The SRA has published its statistical report for the July 2026 SQE1 sitting, and the headline is stark: fewer than half of candidates passed. If you're preparing for SQE1 in January or July 2027, the numbers are worth understanding, because they say a lot about who passes, who doesn't, and why.
The July 2026 SQE1 results in numbers
A total of 6,315 candidates sat both parts of SQE1 in July 2026: 5,012 sitting for the first time and 1,303 resitting one or both assessments.
- Overall pass rate: 42%. That's down from 53% in January 2026 and only one point above the record low of 41% in July 2025.
- First-time pass rate: 47%, a little up on 46% in July 2025.
- FLK1 and FLK2: 50% each. Half of candidates passed each paper, but because you need to pass both to pass SQE1, the overall rate is lower than either.
- Resitters made up a record share: 23.4% of FLK1 candidates and 27.8% of FLK2 candidates.
Here's how July 2026 compares with recent sittings:
| Sitting | Overall pass rate | First-time pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 42% | 47% |
| January 2026 | 53% | 58% |
| July 2025 | 41% | 46% |
| January 2025 | 56% | 60% |
| July 2024 | 44% | 48% |
| January 2024 | 56% | 59% |
The pattern jumps out: every July sitting since 2024 has come in well below the January sitting before it.
Why July pass rates are lower than January
The SRA's explanation is that January pass rates have consistently run about 10 to 15 percentage points higher than July over the past three years. It points to two main factors: differences in candidates' training routes, and the larger proportion of resitters in July.
Resitters matter because they pass at much lower rates than first-time candidates. July is the natural resit window for anyone who failed in January, and this year it attracted the highest share of resitters on record. When almost a quarter of the cohort is made up of people who have already failed once, the overall number falls, even if first-timers do about as well as before.
The SRA's own board papers make a related point about July 2025: analysis showed that first-time sitters in that cohort were generally weaker than those in January 2025. The make-up of the cohort, not just the exam, drives the result.
Is SQE1 getting harder?
Probably not in the way the headlines suggest. SQE1 has no pre-determined pass mark. The passing score for each FLK paper is set separately, using standard-setting methods that account for how difficult that paper's questions turned out to be. The SRA's position is that candidates are held to the same standard whenever they sit.
So a lower pass rate doesn't mean the bar was raised. It means more of the people who sat didn't reach it. That's a more useful way to think about it, because the standard is something you can prepare for.
What the 50% FLK split tells you
In January 2026, FLK1 had a 62% pass rate and FLK2 had 57%. In July 2026, both fell to exactly 50%. Two lessons follow.
First, you can't rely on one strong paper. A good FLK1 doesn't make up for a weak FLK2. Many candidates spend most of their time on the subjects they enjoy and leave property practice, solicitors accounts or wills to the end. The results punish that.
Second, the gap between the two papers is small, so neither is "the easy one". Plan your revision around your own weak subjects, not around what other people say.
SQE2 tells a different story
SQE2 pass rates have been rising steadily. The April 2026 sitting had an 83% overall pass rate across almost 3,000 candidates, and 85% of first-time candidates passed. That followed 80% in January 2026 and 78% in October 2025.
This isn't because SQE2 is easy. Everyone who sits it has already passed SQE1 or is exempt, so the cohort is self-selected. Even so, the data shows wide gaps: in April 2026, candidates with a first-class degree had a 92% pass rate, those with a 2:1 had 83%, and those with a 2:2 had 40%.
Who passes: the gaps in the data
The SRA publishes performance by candidate characteristics, and the gaps are significant. In January 2026, qualified lawyers made up 22% of SQE1 candidates but passed at 47%, compared with 61% for candidates who weren't yet qualified. There were also large differences in pass rates between ethnic groups, a gap the SRA reports on after every sitting.
The practical takeaway for any individual candidate is the same: the strongest predictor of passing is how well prepared you are on the day, and preparation is something you control.
What changes in January 2027
From the January 2027 sitting, the SRA is cutting SQE1 from 360 to 340 questions: 170 per FLK assessment, in two sessions of 85. Each session is still 2 hours 33 minutes, which gives you roughly six more seconds per question (about 1 minute 48 seconds each). Subjects will also be grouped by session, so you face fewer areas of law at once. We explain the details in our guide to SQE1 changes from January 2027.
The SRA has also opened a consultation on minor tweaks to the SQE1 syllabus. It is not proposing a major overhaul of the subjects covered.
What the numbers mean for your preparation
The July results point to five practical steps:
- Practise single best answer questions every day. SQE1 rewards fast, accurate application of rules to short scenarios. Our free SQE1 question of the day gives you one a day with a full explanation.
- Find your weak subjects early. Take the free SQE1 diagnostic quiz before you plan, not after.
- Plan your hours honestly. Most candidates need several hundred hours. Our free SQE study planner turns your exam date and weekly hours into a realistic week-by-week plan.
- Sit timed mocks at the real pace. From January 2027, that's about 1 minute 48 seconds per question. Our SQE1 mock exams run at exactly that pace.
- Don't sit until you're ready. Each FLK paper costs £1,003 to sit, and resitters pass at much lower rates. Delaying by one sitting is almost always cheaper than resitting. Our SQE cost calculator shows what a resit would add.
If you'd like a tutor to check your plan, you can book a 15-minute consultation, or join an SQE squad that meets weekly with timed practice and explanations of what you got wrong.
Frequently asked questions
What was the SQE1 pass rate in July 2026?
42% of candidates who sat both FLK1 and FLK2 passed overall. First-time candidates had a 47% pass rate.
Why are July SQE1 pass rates lower than January?
According to the SRA, July sittings have a higher proportion of resitters, who pass at lower rates, and a different mix of training routes. Over the last three years, January pass rates have been around 10 to 15 percentage points higher.
Is SQE1 getting harder?
There is no fixed pass mark. The SRA sets the passing score for each paper separately to account for differences in difficulty, so candidates are held to the same standard whichever sitting they take. Lower pass rates mostly reflect who sat, not a tougher exam.
What is the SQE2 pass rate?
The most recent published SQE2 results, for April 2026, show an 83% overall pass rate, with 85% of first-time candidates passing.
Should I sit SQE1 in January or July?
Sit when you're ready, not when the calendar says so. A resit costs over £1,000 per FLK paper, and resitters pass at much lower rates, so it's usually better to delay than to sit underprepared.
How many questions are in SQE1 from January 2027?
340 in total: 170 per FLK assessment, split into two sessions of 85. Each session still lasts 2 hours 33 minutes.
Sources
- SRA: SQE1 January 2026 results published (31 March 2026)
- SRA: SQE1 July 2025 results published (1 October 2025)
- SRA: SQE Update, September 2026 (SQE2 April 2026 results)
- SRA: Important changes to SQE1 for January 2027 onwards
- SRA: The SQE four years on, facts and figures
- LawCareers.Net: SQE1 pass rate falls to 42% in latest sitting (6 October 2026)
- LawCareers.Net: SRA announces changes to the SQE (14 September 2026)
- Legal Cheek: SQE2 pass rate climbs again to 83% (September 2026)