SQE2 Marking

The SQE2 assessments are designed to assess whether aspiring solicitors possess the necessary competence to practise effectively. Unlike SQE1, SQE2 focuses on the practical application of legal knowledge through a series of legal skills assessments in practical scenarios. It is therefore important for you to understand how these assessments are marked to maximise your chances of success.

The SQE2 assessment comprises several stations that test six types of legal skills: client interviewing and attendance note/legal analysis, advocacy, case and matter analysis, legal research, legal writing, and legal drafting. Of these, the interviewing station is unique in that it is marked solely on legal skills by the examiner playing the role of the client. All other stations are marked by qualified solicitors who assess both legal skills and the application of law. These assessors make judgments about your performance and apply the competency standard expected of a Day One Solicitor.

Performance in each station is graded on a scale from A to F. An A reflects a superior performance, well above the required competency level, while an F signifies a poor performance that falls significantly below expectations. The scale also includes grades such as C, representing a marginal pass, and D, indicating a marginal fail. These letter grades are converted into numerical marks, with A receiving 5 marks and F receiving 0, to quantify your overall result.

An important aspect of SQE2 marking is the equal weighting given to legal skills and the application of law across all stations, except for the interview. You are judged not only on your technical understanding but also on your ability to communicate legal advice effectively. For instance, a well-drafted document that is legally correct but unclear to the client would not receive full credit.

The application of law is judged against the expectation that you should demonstrate a sound grasp of core legal principles relevant to the scenario. This includes identifying relevant legal issues, applying those principles to the client’s circumstances, and offering solutions that are legally sound and commercially or personally appropriate. It may also involve evaluating research results, making judgments using multiple sources of information, and ensuring that advice accounts for different legal outcomes. Legal comprehensiveness is awarded when you correctly identify and fully analyse all the legal issues raised. However, you are not expected to recall the kind of detailed legal information that a qualified solicitor would look up unless that information is specifically provided in the assessment materials.

You must demonstrate awareness of legal differences between England and Wales where applicable. While both fall under the same legal jurisdiction, some laws differ, and the ability to distinguish and apply these appropriately forms part of the assessment of legal competence. For example, knowledge that the Welsh language has official status in legal proceedings in Wales could be relevant in a given scenario.

The written components of SQE2 are judged not only on content but also on clarity, precision, and appropriateness of language. You are expected to write in a manner that is legally accurate yet accessible to the intended recipient. This means avoiding unnecessary jargon and using a communication style suited to the context, whether it is advising a client, writing to the court, or preparing internal legal documentation. Minor spelling or grammatical errors will not result in loss of marks unless they affect the legal clarity or accuracy of the work. Likewise, poor formatting will not be penalised.

To pass SQE2, you must achieve an overall pass mark set by the SRA. There is no separate pass threshold for the oral and written components; performance across all assessments is aggregated to determine whether you have met the required standard.