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Published per sitting by the SRA (October 2025: 78% overall, 79% first-time) Pass Rate

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: SQE2 Exam

Skills Stations (12 written + 4 oral)

SRA SQE2 Assessment Specification

~5 half-days

Assessment Duration

SRA SQE2 Assessment Specification

78%

October 2025 Overall Pass Rate (79% first-time)

SRA October 2025 SQE2 Statistical Report

£2,974

SQE2 Fee to Sept 2026 (£3,086 after)

SRA cost page (2026)

4 a year

Sittings (Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct)

SRA SQE

100+

Practice Questions Here

OpenExamPrep question bank

SQE2 is the practical legal skills stage of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, administered by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and delivered by Kaplan. It is not a multiple-choice exam: candidates complete 16 stations - 12 written (case and matter analysis, legal research, legal writing, and legal drafting) and 4 oral (advocacy, and client interview with attendance note) - assessed across roughly five half-days. The stations span five practice areas: Criminal Litigation; Dispute Resolution; Property Practice; Wills and Intestacy, Probate Administration and Practice; and Business Organisations, Rules and Procedures, including money laundering and financial services. Each station is marked on both the legal skill and the applied legal knowledge, weighted equally, against a single 'day-one solicitor' standard, so there is no published percentage pass mark. SQE2 runs four times a year - in January, April, July, and October - and candidates must have passed SQE1 first unless exempt. The fee is £2,974 up to September 2026, rising to £3,086 from September 2026; the SRA publishes per-sitting pass rates (the October 2025 sitting was 78% overall). Our question bank reinforces the underlying applied legal knowledge that the skills stations draw on.

Sample SQE2 Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your SQE2 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A solicitor attends a police station to advise a client who has been arrested on suspicion of robbery, an indictable offence. The custody officer says the 24-hour detention clock is about to expire and the investigating team wants more time to question the client. Who can authorise continued detention up to 36 hours from the relevant time?

A.An officer of at least the rank of superintendent

B.A magistrates' court, on a written application by the police

C.The custody officer, on the request of the investigating officer

D.The Crown Prosecution Service duty prosecutor

Explanation: Under s.42 PACE 1984, an officer of at least the rank of superintendent may authorise continued detention up to 36 hours from the relevant time for an indictable offence, where the investigation is being conducted diligently and detention is necessary to secure or obtain evidence. Beyond 36 hours requires a magistrates' warrant of further detention.

2During a police interview, a solicitor's client is asked questions and chooses to remain silent on legal advice. At trial the client raises a defence not mentioned in interview. What is the principal evidential consequence the solicitor must warn the client about before the interview?

A.The interview will be automatically excluded under s.78 PACE

B.The court or jury may draw an adverse inference from the failure to mention a fact later relied on

C.The prosecution must prove the silence was deliberate beyond reasonable doubt

D.Silence in interview is inadmissible and cannot be referred to at trial

Explanation: Under s.34 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, a court or jury may draw an adverse inference where a defendant fails to mention, when questioned under caution, a fact later relied on in defence which it would have been reasonable to mention. The solicitor must explain this risk when advising on whether to answer questions.

3A client is charged with an either-way offence of theft and appears before the magistrates' court. The magistrates accept jurisdiction and the client must decide on mode of trial. What advice should the solicitor give about the client's right to elect Crown Court trial?

A.The client has no right to elect; mode of trial is decided solely by the magistrates

B.The client may only be tried in the Crown Court if the prosecution consents

C.The client may elect trial by jury in the Crown Court even where the magistrates are willing to retain the case

D.The client must be sent to the Crown Court because theft is an indictable-only offence

Explanation: For an either-way offence, once the magistrates accept jurisdiction at the plea before venue and allocation stage, the defendant retains the right to elect trial by jury in the Crown Court. The solicitor must advise on the advantages and risks of each venue, including sentencing powers and acquittal rates.

4A defendant in the Crown Court intends to plead not guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The prosecution serves its case. Under the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, what must the defence serve to trigger the prosecution's continuing duty of disclosure of unused material?

A.A skeleton argument on admissibility

B.A request for specific disclosure under s.8 before any obligation arises

C.A notice of intention to call alibi witnesses only

D.A defence statement setting out the nature of the defence and matters of fact in issue

Explanation: Under s.5 CPIA 1996, in Crown Court proceedings the defence must serve a defence statement setting out the nature of the defence, the matters of fact on which the defendant takes issue with the prosecution, and why. Service of the defence statement triggers the prosecution's continuing duty to review and disclose unused material that might assist the defence.

5A solicitor is advising a client who has been arrested and is being held in custody. The police propose to hold an identification procedure. The client disputes that he was the person involved. Under PACE Code D, which procedure should normally be offered first?

A.A video identification parade using moving images

B.A confrontation between the suspect and the witness

C.A group identification in a public place

D.A formal court identification at the first hearing

Explanation: Under PACE Code D, where identification is disputed and a suspect is known and available, a video identification (VIPER) is normally the first procedure offered, as it is considered the fairest and most reliable. Live parades, group identification, and confrontation are alternatives used only where video identification is not practicable.

6A youth aged 16 is detained at a police station and is to be interviewed about a suspected burglary. The solicitor notes that no appropriate adult is present. What is the correct position before the interview proceeds?

A.The interview may proceed because the youth has a solicitor present

B.An appropriate adult must be present for the interview of a juvenile, in addition to any solicitor

C.An appropriate adult is only required for suspects under 14

D.The custody officer may waive the appropriate adult requirement for cooperative juveniles

Explanation: Under PACE Code C, a juvenile (a person who appears to be under 18) must not be interviewed without an appropriate adult present, in addition to any legal adviser. The solicitor and appropriate adult perform distinct roles, so the presence of a solicitor does not remove the need for an appropriate adult.

7A client charged with a summary-only offence wishes to apply for a representation order (criminal legal aid) for the magistrates' court. Which two-part test must be satisfied?

A.The good character test and the financial eligibility test

B.The residence test and the seriousness test

C.The means test and the merits (interests of justice) test

D.The proportionality test and the public interest test

Explanation: Criminal legal aid in the magistrates' court is granted where the applicant passes both the means test (financial eligibility) and the merits or interests of justice test under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. The interests of justice factors include risk of loss of liberty and the complexity of the case.

8A defendant is convicted in the magistrates' court of a summary offence and wishes to challenge the conviction. He maintains he was not guilty on the facts. What is the appropriate route of appeal?

A.Judicial review in the Administrative Court

B.Application to reopen the case before the same bench under s.142

C.Appeal by way of case stated to the High Court on the facts

D.Appeal to the Crown Court, which is a full rehearing of the case

Explanation: A defendant convicted in the magistrates' court may appeal to the Crown Court against conviction and/or sentence. This appeal takes the form of a complete rehearing, allowing the defendant to challenge findings of fact. Appeal by case stated and judicial review are confined to points of law or jurisdiction.

9A solicitor representing a defendant at a Crown Court trial wishes to make a submission of no case to answer at the close of the prosecution case. On what basis is such a submission properly made?

A.That there is no evidence, or the evidence is so weak that no reasonable jury could properly convict

B.That the defence evidence is stronger than the prosecution evidence

C.That the defendant has a previously good character

D.That the prosecution failed to call every available witness

Explanation: Applying the test in R v Galbraith, a submission of no case to answer succeeds where there is no evidence that the defendant committed the offence, or where the prosecution evidence, taken at its highest, is so tenuous that no reasonable jury properly directed could convict. It is assessed on the prosecution evidence alone before the defence case.

10A solicitor is preparing a plea in mitigation for a client who has pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity to a triable either-way offence in the magistrates' court. What is the maximum credit for a guilty plea the solicitor should expect the court to apply?

A.A reduction of one-half from the otherwise appropriate sentence

B.A reduction of one-third from the sentence that would otherwise be imposed

C.A reduction of one-tenth in all cases

D.No reduction is available for either-way offences

Explanation: Under the Sentencing Council's Guideline on Reduction in Sentence for a Guilty Plea, the maximum reduction of one-third is available where the plea is entered at the first stage of proceedings. The reduction reduces on a sliding scale as proceedings progress, reflecting the saving of court time and witness inconvenience.

About the SQE2 Exam

SQE2 is the second stage of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination and, unlike SQE1, it is a practical legal skills assessment rather than a multiple-choice exam. It comprises 16 stations: 12 written stations (case and matter analysis, legal research, legal writing, and legal drafting) and 4 oral stations (advocacy, and client interview with attendance note). The stations are set across five practice areas - Criminal Litigation; Dispute Resolution; Property Practice; Wills and Intestacy, Probate Administration and Practice; and Business Organisations, Rules and Procedures (including money laundering and financial services) - and are assessed over roughly five half-days. Each station tests both a legal skill and the applied legal knowledge needed to perform it, with the two weighted equally; SQE2 is marked against a single overall 'day-one solicitor' standard rather than a published percentage. Our practice questions support SQE2 by reinforcing the applied legal knowledge that underpins the skills stations.

Assessment

16 stations spanning five practice areas (Criminal Litigation; Dispute Resolution; Property Practice; Wills & Intestacy, Probate Administration & Practice; Business Organisations, Rules & Procedures). Each station tests both a legal skill and applied legal knowledge, weighted equally in marking.

Time Limit

Assessed across approximately five half-days

Passing Score

Single overall pass mark; legal skills and applied legal knowledge weighted equally against a 'day-one solicitor' standard (exact percentage not published)

Exam Fee

£2,974 up to September 2026; £3,086 from September 2026 (Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA); assessment delivered by Kaplan at Pearson VUE venues)

SQE2 Exam Content Outline

20%

Criminal Litigation

Applied skills in police-station and criminal court practice - advising on procedure, bail, plea, and strategy, with case and matter analysis, advocacy, and client interviewing in a criminal context

20%

Dispute Resolution

Civil litigation skills under the Civil Procedure Rules - case analysis, legal research, drafting statements of case and interim applications, written advice, and advocacy

20%

Property Practice

Residential and commercial conveyancing skills - reporting on title, drafting and reviewing transaction documents, client interviewing and attendance notes, and written advice on property matters

20%

Wills and Intestacy; Probate Administration and Practice

Skills in advising on wills, estate planning, and the administration of estates - case and matter analysis, legal research, drafting, and client interviewing on succession matters

20%

Business Organisations, Rules and Procedures (incl. money laundering and financial services)

Applied corporate and commercial skills - advising on business structures, transactions, and compliance with anti-money-laundering and financial services regulation, through analysis, research, drafting, and advocacy

How to Pass the SQE2 Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Single overall pass mark; legal skills and applied legal knowledge weighted equally against a 'day-one solicitor' standard (exact percentage not published)
Assessment: 16 stations spanning five practice areas (Criminal Litigation; Dispute Resolution; Property Practice; Wills & Intestacy, Probate Administration & Practice; Business Organisations, Rules & Procedures). Each station tests both a legal skill and applied legal knowledge, weighted equally in marking.
Time limit: Assessed across approximately five half-days
Exam fee: £2,974 up to September 2026; £3,086 from September 2026

Keys to Passing

Work through all 100 available questions
Review every answer and explanation
Track weak areas and revisit them
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

SQE2 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Remember SQE2 is performance-based, not multiple-choice - practise producing real outputs (a letter of advice, a drafted clause, an attendance note, an advocacy submission) rather than just recalling law

2Use practice questions to lock down the applied legal knowledge behind each station - strong knowledge in criminal litigation, dispute resolution, property, wills/probate, and business is what powers a competent skills performance

3Drill timed written stations: case and matter analysis, legal research, legal writing, and legal drafting all reward a clear structure and concise, client-appropriate language delivered under time pressure

4Rehearse the oral stations aloud - advocacy and the client interview with attendance note need fluent delivery, and you must capture instructions and advice accurately in the note

5Spread your preparation evenly across all five practice areas, since the 16 stations are distributed across them and marks for skills and applied knowledge are weighted equally

6Sit full mock assessments over multiple half-days to build the stamina and consistency needed to perform across 16 stations at a 'day-one solicitor' standard

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SQE2 a multiple-choice exam?

No. Unlike SQE1, SQE2 is a practical legal skills assessment. Candidates complete 16 stations - 12 written and 4 oral - in which they perform realistic legal tasks rather than answer multiple-choice questions. Our practice questions support SQE2 by reinforcing the applied legal knowledge that underpins the skills stations, but the assessment itself is performance-based.

How is SQE2 structured?

SQE2 has 16 stations. The 12 written stations cover case and matter analysis, legal research, legal writing, and legal drafting. The 4 oral stations cover advocacy and a client interview with an accompanying attendance note. The stations are set across five practice areas and are assessed over approximately five half-days at Pearson VUE venues.

What is the passing standard for SQE2?

SQE2 is marked against a single overall pass mark set to the standard of a 'day-one solicitor'. Within each station, the legal skill and the applied legal knowledge are weighted equally. The SRA does not publish a fixed percentage cut-off; instead it reports the per-sitting pass rate after each assessment.

What is the SQE2 pass rate?

The SRA publishes a statistical report after each sitting. SQE2 pass rates are generally higher than SQE1: the October 2025 sitting had an overall pass rate of 78% (79% for first-time candidates). Pass rates vary from sitting to sitting, so check the latest SRA SQE2 statistical report for current figures.

How much does SQE2 cost in 2026?

The SQE2 assessment fee is £2,974 for candidates sitting up to September 2026. From September 2026 the fee rises to £3,086, reflecting inflation and the cost of translating the assessment into Welsh. This covers only the assessment itself, not any preparation course, which can add several thousand pounds.

Do I have to pass SQE1 before sitting SQE2?

Yes, in almost all cases you must pass SQE1 before you can sit SQE2, unless you hold an SRA exemption. SQE2 runs four times a year (January, April, July, and October). To qualify as a solicitor you must pass both SQE1 and SQE2, complete two years of Qualifying Work Experience, and satisfy the SRA's character and suitability requirements.