Why Your SQE1 Timeline Matters More Than You Think
The SQE1 is not an exam you can simply turn up for. It sits at the centre of a chain of deadlines, booking windows, result releases, and subsequent assessments that together determine when you qualify as a solicitor. Miss the SQE1 registration deadline and you wait months for the next sitting. Pass SQE1 but fail to plan your SQE2 timeline and you could add half a year to your qualification journey.
This guide gives you every confirmed and projected SQE1 exam date for 2026 and 2027, tells you exactly when bookings open and close, when results come out, and how to map your path from first booking all the way through to admission. Bookmark it and return to it whenever you need to check a date.
SQE1 Exam Dates for 2026 and 2027
The SRA, through its assessment provider Kaplan, administers the SQE1 twice per year: in January and July. Each sitting runs over two consecutive assessment weeks — you sit FLK1 on a day within the first week and FLK2 on a day within the second week, booked as individual slots at a Pearson VUE test centre.
Below are the dates published on the official SQE website (checked July 2026).
Confirmed SQE1 Exam Dates
| Sitting | FLK1 Window | FLK2 Window | Booking Deadline | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 13–17 July 2026 | 20–24 July 2026 | Closed (28 May 2026) | 8 September 2026 |
| January 2027 | 11–15 January 2027 | 18–22 January 2027 | Not yet published | TBC (expect ~7–8 weeks after) |
| July 2027 | 12–16 July 2027 | 19–23 July 2027 | Not yet published | TBC |
If you missed the July 2026 sitting, January 2027 is your next opportunity — and there is no sitting in between. With only two windows a year, missing a booking deadline costs you six months, which is why the timeline planning below matters so much.
January 2027 is the first sitting on the updated specification
One more date to have on your radar: the SRA's annual assessment specification review takes effect on 1 September 2026. It refines the FLK wording in places (for example, tax rates and thresholds will be provided in the question where needed) but does not change the exam format, question count, or marking. The January 2027 sitting is the first SQE1 run under the updated specification — July 2026 and earlier sittings used the current one. Every change is explained in plain English in our specification changes guide. Our question bank and flashcards have been audited against the updated wording, so practice on the platform reflects the January 2027 specification. The same September date brings a fee increase for new bookings — see our SQE fee increase guide.
Important: Always verify your specific sitting dates on the official SQE assessment dates page before committing to travel, study leave, or time off work. Dates can change.
Booking Windows: When Registration Opens and Closes
SQE1 registration is handled through Pearson VUE on behalf of Kaplan. The booking window for each sitting opens a few months before the exam and closes five to seven weeks before the first FLK1 day — the July 2026 window, for example, closed on 28 May 2026. Opening dates are announced on the official SQE website.
How the Booking Process Works
- Register with the SRA. Before you can book, you need an active SQE registration on the SRA's mySRA portal. This is not instant — allow at least 2 weeks for the SRA to process your registration, especially during peak periods.
- Receive your authorisation email from Kaplan. Once the SRA confirms your eligibility, Kaplan sends you an email with instructions to create a Pearson VUE account and book your exam.
- Book your preferred date and test centre through Pearson VUE. You will choose a date, time, and test centre location from available slots.
Booking Window Timeline
| Sitting | Booking Status | Booking Closes |
|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | Closed | 28 May 2026 |
| January 2027 | Opening date not yet announced | TBC — typically ~5–7 weeks before the sitting |
| July 2027 | Not yet announced | TBC |
If you are aiming for January 2027, get your SRA registration sorted now and watch the official SQE website from early autumn 2026 so you can book the moment the window opens. Note that the SQE fee increase applies to bookings made from the autumn of 2026 — the timing of your booking, not your sitting, determines which fee you pay. Details in our fee increase guide.
Pearson VUE Booking Tips
Pearson VUE test centres have limited seats and popular locations fill up fast — particularly London centres. Here is how to avoid problems:
- Book as early as possible. The moment you receive your Kaplan authorisation email, log in and book. Waiting even a few days can mean your preferred centre is full.
- Have backup test centres ready. If central London is fully booked, consider centres in Croydon, Watford, Reading, or other nearby locations.
- You can change your booking. Pearson VUE allows you to reschedule or change your test centre up to a certain date before the exam, usually 48 to 72 hours prior. Check the specific reschedule deadline in your confirmation email. There is no fee for rescheduling within the allowed window.
- Check your confirmation carefully. Make sure the date, time, and location are correct. Errors do happen, and catching them early saves stress on exam day.
- Arrive early. Test centres require you to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled start time for identity verification. If you arrive late, you may not be admitted and will lose your exam fee.
SQE1 Results: When Do They Come Out?
The most common question candidates ask after sitting SQE1 is: when do SQE1 results come out? Results are released roughly seven to eight weeks after the assessment window.
SQE1 Results Timeline
| Sitting | Assessment Window | Results Date |
|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 13–24 July 2026 | 8 September 2026 (confirmed) |
| January 2027 | 11–22 January 2027 | TBC — expect early-to-mid March 2027 |
| July 2027 | 12–23 July 2027 | TBC |
The SRA confirms the exact results release date on the official SQE website. You will receive an email from Kaplan telling you that your results are available in your mySRA account.
What Your Results Will Show
You will see:
- A pass or fail result for FLK1
- A pass or fail result for FLK2
- Your overall mark as a percentage
You will not see a breakdown by subject or individual question performance. The SRA does not provide per-subject scores or a detailed question-level review. This means if you fail, you need to assess your own weak areas through practice question performance and revision tracking rather than relying on official feedback.
The SQE1 to SQE2 Timeline: How Long Between Passing SQE1 and Sitting SQE2?
This is the critical planning question. The gap between your SQE1 results and the next available SQE2 sitting determines how quickly you can move forward.
The SQE2 Assessment Windows
The SQE2 runs in its own assessment windows (typically four a year), which do not align neatly with the two SQE1 sittings. Here is how the published timelines line up:
| SQE1 Sitting | SQE1 Results | Next SQE2 Window | Watch Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 8 September 2026 | October 2026 (written 27–29 Oct, orals early Nov) | SQE2 booking closes 18 September 2026 — about ten days after SQE1 results land |
| January 2027 | ~March 2027 (TBC) | April 2027 (written from 20 April, orals from late April) | Booking details TBC — check the moment your results arrive |
Key insight: if you pass SQE1, you typically have only six to eight weeks until the next SQE2 window — and the booking deadline can fall within days of your results. That is not much time to prepare for an assessment that tests 16 legal skills across written and oral exercises. This is why we strongly recommend deciding your SQE2 plan (and diarising its booking deadline) before your SQE1 results come out — more on that below.
For a detailed breakdown of the SQE2 format, skills tested, and preparation strategies, see our complete SQE2 preparation guide.
What to Do While Waiting for SQE1 Results
The seven-to-eight-week wait for SQE1 results can feel agonising, but it is also a strategic window. Here are your options:
Option 1: Start SQE2 Preparation Immediately
This is the approach we recommend to most candidates. If you start preparing for SQE2 while waiting for results and then find out you passed, you are already weeks into your preparation with a comfortable runway before the next SQE2 sitting. If you find out you failed SQE1, you have not lost anything — the legal knowledge you revise for SQE2 overlaps heavily with SQE1 content and will strengthen your resit preparation.
Use our SQE2 preparation guide to understand the skills assessed and start working on client interviews, advocacy, and legal writing exercises.
Option 2: Continue Qualifying Work Experience (QWE)
You need two years of QWE to qualify as a solicitor. Time spent waiting for results does not count towards QWE unless you are actually working. If you are in a training role or paralegal position, keep logging those days. Every week counts.
Option 3: Rest and Recover
SQE1 preparation is intense. If you have been studying hard for months, taking a short break is reasonable. Just be aware that a complete pause makes it harder to restart momentum, particularly for SQE2 preparation. A balanced approach is to take 1 to 2 weeks off and then ease into light SQE2 familiarisation.
Option 4: Resit Preparation (If You Think You Failed)
If you are fairly confident you did not pass, use the waiting period to analyse what went wrong and start rebuilding. Review your study notes, drill weak subjects with practice questions, and consider whether you need to adjust your study approach. Our guide to failing SQE1 and planning your resit covers this in detail.
Decision Trees: What to Do Based on Your Results
Your next steps depend entirely on your results combination. Here is a practical decision tree for every scenario.
Scenario 1: You Passed Both FLK1 and FLK2
Congratulations — you have cleared the biggest hurdle. Here is your immediate action plan:
- Confirm your results in mySRA. Download and save your result notification.
- Check the next SQE2 booking window. Book your SQE2 place as soon as possible — SQE2 slots also fill up quickly.
- Begin focused SQE2 preparation. You likely have 6 to 8 weeks. That is enough time if you start immediately. Focus on practical skills: legal writing, drafting, advocacy, client interviews, case and matter analysis. Use our SQE2 preparation guide for a structured plan.
- Log your QWE. Make sure your qualifying work experience is being properly recorded and signed off.
- Think about the admission timeline. After passing both SQE1 and SQE2 and completing QWE, you apply to the SRA for admission. The SRA typically processes admission applications in 4 to 8 weeks.
Scenario 2: You Passed FLK1 but Failed FLK2
You only need to resit the paper you failed. You do not need to resit FLK1.
- Identify your FLK2 weak subjects. Without subject-level feedback from the SRA, use your practice question data and revision notes to pinpoint where you struggled. FLK2 covers Property Law, Criminal Law, Wills and Estates, Solicitors Accounts, Land Law, Trusts, and Criminal Liability.
- Target the next available sitting. You can resit at the very next SQE1 sitting — but with only two windows a year, that means July if you failed in January, or January if you failed in July. Counted from results day, that gives you roughly four months of preparation time. Use it deliberately rather than treating it as a long runway.
- Focus your revision. Do not revise everything equally. Concentrate on the subjects where your practice scores were weakest. Use flashcards for high-yield memorisation topics like Solicitors Accounts rules and criminal procedure.
- Continue SQE2 prep. You can still prepare for SQE2 while planning your FLK2 resit. The knowledge overlaps significantly.
Scenario 3: You Failed Both FLK1 and FLK2
You need to resit both papers. The SRA allows unlimited resit attempts, but each attempt requires a new booking and exam fee.
- Decide when to resit. You can sit at the next available window, but give yourself an honest assessment of whether you had enough preparation time. If you went into the exam underprepared, it may be better to skip one sitting and use the extra time to build a stronger foundation. See our failed SQE1 resit guide for a detailed resit strategy.
- Change your approach. If you failed both papers, something in your study method needs to change. Consider whether you need more practice questions, better study materials, a different revision technique, or simply more time.
- Use targeted resources. Work through our study notes for subject-by-subject coverage and drill with practice questions to build exam technique. Take a mock exam under timed conditions to simulate the real test.
Scenario 4: Should You Delay Your Sitting to Prepare More?
This is one of the hardest decisions candidates face. You have booked a sitting but feel underprepared. Should you push to the next window?
| Factor | Delay | Sit Anyway |
|---|---|---|
| Practice scores consistently below 50% | Yes | No |
| Practice scores between 50-57% | Consider it | You have a chance |
| You have not finished the syllabus | Probably delay | Only if very close |
| You have already delayed once | Sit — further delays rarely help | You need exam experience |
| Financial pressure to qualify quickly | Weigh cost vs readiness | Risk of paying for a resit |
| Anxiety and stress levels very high | A delay can reduce pressure | May underperform due to stress |
Our guide to passing SQE1 while working full-time covers time management strategies that can help you prepare efficiently even with limited study hours, potentially avoiding the need to delay.
Key SRA Dates for Admission After Passing SQE1 and SQE2
Once you have passed both SQE1 and SQE2 and completed your two years of qualifying work experience, the final step is applying to the roll of solicitors.
Admission Timeline
| Step | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|
| Receive SQE2 results | ~3–4 months after the SQE2 window (e.g. October 2026 SQE2 results land 23 February 2027) |
| Submit admission application via mySRA | Any time after passing both parts and completing QWE |
| SRA processes application | 4 to 8 weeks (can be longer during peak periods) |
| SRA requests additional information if needed | 1 to 2 weeks into processing |
| Admission to the roll | On the date the SRA approves your application |
| Receive your practising certificate (if applying) | Shortly after admission |
Prerequisites for Admission
- Pass both FLK1 and FLK2 (SQE1)
- Pass the SQE2
- Complete 2 years of qualifying work experience (QWE) — can be completed before, during, or after the assessments
- Meet the SRA's character and suitability requirements
- Have an approved law degree or pass the SQE via an alternative pathway
Visual Timeline: From First Booking to Admission
Here is a complete visual walkthrough of a typical candidate journey, assuming you sit SQE1 in January 2027 and SQE2 in the April 2027 window.
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| September – October 2026 | SRA registration processed; watch for the January 2027 booking window to open |
| Autumn 2026 | Book SQE1 via Pearson VUE (before the deadline, ~5–7 weeks ahead of the sitting) |
| October 2026 – January 2027 | Intensive SQE1 study period (12+ weeks) |
| 11–22 January 2027 | Sit SQE1 (FLK1 in week one, FLK2 in week two) |
| January – March 2027 | Wait for results; begin light SQE2 familiarisation |
| ~March 2027 | SQE1 results released — you passed both |
| March 2027 | Book SQE2 for the April 2027 window immediately |
| March – April 2027 | Focused SQE2 preparation |
| Late April – mid May 2027 | Sit SQE2 (written papers + oral assessments) |
| ~August 2027 | SQE2 results released (SQE2 marking takes around three to four months) — you passed |
| August – September 2027 | Submit admission application (assuming QWE already completed); SRA processes it |
| Autumn 2027 | Admitted to the roll of solicitors |
Total elapsed time from booking SQE1 to admission: approximately 12 months. This assumes you pass both parts on the first attempt and have your QWE completed or nearly completed.
How to Plan Your Study Schedule Backwards from Your Exam Date
Reverse planning — starting from your exam date and working backwards — is the most effective way to structure SQE1 preparation. Here is a template you can adapt.
The 12-Week Countdown (Example: January 2027 Sitting)
| Weeks Before Exam | Phase | Focus | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12–10 weeks | Foundation | Learn the syllabus for all 13 FLK subjects. Read through study notes systematically. | Study notes, textbooks |
| 10–8 weeks | Core Learning | Deep-dive into high-weight subjects: Business Law, Dispute Resolution, Property Law, Criminal Law. | Study notes, video lectures |
| 8–6 weeks | First Practice Pass | Start answering practice questions alongside continued study. Aim for 50+ questions per day. | Practice question bank |
| 6–4 weeks | Weak Subject Repair | Identify your weakest subjects from practice performance. Re-study those areas intensively. Use flashcards for rote memorisation. | Flashcards, practice questions |
| 4–2 weeks | Full Practice Phase | Take mock exams under timed conditions. Review every answer, including the ones you got right. | Mock exams, practice questions |
| 2–1 week | Final Revision | Light review of all subjects. Focus on exam technique, time management, and confidence building. No new material. | Flashcard review, light practice |
| 1 week before | Rest and Prepare | Reduce study volume. Prepare logistics: exam centre route, ID documents, food, rest. Get sleep. | — |
| Exam day | Sit FLK1 and FLK2 | Execute your exam strategy. Answer every question. Manage your time. | Your well-prepared brain |
Adapting the Timeline for Your Situation
If you are studying while working full-time, you may need to stretch this to 16 to 20 weeks. The structure remains the same — just extend each phase proportionally. The key is to protect the final 4 weeks for practice and mock exams regardless of how long your overall preparation period is.
If you are studying full-time and can dedicate 6 to 8 hours per day to SQE1 prep, you may be able to compress this to 8 to 10 weeks. But do not cut the practice phase short — answering thousands of practice questions is what builds exam-day fluency.
Fees and Costs: What Each Sitting Will Cost You
Understanding the financial timeline helps you plan ahead. The SQE1 assessment fee is payable at the time of booking — and from autumn 2026 the SRA's new fee rates apply to new bookings, so the date you book (not the date you sit) determines what you pay.
| Item | Current fee | Bookings from autumn 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| SQE1 total (FLK1 + FLK2) | £1,934 | £2,006 |
| SQE1 per paper (also the per-paper resit fee) | £967 | £1,003 |
| SQE2 | £2,974 | £3,086 |
If you fail one paper and need to resit, you pay the full fee for that paper again. This is another reason why thorough preparation and planning your study schedule properly matters — resits are expensive in both time and money. Full numbers, including materials and incidental costs, are in our SQE cost breakdown and fee increase guide.
For full preparation resources at a fraction of the cost of a traditional course, see our pricing page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sit FLK1 and FLK2 in different sittings?
Yes. The SRA allows you to sit FLK1 and FLK2 separately. You might choose to do this if you want more preparation time for one paper, or if personal circumstances prevent you from sitting both in the same window. However, both papers must be passed before you can sit SQE2.
How many times can I resit the SQE1?
There is no limit on the number of SQE1 resit attempts. Each attempt requires a new booking and full payment of the exam fee.
What if my results come out after the SQE2 booking deadline?
This does happen occasionally. If your SQE1 results are released after the SQE2 booking window for the next sitting has closed, you may need to wait for the following SQE2 sitting. This is why checking the booking deadlines carefully and planning your full timeline in advance is so important.
Can I cancel my SQE1 booking?
You can cancel through Pearson VUE, but the refund policy depends on how far in advance you cancel. Cancellations made well before the exam typically receive a partial or full refund. Cancellations close to the exam date may receive no refund. Check Pearson VUE's cancellation policy for the specific terms.
Do I need to pass SQE1 before starting QWE?
No. You can complete your qualifying work experience at any point — before, during, or after sitting the SQE assessments. Many candidates work in paralegal or trainee roles while studying for SQE1, which means they are accumulating QWE and preparing for the exam simultaneously.
How do I check the latest confirmed dates?
Always check the official SQE assessment dates and booking windows page for the most up-to-date information. Dates can change, and the SRA occasionally adjusts scheduling.
Your Next Step
Pick your target sitting. Count backwards 12 to 16 weeks. Block out your study time. Start with the study notes, layer in practice questions from week 6, take a mock exam at the 4-week mark, and use flashcards for the final push. The candidates who plan their timeline and stick to it are the ones who pass.
Good luck with your preparation. Every date in this guide is a milestone on your path to admission. Use them wisely.