SRA releases record-high SQE2 results
updated on 24 February 2025
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Last week, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) released the SQE2 results for the October 2024 exam sitting, revealing the highest pass rate to date at 81%. This was a significant jump from the previous three sittings in 2024, where 73% passed in January, 79% in April and 74% in July.
Check out this Feature for everything you need to know about the Solicitor’s Qualifying Exam (SQE) and read this guide to discover more about the different SQE preparation courses on offer.
This was the ninth sitting of the SQE2 assessment, which comprises of 12 written exams and four oral assessments. A total of 1,026 candidates sat the exam, with 840 of them taking it for the first time. First-attempt candidates also had a high pass rate of 83% – a jump from 76% in January, 81% in April and 77% in July 2024.
The increase in pass rates contrasts with the most recent results for SQE1, which fell to 44% in July, according to results released in October. This was a drop from previous pass rates of 51% in January 2023, 53% in July 2023 and 56% in January 2024.
For candidates that have passed both exams, the next step is to apply to admission to the roll of solicitors. Meanwhile, candidates that failed SQE2 can resit the exam in April.
Candidates are allowed three sittings of each exam within a six-year period. If they fail either of the exams three times they must “wait until that six-year period expires before reapplying, and previous passes will not be carried forward”, according to the SRA.
Read this Oracle for more on the time limits on different law exams and courses.
