SQE2 Preparation Guide: Format, Skills, Pass Standard and 2026-27 Dates

SQE2 preparation comes down to practising the six skills the exam tests (client interviewing, advocacy, case and matter analysis, legal research, legal writing and legal drafting) across five practice areas, under timed conditions, before you sit 16 stations in a single assessment. This guide covers the format, who can sit it, the pass standard, results timing and the 2026-27 sittings for England and Wales, using the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) SQE website as the source throughout.

What SQE2 is

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) has two parts. SQE1 tests functioning legal knowledge. SQE2 tests practical legal skills. According to the SRA, SQE2 is a single assessment with 16 stations, made up of 12 written and 4 oral stations, and you must reach the overall pass mark. The written and oral parts must be completed in the same assessment window. For the wider picture, see our guide to the Solicitors Qualifying Examination explained.

Figures below follow the SRA's SQE2 assessment specification, which applies to assessments from 1 September 2026 (the current edition).

Who can take SQE2

The SRA says you must pass SQE1 before taking SQE2, unless the SRA has granted you an exemption. You also need an SQE account and must complete the pre-booking steps before booking.

The degree requirement sits at the point of qualifying, not at the exam booking stage. The SRA's SQE route page lists four things you need to qualify as a solicitor: a degree in any subject or an equivalent level 6 qualification, a pass in both SQE1 and SQE2, two years' full-time (or equivalent) qualifying work experience, and passing the SRA's background checks and suitability requirements.

Attempt limits matter for planning. According to the SRA, you have six years from your first SQE assessment to pass both parts, with a maximum of three attempts at each part. After three failed attempts you must wait until the six-year window expires before starting again, and earlier passes do not carry forward.

SQE2 format at a glance

The written stations

The 12 written stations are spread over three days. According to the specification, each day covers four skills: case and matter analysis, legal drafting, legal research and legal writing. Day 1 has two sets in dispute resolution and two in criminal litigation. Day 2 has two in property practice and two in wills and administration of estates. Day 3 is all business law and practice.

The assessment is computer-based with one screen per candidate. The SRA says an online calculator, an erasable whiteboard and a marker are provided. Your start time applies to all three days, and the timer keeps running during unscheduled breaks.

The oral stations

The four oral stations are held over two days, each a half-day. Per the specification, Day 1 is advocacy (dispute resolution) plus an interview and attendance note or legal analysis (property practice). Day 2 is advocacy (criminal litigation) plus the same pairing in wills and administration of estates.

• Interview: you interview an actor playing the client. The SRA says the actor marks the interview on skills only.
• Attendance note or legal analysis: you write this by hand after the interview.
• Advocacy: the SRA says this requires standing to deliver submissions, subject to agreed adjustments.

Business attire is required on oral days, and joining instructions are sent about two weeks beforehand. Negotiation has no separate station, but the specification says at least one assessment in every SQE2 delivery includes it.

How SQE2 is marked and the pass standard

Each station is graded against the competence of a just competent Day One solicitor. Criteria are graded A to F, which convert to marks where A is 5 and F is 0, and you see numerical marks rather than letters. Each station's criteria are split into skills marks and law marks, which are averaged and combined with equal weighting. Your final percentage is the average of the 16 station totals.

The SRA does not publish a fixed percentage pass mark. It says the pass mark is calculated separately for each group of candidates sitting the same assessment, so that standards stay consistent when question difficulty changes. SQE2 has a single pass mark across all 16 stations, with none for individual stations or for the written or oral parts alone. In its statistical reports the SRA expresses the pass mark as a scaled score of 300.

Published pass rates

The SRA publishes statistical reports after each sitting. Its report for the October 2025 sitting (published 24 February 2026) shows 1,342 graded candidates and an overall pass rate of 78 per cent, with a first-attempt pass rate of 79 per cent. Its January 2026 report (published 21 May 2026) shows 1,141 graded candidates, an overall pass rate of 80 per cent and a first-attempt pass rate of 79 per cent.

SQE2 sittings in 2026-27

According to the SRA's assessment dates page, the sittings from October 2026 to July 2027 are as follows.

The SRA says booking closes about five weeks before each sitting, and you attend one oral sitting, subject to availability. Each sitting has a law and practice cut-off date (26 September 2026 for January 2027). Dates can change, so confirm them on the SRA's SQE website before booking.

On results, the SRA says SQE2 results come 14 to 18 weeks after the assessment. They are released to your candidate account and give an overall pass or fail and a breakdown of marks for each station.

How to prepare

The SRA says how you prepare is up to you, depending on experience and learning preferences, and it does not state that a preparation course is required. It does provide a list of training providers for those who want one.

• Use the specification. Map your revision to the five practice areas and six skills, including the legal knowledge underlying each area.
• Work through the SRA sample questions. There are sample questions for interviewing, advocacy, case and matter analysis, legal research, legal writing and legal drafting, each with a sample answer, commentary and analysis against the assessment criteria.
• Read the performance indicators. The SRA publishes downloadable examples of competent and non-competent performance against the law and skills criteria.
• Practise on the Pearson VUE platform. Sample written questions can be attempted there, and the SRA describes it as simulating the real environment, including a legal research search function.
• Practise under timed conditions, including a client interview followed by a handwritten note, and advocacy on your feet.

Legal research is a skill you can build early and cheaply. Our guide to practical legal research skills covers a method you can adapt for the research stations.

If you have a disability under the Equality Act 2010 or another condition affecting your ability to sit the assessments, the SRA says you may be eligible for reasonable adjustments, so raise this early in the booking process.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a degree to sit SQE2?

The SRA's eligibility page for sitting says you must pass SQE1 first, unless exempt, and does not mention a degree. To qualify as a solicitor, though, the SRA requires a degree or equivalent level 6 qualification alongside SQE1, SQE2, qualifying work experience and meeting suitability requirements.

What is the SQE2 pass mark?

The SRA does not set a fixed percentage. The pass mark is calculated for each group of candidates sitting the same assessment, and its statistical reports give it as a scaled score of 300.

When do SQE2 results come out?

The SRA says 14 to 18 weeks after the assessment. For example, results for the January 2027 sitting are listed as 20 May 2027.

How many times can I resit SQE2?

You have up to three attempts at SQE2 within six years of your first SQE assessment. The SRA's resits page does not say whether you must retake both the written and oral parts or only one.

Next steps

Start with the SRA's specification and sample questions, pick the sitting that gives you realistic preparation time, and check the booking deadline. For wider professional development resources, visit the Learnsignal CPD hub.

This article is general information only and is not legal or regulatory advice. Assessment rules, dates and booking deadlines can change, so always check the SRA's SQE website for current requirements before you book.