Introduction
On 30 April 2025, the SRA published its Updated SQE Assessment Specifications following its annual FLK review. This news bulletin will provide you with the key information you need to know as a result of this announcement.
What changes have been made?
There are no substantive changes to the FLK; this means that candidates do not need to be concerned that new content has been added for 2024-2025 cycle.
SQE1
In respect of SQE1, there are three main revisions that have been made as a result of the updated Assessment Specification. These are:
- “Amendments to provide consistency throughout the assessment specification on the naming conventions of certain subject areas.”
- “The percentage of Professional Conduct and Ethics and money laundering questions that can be assessed in SQE1 has been added to Annex 4 of the SQE1 Assessment Specification.”
- “Additional guidance on the type of scenario that Professional Conduct and Ethics questions can be set in has been added.”
The first change listed does not require any further explanation.
In terms of the percentage of MCQs that may be set on ethics and professional conduct, the Assessment Specification now says:
“In any SQE1 sitting (FLK1 and FLK2), Ethics and Professional Conduct and money laundering questions can make up to 20% of the questions assessed (money laundering questions being assessed in FLK1 only).”
Finally, in terms of guidance on the type of scenario that that ethics and professional conduct may be set in, the Assessment Specification now includes the following:
“Ethics and Professional Conduct will be examined pervasively across the two assessments and can be examined across all subject areas. As with the other subject areas, the questions will be based on realistic client-based problems and situations which can include those set out in relevant SRA warning notices, such as those relating to Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) and Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs).”
SQE2
In respect of SQE2, one change has been made, namely:
- “Guidance on the need to recall specific case names, or cite statutory or regulatory authorities has been added to the assessment specification to provide clarification and consistency between SQE1 and SQE2.”
This merely repeats the same guidance that is present in the SQE1 Assessment Specification that had been omitted (by oversight) from the SQE2 Assessment Specification. It confirms that candidates, as part of their written and oral skills, are required to know and be able to use any case names, statutory provisions etc. that are listed in the SQE Assessment Specification. Should an authority not be listed in the Assessment Specification, the guidance is clear: “candidates are not required to recall specific case names, or cite statutory or regulatory authorities.”
When does the new Assessment Specification apply?
The updated SQE Assessment Specifications apply from 1 September 2025. This will first impact SQE1 candidates in the January 2026 sitting, and SQE2 candidates in the October 2025 sitting.
Where does Revise SQE come into it?
Whilst there have been no substantive changes made to the FLK, the team at Revise SQE continue to review and update the textbooks as the law develops.
In terms of the subtle changes brought about by the updated Assessment Specification to ethics and professional conduct, the team at Revise SQE will be making the following updates:
- Revise SQE: Ethics and Professional Conduct will be updated to include new content covering NDAs and SLAPPs. An expansion of the SRA Warning Notices will also be utilised in that updated text.
- Revise SQE: The Legal System and Services of England and Wales will be reviewed and further detail added in respect of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 and a solicitor’s duty in respect of those regulations and the SRA Code of Conduct.
- Revise SQE: FLK1/ FLK2 Practice Assessment will be updated to reflect the now stated percentage that ethics and professional conduct may appear on a SQE1 assessment