Introduction
"How much does the SQE cost?" is one of the first questions most aspiring solicitors ask, and it deserves a straight answer. The total bill comes in two parts: the fixed assessment fees that the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) charges to sit the exams, and the much more variable cost of preparing for them.
This guide explains both. We will point you to the official SRA fees for SQE1 and SQE2 so you are always working from the current published figures, then walk through the wider cost picture (preparation, study materials, and resits) so you can budget realistically.
One note before we start. Go SQE1 is a practice question platform, not a training provider and not the SRA. We do not set or collect the exam fees. For the authoritative numbers you should always check the SRA directly, and we explain below exactly where to look.
Where to Find the Official SQE Fees
The SRA publishes the assessment fees for SQE1 and SQE2 on its own website, and these are the only figures you should rely on when budgeting.
The fees are reviewed periodically and have increased in the past, so any number quoted in a blog post (including this one) can go out of date between sittings. Rather than risk quoting a stale figure, we recommend you confirm the current amounts directly:
- Official source: the SRA's published SQE assessment fees on sra.org.uk. Search for "SQE fees" or "SQE assessment fees" to find the current schedule.
When you read the SRA page, note three things: the SQE1 fee, the SQE2 fee, and the date the fees apply from. Fees as published by the SRA are the figures that matter, so check for updates before you book.
How the SQE Fees Are Split
The assessment cost is split across the two stages of the exam, and you pay each one separately when you book it.
- SQE1 is the Functioning Legal Knowledge stage. It is made up of two assessments (FLK1 and FLK2), each consisting of 180 single best answer multiple choice questions, sat at a Pearson VUE test centre. You pay a single SQE1 fee that covers both FLK1 and FLK2.
- SQE2 is the practical legal skills stage, covering oral and written skills such as client interviewing, advocacy, case analysis, legal research, legal writing, and legal drafting. It carries its own separate fee, and it is the more expensive of the two stages because of how it is delivered and marked.
If you are searching for a single "SQE cost" number, this split is why you will see different figures quoted. SQE1 and SQE2 are billed independently, so the headline total for qualifying as a solicitor is the SQE1 fee plus the SQE2 fee, confirmed against the SRA's current schedule.
The Full Cost Picture Beyond Exam Fees
The assessment fees are fixed, but they are usually the smaller part of the total. The bigger and far more variable cost is preparation, and this is the part you control.
Preparation Courses vs Self-Study
Preparation sits on a wide spectrum:
- Structured SQE prep courses offered by training providers can run into several thousand pounds, and at the upper end a full SQE1 and SQE2 course package can cost more than the assessment fees themselves. These courses bundle teaching, materials, mock assessments, and tutor support.
- Self-study can be done for a fraction of that. A candidate working from textbooks, the SRA's published specification and sample questions, and a focused practice question bank can prepare for a small fraction of the cost of a structured course.
There is no single right answer here. A career changer with no legal background may value the structure of a taught course, while a recent law graduate may be comfortable preparing independently. The point is that the preparation cost is the variable you control, and it is worth deciding deliberately rather than defaulting to the most expensive option.
Study Materials
Beyond any course, candidates typically budget for revision manuals, flashcards, and a question bank for practice. The SRA publishes the SQE1 assessment specification and sample questions for free, and these are an essential starting point. Layered on top, paid materials vary from a modest one-off spend on textbooks to ongoing subscriptions.
"Can I Cut the Cost?"
The exam fees are fixed, so the way to reduce your total spend is to prepare efficiently rather than expensively.
Self-study supported by targeted MCQ practice is the lowest-cost route through SQE1. Because SQE1 is entirely single best answer multiple choice, the most directly relevant preparation is answering large volumes of exam-style questions, tracking where you go wrong, and revisiting weak topics. Decades of cognitive-science research find that retrieval practice (answering questions you might get wrong) produces more durable learning than re-reading, which makes a good question bank one of the highest-value, lowest-cost parts of a study plan.
This is the role Go SQE1 plays. We are a practice platform with a free tier, so you can start working through real SQE1-style questions across FLK1 and FLK2 without paying for a full course. For many candidates, a question bank plus the SRA's free specification covers a large share of what a several-thousand-pound course provides, at a small fraction of the cost.
Resit Costs and Total Spend
Resits are the cost line most candidates forget to budget for, and they can quietly become the largest single addition to your bill.
If you do not pass SQE1 or SQE2 at the first attempt, you pay the full assessment fee again to resit. The SRA allows a limited number of attempts within a set period, and each attempt is charged separately. So a candidate who needs two attempts at SQE1 pays the SQE1 fee twice.
This is simply how the costs work, and it is worth stating plainly rather than as a scare tactic. The practical takeaway is that thorough preparation lowers resit risk, and lower resit risk lowers your total spend. Strong, well-rehearsed FLK1 and FLK2 practice is one of the most cost-effective investments you can make, because passing first time means you pay each assessment fee once.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the SQE in total?
The total is the SQE1 assessment fee plus the SQE2 assessment fee, as published by the SRA, with any preparation, materials, and resits on top. Always confirm the current SQE1 and SQE2 fees on sra.org.uk before budgeting, because the SRA reviews them periodically.
Is the SQE cheaper than the LPC?
For most candidates the SQE route has a lower minimum cost of entry than the Legal Practice Course it replaced, mainly because preparation can be done through self-study rather than a fixed taught course. The exam fees are also far lower than typical LPC course fees. We compare the two pathways in detail in our SQE1 vs LPC guide.
Do I have to pay for a prep course?
No. A preparation course is optional. The SRA assessment fees are compulsory, but how you prepare is up to you, and self-study supported by a practice question bank is a legitimate and far cheaper route for many candidates.
When do I pay the SQE fees?
You pay each assessment fee when you book that assessment, so the SQE1 fee and the SQE2 fee are paid separately at different stages. Check the SRA booking pages for current deadlines and amounts.
Start Practising for Free
The exam fees are fixed, so the smartest way to control your SQE spend is to prepare efficiently and pass first time.
Go SQE1 gives you free access to SQE1-style practice questions so you can start building Functioning Legal Knowledge without committing to an expensive course. Start practising FLK1 Business Law and Practice questions for free and see how far focused, low-cost preparation can take you.