The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) has transformed the pathway to becoming a solicitor in England and Wales. With SQE1 testing candidates on Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) and SQE2 focusing on applied legal skills through practical stations, the structure is both comprehensive and demanding. But as aspiring solicitors work their way through preparation and revision there is one detail that can significantly impact their performance: the cut-off date for examinable law.
Whether you’re preparing for SQE1 or SQE2, understanding what law you are being tested on is absolutely essential. With legislation and case law constantly evolving, knowing the relevant date for legal accuracy in your exam responses can make the difference between passing and failing. We run monthly SQE law updates and revision live sessions for those who may benefit from more tailored support and guidance
What is SQE Law Cut-Off Date
The SRA has confirmed that the law tested in both SQE1 and SQE2 is based on the legal position four calendar months before the start of the assessment window. This applies across both stages of the SQE exam. Here you can check all SQE exam dates, cut-off dates, and deadlines.
In SQE1, this is arguably less critical, as candidates are required to choose from pre-set options in multiple-choice questions. The key concern is that the MCQs reflect the correct law as of the cut-off date, which is the responsibility of the assessment provider.
However, SQE2 is a practical assessment involving open questions where candidates must draft proper, substantive responses. Therefore, even during SQE2 preparation – particularly when practising SQE2 mock stations – it is crucial to simulate scenarios using the correct and examinable law in force as of the relevant cut-off date.
This means, for example, if your SQE2 assessment window begins in April, the applicable law for all assessments must reflect the legal framework as it stood at the end of December the previous year., the applicable law for all mock stations, assessments, and legal skill applications must reflect the legal framework as it stood at the end of December of the preceding year. In fact it is 28 December 2024.
This four-month cut-off period is designed to ensure fairness, clarity, and a consistent standard across all sittings. It also gives the examiners time to prepare assessments based on a stable and finalised set of legal rules.
The rationale behind this timing is practical. It allows candidates and training providers to prepare with confidence, without scrambling to account for last-minute legislative changes. It also provides consistency across various SQE sittings and ensures that no candidate is either unfairly advantaged or disadvantaged by mid-cycle changes in law or procedure.
This cut-off applies to all law-related assessments in the SQE exam, including both FLK1 and FLK2 components of SQE1, as well as the legal skills components in SQE2. These include client interviewing, attendance note writing, case and matter analysis, legal research, legal writing, legal drafting, and advocacy.
SQE Cut-off Date & Tax Rates
On request of our current SQE2 April 2025 group, the Academy of Smart Lawyers contacted the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for confirmation on the law cut-off date used in SQE assessments. The response, supported by guidance from Kaplan – the official SQE assessment provider – clarified the official position.
One common area of concern is tax. Because tax rates often change from year to year, and sometimes multiple times within a fiscal cycle, many candidates worry about whether they need to memorise the rates that were applicable at the cut-off date. Fortunately, the SRA has clarified this in response to queries raised by us. Candidates are not expected to remember outdated tax rates. Where such rates are necessary to complete a task or analyse a problem, the question will usually include the relevant figures. This approach keeps the focus on assessing legal understanding and application, rather than rote memorisation of volatile data.
Still, this doesn’t mean you can ignore the cut-off date entirely. In fact, to provide additional clarity for our candidates, the Academy of Smart Lawyers contacted the SRA directly to confirm how these rules would be applied.
Here’s what the SRA said in their official response to us:
‘The law examined in SQE2 and the FLK is based on the position four calendar months before the date of the first assessment in the assessment window. This is a general rule of thumb. For subjects such as tax, we generally provide any necessary rates in the assessment question. You are not required to recall specific tax rates unless they are integral to the analysis.’
This confirmation brings welcome reassurance to candidates concerned about preparing under constantly changing legal frameworks. While tax rates may be supplied, the underlying legal principles – such as how capital gains tax is calculated, allowances and reliefs, or when and how SDLT applies in property purchases – must be analysed using the law as it stood at the relevant date. This is why the cut-off date isn’t just an administrative detail; it’s central to your exam technique.
How the Cut-Off Date Should Shape Your Study Plan
The impact of this rule extends to your study plan, particularly if you are working with SQE2 mock stations. You must ensure that the legal context embedded in those scenarios is accurate as of the applicable cut-off. At the Academy of Smart Lawyers, for instance, all revision materials are regularly reviewed to ensure compliance with the applicable cut-off rules. Our SQE2 mock stations are written and updated to reflect the precise legal position that will be tested in each upcoming exam sitting.
This commitment extends beyond simple updates. Our team annotates materials to flag content that may have changed since the previous sitting. In our live lectures, mentors guide candidates through areas that have been recently amended in legislation, advising whether such changes fall inside or outside the relevant cut-off period. Candidates are also encouraged to ask during live SQE2 revision sessions whether specific updates are relevant to their exam preparation. This level of targeted support helps students stay focused and saves valuable study time.
Strategic Implications for Your SQE Exam Booking
Understanding the law cut-off date also helps you make informed choices. about the timing of your exam booking. For instance, if significant legal reforms are due to come into force shortly before your planned exam date, you might decide to sit in an earlier window to avoid the complications. If you’re more familiar with the current legal framework and confident in your understanding of the pre-reform position, it may be strategic to sit in a later sitting.
For SQE retakers, this cut-off awareness is even more important. You may have studied under one legal regime, failed, and then resit under a slightly changed legal landscape. Knowing the cut-off allows you to bridge this transition effectively. Again, this is where quality SQE2 mock stations updated in real time can make a significant difference.
SQE Law Cut-off Date: Final Thoughts
To conclude, the SQE law cut-off date is not just a technicality. it’s a strategic consideration that should shape every stage of your preparation. Whether you’re revising for SQE1, refining your answers in SQE2 mock stations, or sitting your SQE assessments, being aligned with the correct legal framework is essential. Ensure your materials reflect the law at the right time, and that your revision is focused on what will actually be tested.
At the Academy of Smart Lawyers, we help candidates navigate these technicalities with precision. From SQE1 live teaching to curated revision packs and one-to-one SQE2 mock stations, our resources are designed around the SRA’s most current guidance. As the SQE continues to evolve, our promise is to evolve with it – ensuring our students are not just prepared, but prepared smartly.
