SQE1 format: 360 questions over two days

SQE1 is 360 multiple-choice questions, split into two papers of 180 each, sat on two separate days. That is the format in one sentence. Everything else is detail worth knowing before you build a study plan around it.

Here is the exact structure, how the timing works, and why the mechanics matter as much as the content when you are deciding how to prepare.

The two-paper structure: FLK1 and FLK2

SQE1 is divided into two papers, each covering a different set of Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) areas.

• FLK1: 180 multiple-choice questions.
• FLK2: 180 multiple-choice questions.

That gives you 360 questions in total. Each paper is sat on its own day, so most candidates experience SQE1 as two exam days rather than one, typically with the two papers falling in separate assessment weeks rather than back to back, depending on the sitting's published schedule and which days you book within each window.

Within each paper, the 180 questions are split across two timed sessions on the same day, so a full SQE1 sitting works out to four exam sessions across two days: two sessions for FLK1, two for FLK2.

This split matters for planning. FLK1 and FLK2 cover different areas of the syllabus, which means your revision needs to cover the full spread across both papers rather than over-preparing for one and hoping the other looks after itself.

How the timing works

Each session gives you a fixed number of questions within a fixed time limit. Averaged out across the full 360 questions, that works out to roughly one minute forty seconds per question.

That is not a lot of thinking time once you factor in reading a scenario, working out what is actually being asked, and picking the single best answer from the options given. Most SQE1 questions are built around short client or practice scenarios rather than plain definitional statements, so the reading itself takes a real slice of that time budget.

A few practical consequences follow from this:

1. Pacing is a skill you have to practise separately from learning the law. Knowing the content well does not automatically mean you will move through 180 questions at the right speed.
2. Getting stuck on one question is expensive. Spending four minutes wrestling with a single question usually means rushing several questions later in the same session.
3. Timed mock practice matters early, not just in the final weeks. The earlier you find out your natural pace, the more time you have to fix it.

For a deeper look at how this pacing pressure interacts with the pass-rate data, see the post on how hard SQE1 really is.

No negative marking

SQE1 does not penalise wrong answers. There is no negative marking, so a blank answer and a wrong answer cost you exactly the same: the mark for that question.

That has one clear practical implication: always select an answer, even under time pressure, even if you are not sure. Leaving a question blank because you ran out of time is a guaranteed zero. An educated guess between two plausible options at least gives you a chance.

It is worth building this into your mock practice too. If you are running out of time in a timed mock and leaving questions blank, treat that as a pacing problem to fix before exam day, not something to solve on the day itself with rushed guessing.

Single-best-answer questions, not simple recall

Every SQE1 question follows the same format: a scenario or short statement of facts, followed by several possible answers, of which one is the single best answer. This is different from a "select all that apply" or a straightforward definitional recall question.

That format tests judgement under realistic conditions, not just whether you can remember a rule. Several of the wrong options are often designed to be plausible if you have only a surface understanding of the topic, which is part of why revision built around practice questions, not just reading notes, tends to produce stronger results.

What the format means for study priorities

Once the mechanics are clear, a few study priorities follow naturally.

Cover the full syllabus across both papers. Since FLK1 and FLK2 are scored and structured separately, a strong FLK1 and a weak FLK2 (or the reverse) is a real risk if your revision time is not spread across both.

Practise under timed conditions well before the exam. The roughly 1m40s-per-question pace is tight enough that it needs rehearsal, not just awareness. Full timed papers, done early enough to actually change your approach, matter more than another read-through of notes.

Build stamina for two exam days. Four sessions across two days is a real test of concentration, not just knowledge. Practising back-to-back timed sessions, rather than always stopping after one, helps you notice where your focus drops.

Track accuracy by topic, not just an overall score. A 65% average can hide a topic you are getting 40% on. The format rewards broad, even coverage, so it is worth knowing exactly where the gaps are rather than relying on a single headline number.

A free SQE study planner can help turn a target number of study hours into a week-by-week schedule that covers both FLK1 and FLK2 in proportion, rather than leaving the balance to chance. It is free to use with an email sign-up, alongside a syllabus tracker for keeping tabs on which topics across both papers you have actually covered.

How SQE1 compares to SQE2

SQE1's all-multiple-choice, two-day format is quite different from SQE2, which tests applied skills like advocacy, interviewing, and legal drafting across a longer run of stations rather than MCQs. If you are trying to understand the exam route as a whole rather than just SQE1, it is worth reading how the two parts differ and why they are assessed so differently, covered in more detail on the pass rates post and in the SQE1 versus SQE2 comparison elsewhere on the blog.

It is also worth checking the current cost breakdown and the latest SQE sitting dates while you are planning, since both affect when you would realistically book a sitting around this format.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on SQE1? 360 in total: 180 on FLK1 and 180 on FLK2, split across two exam days with two timed sessions per day.

How long is each SQE1 session? Each paper's 180 questions are split into two sessions on the same day. Averaged across the full 360 questions, candidates get roughly one minute forty seconds per question, so check the exact session lengths on the current SRA or Pearson VUE assessment specification before you sit, since published timings can be adjusted between sittings.

Is there negative marking on SQE1? No. Wrong answers are not penalised, so it is always better to select an answer, even a guess, than to leave a question blank.

Are FLK1 and FLK2 sat on the same day? No, they are sat on separate days. Most candidates treat SQE1 as a two-day exam event rather than a single sitting, and the exact gap between the two days depends on the schedule published for that sitting.

Do FLK1 and FLK2 count separately toward passing SQE1? Yes. FLK1 and FLK2 each have their own pass mark, and you need to reach the pass mark on both to pass SQE1 overall, a strong score on one paper does not make up for a fail on the other. The exact pass mark for each paper is set by the SRA's standard-setting process for that sitting, so it is worth checking the current SRA guidance for the specifics rather than assuming a fixed percentage.

Once the structure is clear, the exam stops feeling like a mystery and starts looking like what it is: a large, timed, well-defined test that rewards broad coverage, quick judgement, and practice under real conditions. Plan around those three things and the 360-question format becomes a lot less intimidating than it looks from the outside.