SQE1 & SQE2 exam dates for 2026?

Registering for the SQE exams

Kaplan administers the SQE exams on behalf of the SRA. To secure your exam date, you need to:

• Register on the SQE’s website with both the SRA and Kaplan
• Complete the “pre-booking” process
• Book with Pearson VUE. They run the assessments on behalf of Kaplan.

How to register with Kaplan

To take the initial step you need to create a MySRA account. For this you will need your passport or other official photo ID.

How to pre-book the exam

Upon registration being completed, you can select an SQE exam date. You can:

1. (Optionally) fill out a survey with diversity questions.
2. Inform the SRA of any SQE exemptions (for example, as a foreign lawyer).
3. Apply for any reasonable adjustments for the exams, for example, on grounds of disability.

You need to do this twice (i.e. once for SQE1 and later again for SQE2). You cannot pre-book the SQE2 exam date until you have succeeded on SQE1 or are exempt.

Final booking of your SQE1 exam centre and date (after pre-booking)

Pearson VUE (on behalf of Kaplan) is responsible for the testing process, which for SQE1 is a computer-based test. There are SQE1 test centres both in the UK and all around the world, with SQE1 exams taking place twice a year, in January and July. So after registration and completing the pre-booking, you can select which assessment centre you wish to choose. This is done through signing into your SQE account online.

You can at the same time make payment for the FLK1 and FLK2 elements of the SQE1 exams.

Security is very stringent and you need to bring your ID (passport) with you to the exam as proof of identity. There are two half days of tests.

When you arrive at the assessment centre on your SQE exam date, your ID will be checked. You’ll have two half days of tests for SQE1. Each FLK is divided into two sessions of 153 minutes each, with a 60 minute break between each session.

Booking your SQE2 exam date

The process is the same for SQE2. In other words, you have to make a pre-booking, then a final booking of your SQE2 exams (with payment). These take place over half days (two half-day oral exams and three half day written exams.

The SQE2 exam is available to be taken four times a year in the UK. Only the written component is available at locations outside of the UK.

SQE exam fees for 2025-26

The fee for the SQE1 exam is £1,934 (broken down to £967 for FLK1 and £967 for FLK2). The fee for the SQE2 exam is £2,974.

Places are limited so it is best to book as early as you can.

SQE1 exam dates in 2026

Assessment	Dates	Booking Opening Date	Booking Closing Date	Examinable law cut-off date	Results Release Date
SQE1 January 2026	FLK1: 12–16 January 2026 FLK2: 19–23 January 2026	CLOSED	CLOSED	12 September 2025	10 March 2026
SQE1 July 2026	FLK1: 13–17 July 2026 FLK2: 20–24 July 2026	TBC	TBC	13 March 2026	TBC

SQE2 exam dates in 2026

Assessment	Dates	Booking Opening Date	Booking Closing Date	Examinable law cut-off date	Results Release Date
SQE2 January 2026	Written: 27–29 January Oral: first sitting: 3–4 February Oral: second sitting: 5–6 February	Currently Available	11 December 2025	27 September 2025	21 May 2026
SQE2 April 2026	Written: 28–30 April Oral: first sitting: 5–6 May Oral: second sitting: 7–8 May Oral: third sitting: 12–13 May Oral: fourth sitting: 14–15 May	TBC	TBC	28 December 2025	27 August 2026
SQE2 July 2026	Written: 28–30 July Oral: first sitting: 4–5 August Oral: second sitting: 6–7 August	TBC	TBC	28 March 2026	TBC
SQE2 October 2026	Written: 27–29 October Oral: first sitting: 3–4 November Oral: second sitting: 5–6 November Oral: third sitting: 10–11 November	TBC	TBC	27 June 2026	TBC

The SQE2 oral assessments take place in London, Manchester, Cardiff and Birmingham.

SQE2 written assessments take place both in the UK and are also available in the international locations.

Please check the SRA’s website for the most recent information regarding SQE exam bookings, fees and processes.

SQE exam results

Kaplan will email you your SQE1 exam results directly by email, within five to six weeks after the exam date. SQE2 exam results take longer, and are released fourteen to eighteen weeks after your SQE2 exam date.

Practical booking notes

When planning your 2026 sitting:

1. Create your SQE account early. You cannot pre-book and place your final booking until registered.
2. Expect capacity limits. Popular centres and sittings can fill quickly. Treat the booking opening date as your working deadline, not the closing date.
3. Anchor your study to the relevant examinable law cut-off date. Ensure your materials are updated to:
   1. 12 September 2025 for Jan 2026 SQE1
   2. 13 March 2026 for July 2026 SQE1

Any major reforms after these dates are exam-relevant only for later sittings.

For the latest position and any updates, please check the SRA’s website here: https://sqe.sra.org.uk/booking/assessment-dates-locations

SQE1 exam dates (in image format):

SQE2 exam dates (in image format):