SQE1 pass rates rebound from record low
updated on 08 April 2025
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Last week, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) announced the results for the January 2025 sitting of part one of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE), revealing a pass rate of 56%. This marks a slight recovery from last summer's record low pass rate of 44%, aligning the current pass rate with that of January 2024.
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. A total of 6,782 candidates completed both parts of SQE1 this January, with 5,908 of them taking it for the first time. First-attempt candidates had a slightly higher pass rate of 60%.
Find out everything you need to know about the SQE and what it takes to pass the exam.
The latest SQE1 pass rate figures are below the recent record-high SQE2 results, where 81% of candidates passed the October 2024 exam sitting. However, SQE2 pass rates are typically higher than SQE1, with all three previous SQE2 results exceeding 70%.
Candidates must first pass the SQE1 before attempting the SQE2, unless you have been granted an exemption by the SRA. The next SQE1 exam sitting will take place in July 2025.
For more information about the SQE, including preparation courses, the assessments and more, head to LawCareers.Net’s SQE hub, sponsored by The University of Law.
