The SRA published its July 2026 SQE1 statistical report on 29 September 2026. 42% of all candidates passed, and 47% of those sitting for the first time. That is 11 points below January 2026 (53% and 58%) and one point above July 2025 (41% and 46%).
| Jan 2024 | Jul 2024 | Jan 2025 | Jul 2025 | Jan 2026 | Jul 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First attempt only | 59% | 48% | 60% | 46% | 58% | 47% |
| All candidates | 56% | 44% | 56% | 41% | 53% | 42% |
Overall pass rates are for candidates who sat both FLK1 and FLK2. "All candidates" includes resitters. Source: SRA SQE1 July 2026 Statistical Report, 29 September 2026, via the SRA announcement.
The July dip is a pattern, not a bad year
Look at first-time candidates only. In January they passed at 59%, 60% and 58%. In July they passed at 48%, 46% and 47%. Every July has been 11 to 14 points below the January before it.
The SRA says the standard is the same at every sitting. The raw number of correct answers needed to pass is set separately for each paper to allow for difficulty. That threshold is then expressed as a scaled score of 300 out of 500, which stays the same. So an "easy January, hard July" explanation does not fit what it says. See how the SRA explains SQE1 scoring.
What does differ is who is in the room. July cohorts have more resitters, and July 2026 had the most of any sitting: 23.4% of FLK1 candidates and 27.8% of FLK2 candidates were resitting. Resitters pass less often than first-timers, which pulls the overall figure down.
That cannot be the whole story, though. The first-attempt row leaves resitters out, and it still dips every July. The SRA has not said why, and we would be wary of anyone who claims to know from these tables alone.
FLK1 and FLK2 finally level up
For all candidates, FLK1 and FLK2 both came in at 50% in July 2026. In each of the previous five sittings FLK1 pass rates were higher than FLK2 by two to five points.
| All candidates | Jul 2025 | Jul 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| FLK1 | 51% | 50% |
| FLK2 | 48% | 50% |
FLK2 was the paper with more room to improve, and it moved. For first-time candidates it was 52% against 54% for FLK1, so the gap is only two points.
Passing both is the hard part
First-time candidates passed FLK1 at 54% and FLK2 at 52%, but the overall first-time rate was 47%. You have to pass both papers, so the overall rate sits below either one.
Being strong at one FLK and hoping to carry the other is the risky way to prepare. Some candidates pass one paper and fail the other, and those candidates still fail the overall assessment. Spread your revision so neither paper is your weak spot.
What the score report adds
The pass rate is a headline. The full SRA report also gives the score distribution. Both papers are scored out of 500, and the passing score for FLK1 and for FLK2 was 300.
| July 2026 | FLK1 | FLK2 |
|---|---|---|
| Passing score | 300 | 300 |
| Average (mean) score | 291.0 | 289.2 |
| Median score | 300 | 297 |
The mean scaled score was 9 to 11 points below the passing score, and the median FLK1 score was exactly 300. These summary figures do not tell us how many candidates were only a few correct answers away from passing; that requires the score distribution.
The SRA counted 6,315 SQE1 candidates in July 2026 and graded 6,260 of them. 5,012 were sitting for the first time.
For first-time candidates, the report also links pass rates to background. Those with a first-class degree passed SQE1 at 66%, against 47% for a 2:1 and 22% for a 2:2. Candidates who had already done some qualifying work experience passed at 49%, against 45% for those who had not. These are patterns in one sitting, not proof of cause, but they suggest that candidates coming in with a weaker academic record have the most to gain from structured practice.
What to take from it
Nearly half of first-time candidates passed. 42% overall is not a coin flip, and the headline figure is dragged down by resitters.
If you are sitting in January 2027, the last three January sittings gave first-timers 58% to 60%. The standard does not change between sittings, so this is not a promise. It does mean you should not read July's 42% as the odds you face. Also check the confirmed FLK changes for January 2027 before you plan your revision, and see when to start studying and how many hours you need alongside a full-time job to work back from your sitting date.
Test yourself on both papers under exam conditions before you book. A pass rate tells you about a cohort. A timed full mock tells you about you.
That last point is why SQE Cracker's free plan includes a complete mock, one full topic pack per subject and the AI tutor, with no time limit. It is a way to see where you stand on FLK1 and FLK2 before you pay anyone for anything. Create a free account.
Quick answers
What was the SQE1 pass rate in July 2026?
42% for all candidates and 47% for first-time candidates, for those who sat both FLK1 and FLK2.
Was July 2026 better or worse than July 2025?
Slightly better: up one point on both measures (46% to 47% first time, 41% to 42% overall).
What is the SQE1 passing score?
The July 2026 report lists a passing score of 300 out of 500 for both FLK1 and FLK2.
How many people sat SQE1 in July 2026?
The SRA counted 6,315 SQE1 candidates and graded 6,260 of them. 5,012 were first-time candidates.
Is there a fixed SQE1 pass mark?
The scaled passing score is always 300 out of 500. The raw number of correct answers needed to reach it varies by paper to allow for differences in difficulty, while the standard stays the same.
Do resitters pass less often?
Yes. The SRA reports lower pass rates for resitters than for first-time candidates, and resitters made up a record share of the July 2026 cohort.