January 2026 SQE1 Rulebook: What’s New, What’s Critical

Key Changes Coming into Effect for January 2026 SQE1

1. Updated Assessment Specifications

   The SRA published revised SQE Assessment Specifications on 30 April 2025. These apply from 1 September 2025, meaning that the January 2026 sitting of SQE1 uses the new specs. Revise SQE

   Main consequences:

   • More clarity and consistency in subject-naming across the assessment spec. Revise SQE

   • Explicit inclusion in the specification of how many Ethics & Professional Conduct / money laundering questions may appear. Revise SQE

   • Additional guidance: In what kinds of scenarios Ethics / Conduct questions may be set — realistic client driven problems, possibly referencing warning notices (e.g. NDAs, SLAPPs) etc. Revise SQE

     
     

2. Ethics, Professional Conduct & Anti-Money Laundering (AML) weight

   • Up to 20% of SQE1 questions (FLK1 + FLK2 combined) can cover Ethics & Professional Conduct, including AML. Note: AML questions only appear in FLK1. Revise SQE

   • These questions will be “pervasive” across subject areas. That means they might come embedded in business law, tort, criminal law etc. Revise SQE

     
     

3. Marking & Standard-Setting Policy Updates

   From September 2025 there are changes in how the standard for passing is set (i.e. the “standard” marking threshold): these updates will apply to SQE1 assessments from January 2026 onward. SQE Website

   What changed (or clarified):

   • Paragraph 1.3 clarified how the standard presented to the Assessment Board is determined. SQE Website

   • Paragraph 1.4 clarified that an Angoff Panel is used only when a new Angoff standard is required — not for every single assessment. SQE Website

   • Importantly: these changes don’t alter the level or content of SQE1 — just the clarity around how the pass standard is set. SQE Website

     
     

4. Booking / Booking Process for January 2026 SQE1

   For those who want to sit in January 2026:

   • You must complete pre-booking steps before reserving a seat. That includes things like verifying identity, completing the Monitoring & Maximizing Diversity Survey, and stating any request for reasonable adjustments. SQE Website

   • Key dates:

Stage	Important Dates
Seat reservation form distributed	15 September 2025 (from 6 pm UK time) SQE Website
Seat reservation deadline	18 September 2025, by 5 pm SQE Website
Payment window begins	13 October 2025 at 10 am SQE Website
Payment deadline / last acceptable payment date	4 November 2025, 5 pm SQEWebsite
Rescheduling window	5 November 2025 (10 am) to 12 November 2025 (5 pm) SQE Website

4. If you miss the seat reservation, there is a later booking window (5-12 Nov 2025) to book directly, but seats may be limited. SQE Website

5. Law / Practicable Cut-off Dates for Examinable Content

   • As with all SQE sittings, the law which is examinable is frozen several months ahead of the test window. For January 2026 SQE1, that cut-off is 12 September 2025. That means changes to law after that date will not be tested in that sitting. pastpaperhero.com+2Revise SQE+2

     
     

What Stays the Same / Important Continuing Rules

• The two-part structure of SQE1: FLK1 and FLK2 — both must be done in the same assessment window. Barbri

• Standard multiple-choice format (“single best answer” type) across FLK1 & FLK2. Barbri

• Expect questions across a broad range of subject-areas: business law, tort, contract, property, trusts, criminal law etc. (as before).

• Resits are permitted under the usual terms; the number of attempts / time-limits etc. haven’t been substantially altered in the announced changes.

What Candidates Should Do / How to Prepare Differently

Given these changes, here are essentials if you're sitting Jan 2026:

• Know the pre-booking deadlines and ensure all pre-booking steps (ID, survey, reasonable adjustments) are done well before the reservation window opens.

• Focus more on Ethics, AML & Professional Conduct — at least up to 20% of MCQs could be from these areas. Don’t treat them as add-ons.

• Practice scenario-style, realistic problems that combine ethics or conduct issues with other substantive areas. Be ready for embedded ethics in other subject matter questions.

• Check exam law cut-off date (12 Sep 2025) and ensure your materials / studying reflect the law as of that date. Watch for updates before that date. Changes after don’t count for Jan 2026.

• Understand how standard setting works, since some of the policy around that has changed. Might help with mindset about what “passing” means and how the pass mark is determined.

• Plan for reasonable adjustments if needed — since booking/payment/rescheduling can depend on acceptance of adjustments. Don’t leave that to last minute.