How to Book the SQE1: the Process at a Glance
Booking the SQE1 is a four-part process: create your SRA account, wait for the booking window to open, book and pay for the assessment, and choose your Pearson VUE test centre. It is straightforward once you know the order — the mistakes candidates make are nearly all about timing, not the form-filling.
Here is the whole journey before we walk through each step.
| Step | What you do | When |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Create your mySRA account and get your SRA number | Anytime — do it early |
| 2 | Booking window opens for the sitting | Roughly 3-4 months before |
| 3 | Book and pay for SQE1 (FLK1 + FLK2) | Before the window closes (~5 weeks before the sitting) |
| 4 | Choose your assessment dates and test centre | During booking, subject to availability |
For the exact dates and deadlines of each sitting, see our SQE1 exam dates and deadlines timeline. This guide is about how to book; that one is about when.
Step 1 — Create Your SRA Account (mySRA)
Before you can book anything, you need an account with the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Register for a mySRA account on the SRA website. This gives you your SRA number, which is your identity for every assessment and, eventually, for admission as a solicitor.
Do this early — well before you intend to book. It is free, it takes a few minutes, and having it ready means you are not scrambling on the day the booking window opens.
When you register, use your legal name exactly as it appears on the photo ID you will bring to the test centre. A mismatch between your booking and your ID is one of the most common reasons candidates are turned away, so get it right at the very first step.
Step 2 — Wait for the Booking Window
You cannot book whenever you like. Each sitting has a booking window that opens months ahead and closes roughly five weeks before the assessment. SQE1 runs twice a year, in January and July.
Two timing traps to avoid:
- Test centres fill up. Book early in the window if you want your nearest centre and your preferred dates — popular locations sell out.
- Miss the window and you wait months. There is no late booking. If you miss the deadline for July, your next opportunity is January.
Step 3 — Book and Pay for the Assessment
When the window is open, log in and book SQE1 through the official booking system (the assessment is delivered by Kaplan on the SRA's behalf). You book both FLK1 and FLK2 as a single SQE1 sitting.
The SQE1 fee is £1,934, rising to £2,006 from September 2026. Payment is taken at the point of booking — see our breakdown of the September 2026 fee increase if you are deciding whether to book before or after the rise.
Step 4 — Choose Your Assessment Window and Test Centre
SQE1 is a computer-based exam sat at a Pearson VUE test centre. During booking you choose:
- Your test centre — Pearson VUE has centres across the UK and internationally. Your nearest may not be in your home town, so check the location and plan your journey.
- Your dates — FLK1 and FLK2 are sat on separate days within the assessment window.
Once booked, you will get a confirmation from Pearson VUE. Keep it — you need it on the day. For everything about the day itself, read our SQE1 exam day guide.
Reasonable Adjustments — Apply at Booking
If you need reasonable adjustments (extra time, a separate room, rest breaks, assistive technology), you apply for these as part of the booking process, with supporting evidence, and before the booking deadline. Do not leave it late — adjustments must be approved in advance. Our reasonable adjustments guide explains what is available and how to apply.
Rescheduling, Transferring or Cancelling
Plans change. You can usually amend or cancel a booking up to a deadline before the assessment window, but:
- Refunds depend on timing. Cancel or amend early and you may get a refund; do it close to the sitting and you may forfeit some or all of the fee.
- Check the current rules before you book. The SRA publishes the cut-off dates and any administration fees for each sitting — read them so a change of plan does not cost you the full £1,934.
After You Have Booked
Booking is the easy part; passing is the work. With your date locked in, build your preparation backwards from it: start with a free 10-question readiness quiz to find your weak subjects, then get full question access and full-length mock exams. The free week-by-week study-plan form at the bottom of this page maps all 142 SRA topics onto the weeks you have left.
FAQ
When does SQE1 booking open and close?
The booking window opens a few months before each sitting and closes roughly five weeks before the assessment. Exact dates for every sitting are in our dates and deadlines timeline.
Can I book FLK1 and FLK2 separately?
For SQE1 you book both papers as one sitting; they are sat on separate days within the assessment window.
What ID do I need?
Valid photo ID whose name matches your booking exactly. Pearson VUE has strict ID rules — check the requirements before the day and update your ID early if your name has changed.
Can I choose which test centre I sit at?
Yes, subject to availability — which is why booking early in the window matters if you want a specific centre or specific dates.
What happens if I miss the booking deadline?
There is no late booking. You wait for the next sitting, so diarise the deadline as soon as it is published.
The Bottom Line
Create your SRA account early, watch the booking window, book both papers and pay (£1,934, or £2,006 from September 2026), and pick your Pearson VUE centre while there is still choice. Then stop thinking about logistics and start preparing — the booking takes ten minutes; the exam takes months.