SQE1 vs SQE2 — Format, Skills and Order Explained

SQE1 vs SQE2 is the central structural question for anyone qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales. They are the two assessment stages of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination, and they test very different things: SQE1 tests what you know, and SQE2 tests what you can do. This guide compares them on format, content, order and cost.

Caselaw is not affiliated with or endorsed by the SRA or Kaplan. “SQE” refers to the Solicitors Qualifying Examination and is used descriptively.

What SQE1 tests. SQE1 assesses Functioning Legal Knowledge through two single-best-answer multiple-choice papers — FLK1 and FLK2 — totalling 360 questions. It covers the substantive and procedural law across roughly fourteen subject areas, from contract and tort to property practice and solicitors accounts. It is a closed-book, applied-knowledge exam: no essays, no client contact, just selecting the best answer under time pressure. For the full breakdown see our FLK1 topics guide and FLK2 topics guide.

What SQE2 tests. SQE2 assesses practical legal skills through a series of written and oral tasks: client interviewing (with an attendance note), advocacy, case and matter analysis, legal research, legal writing, and legal drafting. These skills are assessed across the practice contexts of dispute resolution, property, wills and intestacy, business organisations, and criminal litigation. SQE2 is far closer to actual day-one solicitor work than SQE1 — you are graded on how you perform a task, not on recalling a rule.

Format compared. SQE1 is 360 machine-marked multiple-choice questions over two sittings. SQE2 is a mix of oral stations (interview and advocacy, assessed live) and written exercises (analysis, research, writing, drafting), marked by trained assessors against competency criteria. SQE1 is about precision and speed; SQE2 is about structured, professional communication and judgement.

Order and timing. You must pass SQE1 before you can sit SQE2 — the stages are sequential. Around the assessments you also need two years of qualifying work experience (QWE), which can be completed before, during or after the exams and across up to four organisations. The typical path is: SQE1, then SQE2, with QWE accumulated alongside, before formal admission to the roll.

Cost. SQE2 is the more expensive of the two assessment fees because it is human-marked and includes oral stations, whereas SQE1 is machine-marked. Both sit on top of any preparation course you choose. Always check the current SRA fee schedule, as exam fees are reviewed periodically.

How preparation differs. SQE1 prep is dominated by high-volume timed multiple-choice practice and spaced-repetition recall — see our how to revise for SQE1 guide. SQE2 prep is about rehearsing the skills under timed conditions: mock interviews, drafting against a brief, structured legal writing. The mindset shifts from “know the rule” to “produce the work product a competent newly-qualified solicitor would.”

Which comes first for you? If you are still choosing between the academic and professional routes, start with our SQE1 vs LLB guide. When you are ready to prepare, drill knowledge on the SQE1 revision hub, build recall with our flashcards, and rehearse the format on our past papers.