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Charity talks to Emily Allen, Senior Tutor at The BARBRI Group about the SQE Review -from a Tutor’s viewpoint.
In December 2024, The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) commissioned the IFF, a social and market research agency, to conduct an independent review on the premise of evaluating whether the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is achieving its objectives.
As a tutor what is your general view of the SQE as a route to qualification?
The SQE is a very challenging set of assessments. It tests students across a broad range of areas of practice and in many different skills contexts. It is unlike any other exam that most candidates have taken before. I’d say the SQE is a great test of a candidate’s abilities, but also of their resilience and determination- it is not something to undertake lightly!
How does the SQE fare in contrast with completing the LPC, GDL or traditional LLB law degree?
SQE1 is a single assessment, taken across 2 days, with 360 problem-scenario based questions across around 15 modules. SQE2 comprises 16 skills assessments in the context of 5 different practice areas, taken across 5 days of examination. I would say this makes the SQE much more challenging than the old LLB/GDL/LPC route. Candidates need to be able to access a huge amount of law for each exam, in contrast to the old route to qualification.
There is also a lot of scope for making mistakes built into SQE assessments (meaning the percentage pass mark is not very high). This is great on the one hand, as it means it is OK to make mistakes during the assessment. It also means though, that the very structure of the assessments is extremely challenging to candidates in terms of their resilience; candidates will inevitably be aware they are making lots of mistakes and be worried that they don’t know all the answers. They still have to carry on regardless and do their best. This is why I feel the SQE is more challenging than the old route to qualification; it requires candidates to be extremely resilient.
There seem to be concerns about the pass rate (in particular for the SQE1 assessments).
For example, in October 2024, the pass rate hit an all time low of 44%.
What do you think are the contributing factors? and
The pass mark for first time sitters was a little bit higher at 48%, which was still a lower than the ‘more than half’ pass rates so far.
The SQE is intended to be a challenging set of exams; it is the gateway to the legal profession. It is right that only those candidates with the necessary skill and commitment should pass, and ultimately be able to practice.
I suspect some candidates underestimate the amount of preparation involved. Others may underestimate the test of resilience and endurance that SQE involves. The SQE is not an exam you can cram for at the last minute, it is important to start early enough and plan your preparation well.
Additionally, there is a persistent attainment gap issue (differential outcomes by ethnicity-specifically impacting black candidates).
To date the causes have yet to be identified and no solutions established.
What do you think could be causing this “persistent issue”? and
I know the SRA are continuing to look into why there is an attainment gap, and they are committed to making sure the SQE is a fair route to access for all candidates. From a tutor’s point of view, it seems to me that many candidates start their SQE journey not really understanding the nature of the assessment and the specific challenges involved in preparing for it. At BARBRI, the very first thing we teach candidates is how this exam works, and why a different style of preparation is needed for this kind of exam.
What solutions would you as a tutor suggest to remedy this?
Make sure you know what you are preparing for. The tried-and-tested methods of preparation used for previous exams will almost certainly not be effective as study methods for the SQE. The syllabus is vast, so it is crucial to focus ONLY on examinable content, and to be efficient in your studies. BARBRI employs a spaced repetition method to deliver the syllabus, as this is proven to be an effective way of retaining large amounts of content.
What do you perceive to be the positive aspects and negative aspects of the SQE?
POSTIVE: It is a rigorous examination that is not trying to trick candidates. If you put in the hard effort needed and you study in a targeted way, the SQE is an achievable goal. It is also a great test of resilience, which will stand candidates in good stead for practice.
NEGATIVE: From a candidate’s point of view, it is a harsh realisation that there is no blagging your way through the SQE; only those that prepare will be able to succeed. Some candidates may struggle with anxiety around sitting the assessment; it is crucial that they prepare for the stress of exam day and (if appropriate) seek out reasonable adjustments in their assessment arrangements.
As a tutor, what advice and guidance would you give to those wishing to qualify through the SQE route?
Keep going! When you look at the syllabus, it seems overwhelming. Take your preparation one step at a time- it is amazing how small steps will take you a very long way.
I think it is very, very hard to prepare for this exam without targeted guidance; I would encourage candidates to consider using a test-preparation course (and really completing the work therein) to ensure they are fully versed in what to expect.
What aspects of the SQE do you think could be improved to enable the SRA to achieve its goal of advancing social mobility in the legal profession? and
I’d be an advocate for splitting SQE1 into two or more smaller examinations. It is hard to retain so much content for one assessment. It would make sense to me to spread the learning over several assessments, that could be taken in fast or slow succession. It would make the SQE less of a memory test and more of a test of legal understanding.
What feasible steps does the SRA need to take to ensure they achieve this?
The SRA actively seek out feedback from stakeholders (like candidates and tutors) every year. I’d encourage them to keep listening to feedback and not be afraid to grow the SQE from its original format. It has been a great change, but it is still a very young form of assessment and there is room to grow.
Emily Allen
Senior Tutor
The BARBRI Group
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-allen-8400b455/
April 2025
Interviewed by Charity Mafuba
Commissioning Editor,
Solicitor (England and Wales), New York Attorney