SQE1 pass rates rebound from previous record low
updated on 01 April 2026
Dimitar Dimitrov is a content and engagement coordinator at LawCareers.Net
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Just over half of candidates who sat the first stage of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE1) in January 2026 passed, according to new figures released by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The regulator’s statistical report, published yesterday, confirmed an overall pass rate of 53%, marking an improvement from last summer’s record low rate of 41%.
The latest figures revealed that first-time candidates performed better, achieving a 58% pass rate. This represents an increase from the 46% recorded in the July 2025 sitting, although it remains below the 60% first‑attempt pass rate seen in January 2025.
SQE1 is made up of two exams, each containing 180 multiple-choice questions, and tests how candidates would apply their legal knowledge in real-life scenarios.
To pass SQE1, candidates must achieve a pass mark in both of the assessment’s components – Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) 1 and FLK2. In the January 2026 sitting, 62% of all candidates passed FLK1, while 57% passed FLK2. This is an uplift from 51% for FLK1 and 48% for FLK2 from the previous sitting.
The report also highlighted persistent disparities in outcomes across different demographic groups. White candidates recorded a 67% pass rate, compared with 47% for Asian or Asian British candidates, and 38% for Black or Black British candidates. Candidates from mixed/multiple ethnic groups recorded a 64% pass rate.
Educational background similarly appeared to influence results. Students who attended an independent or fee‑paying school between ages of 11 to 16 achieved a 71% pass rate, compared with 57% for those who went to non-selective state-run or state-funded schools. Degree classification also correlated with performance: candidates with a first‑class degree achieved a 79% pass rate, compared with 57% for those with a 2:1 and 20% for those with a 2:2.
The data also showed that women accounted for 64% of candidates and achieved a 56% pass rate, while men made up 34% of candidates and recorded a 60% pass rate. Meanwhile, 16 to 24‑year‑olds accounted for the largest share of candidates (53%) and recorded the highest pass rate at 62%. This compared with a 57% pass rate among 25 to 34‑year‑olds and 41% among those aged 35 to 44.
Qualified lawyers made up 22% of candidates but recorded a pass rate of 47%, compared with a 61% pass rate among candidates who weren’t yet qualified.
The next SQE1 sitting is scheduled for July 2026.
