Thanks for reading the CLEVERPREP blog. This is a post about SQE2.

Updated to incorporate the October 2024 SQE2 statistical report, published 26 November 2024.

SQE2 consists of sixteen individual assessments: three each of Case and Matter Analysis, Legal Writing, Legal Research, and Legal Drafting, as well as two each of Interview/Attendance Note and Advocacy, scored between 0 and 5 marks. Therefore the maximum score achieveable in SQE2 is 80 marks.

CLEVERPREP has analysed the SRA’s statistical reports for the nine sittings of SQE2, and in particular the pass mark for each, i.e. the percentage score a candidate needed to achieve in order to pass the overall exam:

The pass mark for all groups within all sittings of SQE2 has been between 61% and 66%, or between 49/80 and 53/80. This pass mark paired with the fact that candidates have sixteen separate assessments to score marks is a potential source of comfort to candidates.

To understand the how SQE2’s 0 – 5 marking scheme operates as a percentage, we have split each of the 6 marks into a percentage range.

Based on this table, to score between 61% and 66% which has been a passing grade in each of the nine sittings of SQE2, a candidate would need an average of 3 in each of the sixteen assessments. This stands to reason, as the SRA has classified a 3 as a “marginal pass”.

However, there are many different ways for a candidate to score between 61% and 66% overall. Below we will explore various pathways to pass SQE2 which allow candidates to technically fail most assessments.

1. Four superior performances and marginally fail the rest

As mentioned above, a candidate historically needed to score between 49/80 and 53/80 to pass SQE2. Even taking the upper range of 53/80, a candidate could pass SQE2 by scoring four superior performances (20 marks) and averaging 2.75 (marginal fail) across the remaining twelve assessments to score the remaining 33 marks. Taking the lower range of 49/80, the candidate scoring four superior performances only needs 2.42 across each of the remaining twelve assessments to score the remaining 29 marks.

Granted, scoring a superior performance in any assessment is a difficult task. However, when compared to the perceived difficulty of perfecting all assessments, it presents an avenue for candidates to see the path to passing in a different light. Some candidates may have a knack for a particular assessment, e.g. legal research or drafting, or for a particular subject or subjects which would give them this advantage.

2. Four clearly satisfactory scores

Taking the upper range of 53/80, a candidate could pass SQE2 by scoring four clearly satisfactory (16 marks) and averaging 3.08 (marginal pass) across the remaining twelve assessments to score the remaining 37 marks. Taking the lower range of 49/80, the candidate scoring four clearly satisfactory only needs 2.75 (marginal fail) across the remaining twelve assessments to score the remaining 33 marks.

Although the same on a percentage basis, the jump in the answer quality from marginal pass to clearly satisfactory is shorter than from clearly satisfactory to superior performance. Therefore, considering the pass mark for the majority of sittings has been toward the lower range, it should be comforting to candidates that scoring clearly satisfactory on four of the sixteen assessments allows the candidate to marginally fail the rest and still pass the exam overall.

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As for improving those scores, CLEVERPREP’s engaging flashcards and guided tuition will enable candidates to raise their 3s to 4s and their 4s to 5s, helping them to take advantage of the statistical reality of SQE2.

Additional resources:

1. Click here to learn about the CLEVERPREP approach to SQE.

2. Click here to view the details of each of the 16 decks of digital flashcards, including the subtopics covered within each subject, and a link to access a preview of 10 cards per subject which you can trial on the study platform itself. Each subject is currently £29.99, but you can access all 16 subjects on SQE1 for £249.99 or all 13 subjects on SQE2 + advocacy legal content and skills for £199.99.

3. Access and study a preview of 10 flashcards per subject here.