First results of new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE1)

The first pass rates of the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE1) have been published yesterday, Thursday 20 January 2022.

53% of the 1,090 candidates who sat the first-ever exam in November 2021 received a pass mark. Whilst there is no meaningful pass rate gap between male and female candidates, the results show a significant gap between the pass rate of white candidates (65%) and those of BAME candidates (44%).

The SRA has appointed Exeter University to carry out a research to better understand the factors driving the attainment gap.

In order to qualify as solicitors, the students who have passed the SQE1 will now need to pass the SQE2 (scheduled in April).