I completely echo that – if I don’t pass SQE2, I will lose my training contract that I worked so hard to get, even though I’ve already done the LPC. On top of that, my firm could reclaim the SQE2 fees from me (prep course, exam fees and maintenance grant), which would put me in serious debt.

Me too. I thought they were much more challenging than SQE1 as the diverse range of skills needed along with FLK was daunting. To get your head from pure FLK to understanding that I needed to acquire a new set of skills, did take me a few weeks when I embarked on the SQE2 course with Barbri.

I’m so sorry to hear this. I failed by 2% when I sat in SQE2 in May 2024 and the % to pass was 61%. I passed this January sitting with 74%. I remember feeling the same way as you and the advice I give to you is take a breath. Some of the scoring may seem arbitrary (even this time I scored 92% on a piece of advocacy I came out of the room and burst in to tears thinking I’d blown it, I still don’t know how I got those marks) and then on others a few 2s which I was surprised it. It’s really subjective on the marker and the marker on each assessment has no oversight on what their mark means for you overall. I really think these overall borderline cases should have some kind of review.

Don’t lose hope, please. It’s hard now. Take time to process then look at the breakdown again. What I found helpful to do was to look at whether there is a pattern, are you falling down on skills 2 for example and really hone in on that. Prep courses are great for that and I thoroughly recommend the law training centre for the speed and depth of comments they give you on mocks. I didn’t do a prep course the first time, I did this time and it made the world of difference just having that knowledge of how Kaplan want you to structure your answer. 2s and 3s aren’t your friend, making sure you’re hitting 4s and 5s so you’re nowhere near that line.

It seems like a battle but you are so close and I am proof it is absolutely possible to pass the second time around, you just need a tiny bit of fine tuning

I really feel for you. I am awaiting my results for SQE2; they will be published in August 2025. I am feeling totally apprehensive even though I think I did okay i.e no complete mind going blank upon sitting the written exams.

You feel like this now and it is TOTALLY understandable, so gutting and very frustrating. I am not sure about the marking system myself and believe it could be subjective.

Let time pass a bit and you may be able to get back on the horse again.

Hey fellow survivor, I am in the same boat. I want to believe the stats and that SQE2 have a higher pass rate than SQE1. I am banking on those stats being correct as I feel I put my all into studying and revising for the SQE2 which, unlike most people, I found far more challenging due to the range of skills that were required.

But my “scaled score” is 296!

I have serious doubts about the accuracy in marking as some stations I attended have been marked very strange… with such wide band of marking so much subjectiveness means the pain of failing the exam with just 4 marks and being told my percentage score is 60% still is just painful… confused and sick to my stomach and why such important exam is designed so strangely and why the candidates can’t have any chance of improving on their weaknesses like FLK1 or FLK2 in SQE1 and have to redo the whole lot (considering how much faff and marshalling is involved on the exam day). In any deny I have felt suicidal since yesterday and I just hope this isn’t the same for everyone…. So so so unfair

I have just completed my training contract at an international firm (I completed SQE whilst working) and I would say that memorising 12 text books didn’t really make me a better trainee

I don’t think the SRA (and specifically the SQE architects like Julie Brannan) truly had in their minds better affordability, accessibility and higher standards in mind when the SQE was created. I understand the SRA wanted to shake things up to remain relevant as a regulator and justify continued existence. It is a real shame how the SQE has unfolded.

Just a reminder that NY bar exam pass is 69%. Oh yes, and the fees for NY bar exam is $250/$750 for foreign lawyers (according to Google), as opposed to £4908 (according to SRA website) meaning the financial barrier to take is much higher.