The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE1) uses a scaled scoring system to ensure fairness across different sittings and to maintain consistency. Candidates often wonder how this process works and how it impacts their results.
What is SQE1?
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE1) is a crucial step toward becoming a solicitor in England and Wales. It tests candidates’ legal knowledge through multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The exam is divided into two key sections:
- Functioning Legal Knowledge 1 (FLK1)
- Functioning Legal Knowledge 2 (FLK2)
Each section contains 180 MCQs, with each question offering one correct answer and awarding 1 mark. The subjects covered include areas such as Contract Law, Tort Law, and Property Law, focusing on both theoretical knowledge and its practical applications.
What is scaled scoring in SQE1?
The SQE1 uses a scaled scoring system to account for variations in the difficulty of exam papers across different sittings. This system ensures that the scoring is fair and consistent, regardless of when a candidate takes the exam.
Key SQE1 terms
- FLK1 and FLK2: These are the two core assessments within SQE1, each comprising 180 multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
- Raw Score: This is the actual number of correct answers a candidate achieves.
- Scaled Score: This score adjusts the raw score based on the specific exam’s difficulty.
For example, if two candidates take the SQE1 in different sittings, and one paper is slightly more challenging, the raw score will be adjusted. A candidate who correctly answered 90 MCQs out of 180 in a more difficult paper may have their score scaled up to reflect that difficulty. Meanwhile, a candidate who scores 120 in an easier paper may have their score scaled down to maintain fairness across sittings. This adjustment ensures that no candidate is disadvantaged by the difficulty of their exam.
Access detailed resources
For a more comprehensive understanding of scaled scoring and its significance within the SQE1 framework, we invite you to explore our detailed lecture here. This resource offers an in-depth examination of the scaled scoring system.
Why use SQE1 scaled scoring?
Since the SQE1 exam can be taken at different times, slight variations in difficulty are inevitable. Scaled scoring adjusts raw scores based on the overall difficulty of the paper. This ensures that a candidate’s performance is evaluated fairly compared to others, regardless of the exam’s difficulty level.
Example:
- Candidate C takes the SQE1 paper in January and answers 130 questions correctly out of 180.
- Candidate D takes the same paper in July but only answers 120 questions correctly, as the July paper is recognised as significantly more difficult.
- After applying the scaling method, the assessor determines the raw score for the pass mark, and Candidate C’s raw score is converted into a scaled score. For example, Candidates C and D may have the same scaled score (310), while their raw scores may be slightly different (130 and 120, respectively). This reflects the relative difficulty of the two exam sittings, ensuring fairness in scoring.
How are pass marks determined?
In SQE1, the pass score is set at 300 for each Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) section, within a scaled scoring system where the maximum scaled score is 500, corresponding to a raw score of 180. The raw scores, which vary based on exam difficulty, are scaled to ensure fairness across different sittings. Once scaled, candidates need to achieve a score of 300 or more to pass the FLK1 or FLK2, ensuring they meet the required level of competence to practise as a solicitor.
Transparency and fairness in the SQE1
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) ensures that the SQE1 scoring process is transparent. Candidates are evaluated based on consistent standards, with scaled scoring providing the flexibility needed to account for any variations in exam difficulty. Although scaled scoring might seem complex, its purpose is to guarantee that all candidates are treated fairly, no matter when they sit for the exam.
By focusing on how raw scores are adjusted into scaled scores, candidates can better understand their performance and the fairness embedded in the SQE1 marking process. This scoring system ensures that the exam’s pass rate reflects the competence required to practise law in England and Wales, maintaining high standards across the profession.
Prepare for the SQE1 with the Academy of Smart Lawyers
The Academy of Smart Lawyers offers an extensive range of SQE1 preparation materials, featuring a growing bank of challenging questions that mirror the actual exam. Candidates can access an exam-like interface to familiarise themselves with the format. Key resources include:
- FREE SRA example questions
- SMART SQE1 challenging questions (SQE training and exam formats)
- Recorded lectures with synopsis notes
- Live group sessions for interactive learning
To access these valuable resources, visit the SUPERexam E-learning & Training platform and sign up here.
