Solicitors Qualifying Examination, Stage 1
About SQE1
SQE1 is the first stage of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, set by the SRA and delivered by Kaplan. It tests functioning legal knowledge across two papers, FLK1 and FLK2.
At a glance
- Papers
- 2 (FLK1 and FLK2)
- Questions per paper
- 170
- Sessions
- 2 sessions of 85 questions on the same day, 2 hours 33 minutes each
- Total questions
- 340
- Question format
- Single best answer, five options
- Pass mark
- Set per sitting by the SRA using a standard-setting method; historically around 55–60%
- Sittings
- Typically two, in January and July
- Results
- Around five to six weeks after the assessment
- Fee
- £1,934 (subject to change; check the SRA)
- Attempts
- Up to three attempts within six years
- Provider
- Kaplan SQE on behalf of the SRA
Facts are maintained centrally and reviewed against official sources. Always confirm with the Solicitors Regulation Authority before booking.
Papers and subjects
FLK1 · 170 questions · 5h 6m
- Business Law and Practice
- Constitutional and Administrative Law and EU Law
- Contract Law
- Dispute Resolution
- Legal Services
- Legal System of England and Wales
- Tort
FLK2 · 170 questions · 5h 6m
- Solicitors Accounts
- Criminal Law and Practice
- Land Law
- Property Practice
- Trusts Law
- Wills and the Administration of Estates
Format
Two papers of 170 questions.
Each paper is sat in two sessions of 85 questions, each lasting 2 hours 33 minutes. This gives an average of about 1.8 minutes a question.
Every question is single best answer with five options. Ethics and professional conduct are examined pervasively across both papers rather than as a separate subject.
Preparing
How the platform maps to the assessment.
Practice questions and mocks are written in the SQE1 style and weighted by subject as the papers are. The thirteen subjects listed above are the subjects the platform covers.
Questions are not official SQE questions. The SRA website is the authoritative source for the specification, dates and fees.
Guides
All guides- Business Law and Practice SQE1 questions3 min read
- Contract Law SQE1 practice questions3 min read
- Criminal Law and Practice SQE1 questions3 min read
- Dispute Resolution SQE1 questions4 min read
- FLK1 practice questions and topics4 min read
- FLK2 practice questions and topics5 min read
- Free SQE1 mock exam4 min read
- How hard is SQE1?2 min read
Common questions
Each question is worth one mark. The pass mark is set per sitting by the SRA using a standard-setting method, so it varies between sittings.
Sittings are typically held twice a year, in January and July. Booking windows open some months in advance and are published on the SQE website.
Up to three attempts within six years. Confirm the current rules with the SRA before booking.
No. Questions are written in the style of the assessment by the platform's authors. The SRA publishes sample questions on the SQE website.
Official sources
How ready are you for SQE1?
The free diagnostic takes about 15 minutes and reports by subject.