UK: SQE1 Pass Rate Drops to 42% for Latest Sitting

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in England and Wales reported on October 6, 2026, that the pass rate for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE1) in July dropped significantly to 42%, down from 53% recorded in January. This latest figure, which represents less than half of candidates passing both parts of SQE1, is only one percentage point higher than the record low of 41% seen in July 2025. A total of 6,315 candidates completed both parts of SQE1 in this sitting, including 5,012 first-time sitters who fared slightly better with a 47% pass rate, and 1,303 re-sitters. The SRA noted that January pass rates have historically been 10–15 percentage points higher than July's, attributing this to differences in candidates' training routes and a higher proportion of re-sitters in the July cohort, who generally achieve lower pass rates.