SQE2 Results Update
Introduction
Following the release of results to candidates for the SQE assessments, the SRA publishes a statistical report on candidate performance.
On 28 May 2025, the SRA published the post-assessment statistical report for the January 2025 SQE2 assessments. This is the 10th sitting of SQE2 since its introduction.
This news bulletin provides a brief summary of that statistical report.
The stats
The following details the key statistics that you may be interested in:
| Pass Mark | SQE2 has a single pass mark for the overall 16 station assessment. There is no pass mark for an individual station or for all of the oral stations or written stations. The pass mark for SQE2 is a scaled score of 300 out of 500. |
| Number of candidates | 1134 candidates sat the SQE2 assessments in January 2025; 940 of which (roughly 83%) were sitting SQE2 for the first time. |
| Pass Rate | Out of all 1134 candidates, 75% passed the SQE2 assessment (approx. 851 candidates).
Of the 940 candidates who sat SQE2 for the first time, 77% (approx. 724 candidates) passed (i.e. on their first attempt). |
How do the stats compare to previous SQE2 sittings?
Importantly, the January 2025 sitting was the first sitting in which the SRA graded candidates differently compared to previous years. In December 2024, the SRA announced the introduction of scaled scoring for the SQE2 assessments (beginning with the January 2025 sitting).
Previously, there were three separate pass marks to reflect the three sittings of the SQE2 Oral assessments (e.g. the first sitting may have a pass mark of 62% whilst the second sitting had a pass mark of 61%). Such pass marks now been removed by the SQE2 scaled scoring.
In addition, the previous assessments will have featured a pass mark phrased as a percentage; this has now been removed and replaced with a single standard pass mark of 300.
For those reviewing previous SQE2 statistical reports, please bear this in mind.
The following table details the previous SQE2 sittings, the pass mark and the overall pass rate for basic comparison purposes.
| SQE2 Sitting | Pass Mark | Pass Rate |
| October 2024 | 61% | 81% (out of all 1026 candidates) |
| 83% (out of 840 first attempt candidates) | ||
| July 2024 | 62/61% | 74% (out of 932 candidates) |
| 77% (out of 860 first attempt candidates) | ||
| April 2024 | 62/61% | 79% (out of 2181 candidates) |
| 81% (out of 2097 first attempt candidates) | ||
| January 2024 | 62/61% | 73% (out of 875 candidates) |
| 76% (out of 833 first attempt candidates) | ||
| October 2023 | 62/61% | 64% (out of 642 candidates) |
| 69% (out of 542 first attempt candidates) | ||
| July 2023 | 62/61% | 79% (out of 1004 candidates) |
| 82% (out of 944 first attempt candidates) | ||
| April 2023 | 62/61% | 77% (out of 996 candidates) |
| 80% (out of 923 first attempt candidates) | ||
| October 2022 | 62% | 71% (out of 646 candidates)
Second sitting so no data on first attempt candidates |
| April 2022 | 66/65% | 77% (out of 726 candidates)
First sitting so no data on first attempt candidates |
As the first SQE2 assessment to involved scaled scoring, it is difficult to draw comparisons to previous SQE2 sittings. A number of basic observations can be made:
- The January 2025 SQE2 sitting featured one of the highest number of candidates attempting the assessment.
- The pass rate of 75% (for all candidates) is broadly in line with previous SQE2 sittings.
- The pass rate of 77% (for first attempt candidates) is also in line with previous SQE2 sittings, and is equally a higher percentage than the overall candidate percentage.
How does this compare to SQE1?
It is clear from the SQE1 statistical reports that candidates perform better in the SQE2 assessments. The January 2025 SQE1 statistical report revealed a pass rate of only 56% out of 6718 candidates, whilst the July 2024 SQE1 statistical report featured a pass rate of 44% out of 5006 candidates. It is a marked difference in terms of numbers sitting the SQE1 assessments, but also those candidates who are passing the assessment.
Please refer to the SQE1 statistical summary provided by Revise SQE to draw your own comparisons.
What other stats does the SQE2 report include?
For those interested, the statistical report also breaks down the SQE2 pass rates according to candidates ethic group, sex, age, and other diversity and socio-economic factors.
You can find the full report on the SQE Reports page:
https://sqe.sra.org.uk/exam-arrangements/sqe-reports
Where does Revise SQE come in?
The Team at Revise SQE are working hard to produce revision guides and Q&A books dedicated to helping you pass the SQE2 assessments. At present, Revise SQE has now published its generic written legal skills book (Revise SQE Introduction to Written Legal Skills for SQE2) and a number of Q&A books in written legal skills, including Business Law and Practice, Dispute Resolution, and Property Practice. In due course, the Revise SQE team will also be publishing revision guides and Q&A books in Advocacy and Client Interviewing and Negotiation.
We’re here to help you pass the SQE – simple as that!