SQE cost calculator
Work out what qualifying as a solicitor through the SQE will cost you: the fixed SRA fees, any resits, your preparation, books and travel, minus anything your employer pays.
Free to use. Your answers stay in this browser and aren't sent to us unless you ask us to email you something.
SQE fees in 2026/27
The SRA raised its fees from September 2026. These apply to anyone booking an assessment from October 2026 onwards:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| SQE1 (FLK1 and FLK2) | £2,006 (previously £1,934) |
| Resitting one FLK paper | £1,003 |
| SQE2 | £3,086 (previously £2,974) |
| Character and suitability screening | £34 |
| Admission to the roll | £100 |
So the fixed fees for SQE1, SQE2, screening and admission come to £5,226 if you pass everything first time.
Resits
You have up to three attempts at each assessment within six years of your first SQE assessment. If you pass one FLK paper and fail the other, you only resit the one you failed, at £1,003. If you fail the same assessment three times, you have to wait until your six-year period ends and start again, and earlier passes don't carry forward. You can't resit an assessment you've passed to improve your mark.
Preparation costs
Preparation is where costs vary most. Some candidates self-study with books and a question bank; others take a full course or a funded master's. Enter what you expect to spend, including tutoring, squads, books and question banks. For SQE2, add travel and a night away if your nearest oral assessment centre is far from home.
Ways to keep costs down
- Ask about funding. Many employers pay exam fees or prep costs for paralegals and trainees, and solicitor apprenticeships are funded.
- Check exemptions. Qualified lawyers may be exempt from some or all assessments.
- Avoid resits. A resit costs time as well as money. Timed practice and mocks before the real exam are the cheapest insurance.
- Pay for what you need. If you only need help with certain subjects, one-to-one hours or a monthly squad can cost far less than a full course.
Questions
How much does the SQE cost in total?
From October 2026, SQE1 costs £2,006 and SQE2 £3,086, a total of £5,092 in exam fees. Add £34 for screening and £100 for admission, plus whatever you spend on preparation.
How much is an SQE1 resit?
If you only fail one FLK paper, resitting it costs £1,003. If you fail both, you resit both, at the full SQE1 fee of £2,006.
How many times can I resit the SQE?
You get up to three attempts at each assessment within six years of your first SQE assessment.
Is the SQE fee VAT exempt?
Yes. The SRA's assessment fees are VAT exempt.
Do I need a practising certificate?
Only if you're going to practise as a solicitor. It has a separate fee, which employers usually pay.
Sources
Pass first time, pay once.
Weekly SQE1 squads with timed practice and online mocks cost a fraction of a full course.