SQE: Why Passing First Time Matters and How to Prepare

Introduction

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is the gateway to practising as a solicitor in England and Wales. It is demanding, with SQE1 pass rates around 50% and SQE2 around 70%. Passing at the first attempt helps you start your legal career sooner, avoid extra cost, and reduce stress. This guide explains the real consequences of a resit and sets out practical steps to raise your chances of passing first time.

Please note that all fees are subject to change and should be verified by logging onto the official SQE website.

What You'll Learn

• The full cost of a resit: exam fees, provider charges, travel and time off work
• Typical preparation timelines for SQE1 and SQE2 and the impact of delay
• How a fail can affect job offers, sponsorship and progression
• Ways to protect your wellbeing during high-pressure preparation
• A structured plan for first-time success, including question practice and exam technique
• How PastPaperHero supports efficient, focused preparation
• Options for Learning and Development managers to support cohorts and control costs

Core Concepts

The Cost Picture: Fees and Hidden Extras

The headline numbers are clear:

• SQE1 fee: £1,934, split across FLK1 and FLK2
• Retake fee per FLK: £944
• SQE2 fee: £2,974
• Retake fees are the same as a first sitting

What is less visible are the extras that add up quickly:

• Training provider fees: some providers charge again for access, refreshers, mocks or tutor support
• Travel and accommodation: test centres fill up; last-minute bookings often cost more
• Time off work: unpaid leave or using annual leave has a real cost
• Materials and admin: textbooks, printing, childcare, and other day-to-day expenses

A resit means paying more than a single exam fee; it means paying with cash, time, and energy.

Time, Opportunity Cost and the Six-Year Clock

The content breadth is wide, and realistic preparation time is substantial:

• SQE1: around six months of steady, focused work for most candidates
• SQE2: at least three to four months, with regular skills practice

A fail extends your timeline by at least one exam window, which can delay your qualification by several months. That delay can mean:

• Postponed start dates and missed progression windows
• Lost earnings while you wait to practise as a solicitor
• Relearning topics because knowledge fades between sittings

Remember the regulatory limits: you have up to three attempts at each of SQE1 and SQE2 within six years from your first SQE assessment. Multiple resits can use up attempts and compress your remaining time.

Career Impact: Offers, Sponsorship and Progression

Employers take SQE performance seriously:

• Some firms expect a first-time pass as standard, especially where sponsorship is involved
• Conditional offers may be withdrawn if you do not pass in time for an intended start date
• Larger intakes can be over-subscribed; a fail gives firms an easy filter
• Contracts sometimes include clawback provisions for training costs if you leave or fail to qualify—always read your terms

Even if you only fail one FLK, it still delays your ability to move on to SQE2 and then to qualification, which can ripple through your career plans.

Wellbeing and Confidence: Psychological Load

High-stakes exams create pressure. A resit often adds more:

• Repeating months of revision can affect sleep, motivation and confidence
• The fear of a second fail can reduce performance on the day
• Life commitments (family, work, health) rarely pause for preparation

Proactive steps—consistent routines, realistic goals, regular rest, and exam-conditions practice—keep stress in check and support better results.

Key Examples or Case Studies

Case 1: Self-funded candidate fails FLK2

• Scenario: A candidate passes FLK1 but fails FLK2 in SQE1.
• Cost: A £944 retake fee, plus extra provider access for revision. Add travel and accommodation to secure a preferred centre.
• Time: Preparation stretches by another 8–12 weeks to rebuild momentum in weaker topics and sit the next available date.
• Impact: SQE2 preparation is pushed back, delaying qualification and associated earnings.

What helped on the second attempt:

• Focused practice on weak subject groups with timed, exam-style MCQs
• Weekly mock mini-blocks to tune timing and reduce decision fatigue
• A written plan aligning daily tasks to the test blueprint (including ethics in every block)

Case 2: Firm-sponsored trainee with a conditional offer

• Scenario: A candidate with a conditional offer and fee sponsorship fails SQE1.
• Risk: The firm set a hard deadline for results. The candidate misses the intake and the offer is deferred—or, in some firms, withdrawn.
• Hidden issues: Sponsorship agreements may include clawback for provider fees or stipulate immediate retake. Check the small print.

What helped retain the offer:

• Immediate, transparent communication with Graduate Recruitment
• Evidence of a retake plan: booked exam date, structured timetable, mock schedule
• Targeted tuition on exam technique to address the reasons for the fail

Case 3: International candidate with travel constraints

• Scenario: A candidate living abroad books a long-haul flight and hotel for SQE2. An initial fail means repeating all logistics.
• Cost: Another set of flights, accommodation and extended time away from work.
• Solution: Intensive skills practice with realistic oral and written mocks, reviewed by a tutor, and scheduled early enough to allow a course correction before the exam window.

Practical Applications

• Set a realistic timeline

  • Map backward from your intended qualification date.
  • Allocate around six months for SQE1 and three to four months for SQE2, with weekly rest days.
  • Book exam dates early to secure your preferred centre.

• Build an exam-focused study plan

  • For SQE1: practise single-best-answer MCQs in mixed sets to mimic switching between subjects.
  • For SQE2: schedule regular oral and written tasks; rehearse client interviewing, advocacy and legal writing under timed conditions.
  • Interleave ethics and professional conduct across all study blocks.

• Use data-driven practice

  • Track accuracy by subject area and competency (e.g., property, dispute resolution, contract).
  • Prioritise weak areas while keeping strong topics fresh with spaced repetition.
  • Sit full-length mocks to stress-test timing and endurance.

• Make the most of PastPaperHero

  • Access a large question bank and realistic mocks to match exam format and difficulty.
  • Use model answers and revision notes to tighten reasoning and technique.
  • Study on the go with a mobile-optimised platform and monitor progress to focus on the topics that move your score fastest.

• Manage cost and logistics

  • Budget for retake risk, even if you expect to pass; it reduces stress near results day.
  • Book transport and hotels with flexible terms where possible.
  • Keep all receipts—some employers reimburse part of the cost.

• Communicate with employers early

  • Confirm expectations on study leave, target exam windows and what happens if timelines slip.
  • Share a clear preparation plan and update on key milestones (mocks, scores, booking confirmations).

• Protect your wellbeing

  • Keep a routine: sleep, exercise and short daily breaks.
  • Use timed practice to normalise exam pressure.
  • Seek support from mentors or peers; group practice for oral tasks is especially useful.

• For Learning and Development managers

  • Offer structured practice pathways aligned to the SQE blueprint.
  • Use analytics to identify weak topics across the cohort and assign targeted practice.
  • Consider enterprise access to PastPaperHero: seat licences, cohort dashboards and tailored mock schedules can reduce resit rates and training disruption.

Summary Checklist

• Know the fees: SQE1 £1,934; SQE2 £2,974; FLK retake £944
• Plan your time: around 6 months for SQE1; 3–4 months for SQE2
• Factor in hidden costs: provider access, travel, time off work
• Understand the rules: up to 3 attempts per stage within 6 years
• Protect offers: clarify employer expectations and any clawback terms
• Practise under exam conditions: timing, technique, mixed-topic sets
• Track performance: focus on weak areas without neglecting strengths
• Support your wellbeing: routines, rest and peer/tutor feedback
• Use PastPaperHero resources: question banks, mocks, model answers and progress tracking
• Book early and communicate plans to avoid last-minute surprises

Quick Reference

This structured approach helps you avoid extra cost and delay, keep your employer on side, and raise your chances of passing first time. With focused preparation and the right practice tools, you can approach the SQE with confidence and move into qualified practice without unnecessary detours.