The Solicitors Regulation Authority has announced what it describes as the first in a series of improvements to the Solicitors Qualifying Examination. From January 2027, SQE1 will contain 340 questions rather than 360, while questions will be organised within defined Functioning Legal Knowledge sessions instead of drawing across the full range of subjects in each session.
Questions will continue to be randomised within the relevant subject groupings, and the total assessment time will remain the same. The SRA says the changes were developed using assessment data and engagement with candidates, Kaplan, employers, training providers and the wider profession, with the aim of improving the candidate experience while maintaining the reliability and standard of the assessment.