Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) - SQE Marking and Standard Setting Policy - Version applicable up to and including 31 August 2025

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Aladdin

This policy describes how SQE assessments are marked and how pass marks are determined for candidates undertaking the Solicitors Qualifying Examination. It covers SQE1 and SQE2 marking principles, including the awarding of marks for correctly answered questions, the handling of unrounded and corrected cut scores, and the rounding approach to produce pass marks. It also explains how standard setting is informed by a Modified Angoff method, supported by statistical equating and measurement error considerations, and how SQE2 marking is conducted through trained examiner judgement with moderation to ensure consistency.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages5

Reading Time13 min

AccessFree to download

SQE Marking and Standard Setting Policy

Version applicability

SQE1

SQE2

Standard setting and pass mark determination

Sensitivity: General Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) SQE Marking and Standard Setting Policy Note: Version applicable for assessments taken from 1 January 2025 up to and including 31 August 2025 Kaplan SQE Limited (Kaplan SQE) has been appointed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority Limited (“SRA”) as the sole provider of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (“the Assessment”) and is the End Point Assessment Organisation (“EPAO”) for Solicitor Apprentices. This document sets out the policy on marking SQE assessments and determining the pass mark 1. SQE1 1.1. SQE1 consists of two assessments-FLK1 and FLK2 . Candidates must pass both FLK1 and FLK2 to pass SQE1 . To pass FLK1 the candidate’s score must be greater than or equal to the pass mark for FLK1 . To pass FLK2 the candidate’s score must be greater than or equal to the pass mark for FLK2 . 1.2. Each correctly answered question will receive one mark. No marks will be deducted for incorrectly answered questions. Multiple answers for one question will not be counted. The number of marks is added together to provide the candidate score for the relevant assessment. 1.3. The unrounded cut score1 , expressed as an unrounded number of correctly answered questions, will be determined by the Assessment Board (the Board) . The Board will have reference to the standard determined by a Modified Angoff method (see 1.4) and other recognised standard setting methods2 , as appropriate, as well as statistical equating (see 1.6) . 1.4. The Modified Angoff method involves a panel of qualified solicitors who are familiar with day one competence, considering, for each question on the assessment, how 1 The cut score is the lowest possible score to pass the assessment. The cut score is normally calculated without reference to measurement error, which is considered after a cut score is arrived at (see para 1.3) to derive the pass mark 2 See for instance Hofstee, W. K. B. (1983) . The case for compromise in educational selection and grading. In S. B. Anderson & J. S. Helmick (Eds.), On educational testing (pp. 109–127) . San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Sensitivity: General many out of ten just competent Day One solicitors would answer the question correctly. In reaching this judgment the panel will consider the level of competency of the Day One solicitor as defined in the Threshold Standard , as set out in the SQE1 Assessment Specification. After providing their initial judgments (scores) on each question, panel members have an opportunity for discussion and, if deemed appropriate by any panel member, to adjust their individual score. Prior to the panel’s consideration of the questions there will be training for panel members anda discussion of the application of the Threshold Standard. 1.5. The standard setting process (using the Modified Angoff method and any other recognised standard setting methods2 , as appropriate) is repeated periodically. Inbetween times, the standard of assessments is maintained using statistical equating. 1.6. Statistical equating allows for a comparison of the difficulty of different assessments by considering how candidates perform on common questions. Calibrating the relationship between these common questions and other questions in each assessment and over time, ensures that standards are consistent across assessments. 1.7. Having determined the unrounded cut score, the precision of the assessment, as measured by the Standard Error of Measurement (SEm), will be considered. A decision will be made by the Board about the level of any correction which should be made for measurement error to arrive at a pass mark for the assessment. This correction will be made in order to ensure that those who pass deserve to pass, on the basis that it provides sufficient assurance that those achieving the pass mark are competent to practise. 1.8. Once any correction has been made to the unrounded cut score, the corrected cut score becomes t

FAQs

What version of the policy applies to candidates’ assessments?

The policy version applies to assessments taken from 1 January 2025 up to and including 31 August 2025.

How are pass marks determined in SQE1?

The pass mark is derived from an unrounded cut score determined by the Assessment Board using the Modified Angoff method and other standard setting methods, then corrected for measurement error and rounded to the nearest integer.

How is SQE2 performance assessed and marked?

SQE2 is assessed by trained examiners who evaluate candidates’ performance in the client interview based on skills, while other exercises are marked by solicitor examiners using both skills and application of law. Moderation ensures consistency across examiners.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Aladdin