How SQE1 is structured from January 2027: FLK1, FLK2 and 170 questions each

What is SQE1?

SQE1 is the first of the two assessments of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). It tests the application of functioning legal knowledge – the fundamental legal rules and principles a competent newly qualified solicitor in England and Wales is expected to apply to realistic client problems. (SRA, SQE1 Assessment Specification)

Passing SQE1 is one of several requirements of the SQE route. You also need a degree or an equivalent qualification, a pass in SQE2, two years’ full-time (or equivalent) qualifying work experience, and to meet the SRA’s character and suitability requirements. (SRA, SQE route)

How many questions does SQE1 have?

From the January 2027 sitting, SQE1 has 340 questions: two Functioning Legal Knowledge assessments, FLK1 and FLK2, with 170 questions each. Until then, each assessment had 180 questions, 360 in total. The change applies to first-time candidates and resitters alike. (SRA announcement, 10 September 2026)

How are the SQE1 sessions organised?

Each FLK assessment is taken in two sessions of 85 questions (previously 90). The time allowed stays at 2 hours 33 minutes per session. From January 2027, each session also covers only some of the subjects: (SRA announcement, 10 September 2026)

Within a session, questions are still fully randomised: the subjects of that session appear mixed together, not in blocks. Ethics and Professional Conduct is tested across all subject areas and can appear in every session. (SRA announcement, 10 September 2026) The order of the answer options is randomised as well, so candidates see questions and options in different orders. (SRA, SQE1 sample questions)

Which subjects are tested, and how much does each count?

The SRA’s blueprint sets a range for the share of each subject in its paper. The proportions are unaffected by the January 2027 changes. (SRA, SQE1 Annex 4) (SRA announcement, 10 September 2026)

Ethics and Professional Conduct “pervades” both papers. In any sitting, ethics and money laundering questions together can make up to 20% of the questions; money laundering is assessed in FLK1 only. (SRA, SQE1 Annex 4) Principles of taxation are examined only in the context of Business Law and Practice, Property Law and Practice, and Wills and the Administration of Estates. (SRA, SQE1 Assessment Specification)

The blueprint classifies each question by its main focus. Because a question can draw on several subjects, the knowledge from one subject is often needed in more questions than its share suggests. (SRA, SQE1 Annex 4)

How much time do you have per question?

About 1.8 minutes per question on average – 2 hours 33 minutes for 85 questions. (SRA, SQE1 sample questions) That is roughly 108 seconds, compared with about 102 seconds when a session had 90 questions. Some questions will take longer than others, so the average is a guide for pacing, not a limit per question.

What kind of questions are they?

• Single best answer. Each question has five possible answers and only one correct answer; you select one. (SRA, SQE1 Assessment Specification)
• Closed book. You answer without books or notes. The questions are not meant to test details a newly qualified solicitor would look up. (SRA, SQE1 Assessment Specification)
• Case names and statutes. You generally do not need to recall case names or cite statutory authorities. The exception is where the name is the usual way of describing a principle or step – the SRA gives Rylands v Fletcher, CPR Part 36 and a section 25 notice as examples. (SRA, SQE1 Assessment Specification)
• Tax figures. Some questions require calculations. Rates, thresholds and reliefs that change with successive Budgets would normally be provided. (SRA, SQE1 Assessment Specification)
• Length. According to the SRA, questions in SQE1 assessments average 206 words. (SRA, SQE1 sample questions)

Which version of the law is examined?

You are examined on the law as it stands four calendar months before the first assessment in an assessment window; later developments are not tested. (SRA, SQE1 Assessment Specification) When you choose study material, check that it states the date of the law it reflects.

How is the SQE1 pass mark set?

The pass mark is set for each sitting by the Assessment Board, taking into account the difficulty of the questions in that sitting, and each FLK paper has its own pass mark. (SRA, SQE1 sample questions) Past pass marks are published in the SRA’s SQE1 statistical reports.

What this article does not cover

Fees, booking windows and sitting dates change from year to year. We do not repeat them here – check them directly on the SRA’s SQE website before you plan your preparation.

What does this mean for your preparation?

• Practise in mixed sets: a real session mixes three or four subjects in random order.
• Plan your coverage with the blueprint – every FLK subject carries a similar share, Legal Services slightly less.
• Do not leave ethics until the end: it can appear in any question of any session.
• Train at exam pace before the exam, with full sessions of 85 questions in 2 hours 33 minutes.

Our guides on answering single best answer questions and building an SQE1 study plan go into each of these points.

High Performer Certs is an independent study platform. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), and it is not authorised or accredited by the SRA or the SQE assessment provider. The SQE and SOLICITORS QUALIFYING EXAMINATION trade marks are the property of and are used under licence from the Solicitors Regulation Authority.