paper.
- Completed before 00:00 UTC on 13 July 2026 — the day the July FLK1 window opened, so every registered score predates the assessment.
- Where a candidate completed more than one eligible paper, their registered score is the mean across those papers.
Cohort registered: 4 candidates, 6 eligible papers. Score cells below n=10 are withheld — at this sample size, published bands would be identifiable. Instead, the underlying extract is committed by hash below; on 8 September 2026 the outcome-matched scores will be published for candidates who consent, and in aggregate otherwise.
Commitment: SHA-256 f1a4b59f93984dbd27fbbb072ffb4a55c1e179dc697915148fdf5487d1b2a1d6 over the canonical extract — a UTF-8 CSV with LF line endings, header user_prefix,completed_utc,paper,correct,total,pct, one row per eligible paper, sorted by completion time. The extract will be published alongside the September update so the hash can be independently verified.
Limitations, stated plainly: four candidates establish a collection method, not a predictive model. The cohort is self-selected paying users, and whether each registered candidate actually sat in July is confirmed only when results arrive. Lawdojo mock percentages are not equivalent to official SQE1 scores — each FLK has its own pass mark, set by the SRA’s assessment board for each sitting with statistical equating (SRA marking methodology) — so the September comparison will be reported as mock score vs pass/fail outcome, never as a score-to-score equivalence.
The commitment: outcomes will be published on this page on 8 September 2026, whatever they show. The registration repeats for the January 2027 cohort, and the sample grows every sitting. This page updates every SRA results day — next update: 8 September 2026.
Why the pass rate is what it is
SQE1 is standard-set. The mark needed is fixed for each sitting against a consistent competence standard, so you cannot aim at a set percentage in advance — you have to be ready against the standard itself. The assessment is broad, covering 137 areas of functioning legal knowledge across two papers, and it rewards candidates who are solid everywhere rather than strong in a few subjects. A lower pass rate reflects the cohort that sat while the standard is held constant.
What this means for you
Treat the pass rate as a prompt to check where you stand before you book. Even in January 2026’s recovery to 53%, nearly half still did not pass — and in July 2025 it was 59%. The candidates who pass are the ones who practised at the real standard and pace, found their weak areas early, and closed them. Hoping is how the rest walked in.
- Practise single-best-answer questions at real exam pace, the way the exam tests you.
- Cover the whole syllabus — both papers, all 137 areas — because the exam does.
- Track your readiness honestly, so you book when the data says you are ready.
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Before you book a £1,934 exam
Even in January 2026's recovery, nearly half didn't pass SQE1 — and in July 2025, 59% didn't. The candidates who pass are the ones who knew where they stood before they booked. So find out.
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Common questions
What is the SQE1 pass rate?
In the most recent sitting — January 2026 — the SRA reported an overall pass rate of 53% and a first-attempt pass rate of 58%. That is a recovery from July 2025, which at 41% overall (46% first-attempt) was the lowest since the exam began. Across every sitting since 2021 the overall rate has ranged between 41% and 56%.
What is the SQE1 pass mark?
There is no fixed pass mark. SQE1 is standard-set, so the mark needed is decided for each sitting against a consistent competence standard and the difficulty of that paper. You cannot aim at a set percentage in advance, which is why practising at the real standard matters more than chasing a number.
Do you have to pass both FLK1 and FLK2?
Yes. SQE1 is made up of two papers — Functioning Legal Knowledge 1 and 2 — and the overall pass rate counts only candidates who passed both. You need to be solid across the whole syllabus, not strong in one paper and weak in the other.
Why does the SQE1 pass rate swing between sittings?
There is a clear seasonal pattern: January sittings run higher (56% in January 2025, 53% in January 2026) and July sittings lower (44% in July 2024, 41% in July 2025), alongside a high share of resitting candidates. Each sitting is standard-set to the same competence level, so the rate reflects the cohort that sat — the exam rewards candidates who arrive genuinely ready across all 137 areas rather than hoping on the day.
How many people eventually pass SQE1?
About two-thirds. The SRA reports that across all attempts roughly 54% pass on the first try, a further 10% on the second, and 2% on the third — a cumulative pass rate of about 66% of everyone who attempts SQE1.
How many times can you resit SQE1?
You can take each SQE assessment up to three times within a six-year period. Resits cost the full fee again and a growing share of candidates need them, so it is worth being ready before you book the first attempt.
Is SQE1 getting harder?
The standard is held constant between sittings, so a lower pass rate reflects the cohort that sat rather than a moved goalpost. What has changed is volume: candidate numbers have grown from 1,073 at the first sitting in 2021 to 7,863 in January 2026.
Sources — the SRA/official results publication for every sitting: Nov 2021 · Jul 2022 · Jan 2023 · Jul 2023 · Jan 2024 · Jul 2024 · Jan 2025 · Jul 2025 · Jan 2026; The SQE four years on — facts and figures (cumulative figures and attempts); SQE Annual Report 2021/22 (Nov 2021 first-attempt breakdown). Figures as reported by the SRA; overall pass rate counts candidates who passed both papers. Every figure on this page was checked against the linked source on 5 July 2026. Cite this page freely with attribution; the dataset is downloadable as CSV.