SQE2 Results Day: How to Manage the Wait
Congratulations to all candidates who have completed the SQE2 exams this sitting. Reaching the end of SQE2 is a major milestone in the solicitor qualification journey. For many candidates, attention now turns to SQE2 results day, and to managing the period between the exams and the release of results.
Drawing on experience supporting SQE2 candidates over multiple sittings, the guidance below is intended to help you approach this waiting period with perspective, balance, and clarity.
1. Be cautious when assessing your SQE2 performance
In the immediate aftermath of the SQE2 exams, candidates are often unreliable judges of their own performance. Many candidates who feel they have underperformed go on to pass comfortably on results day. This is a pattern seen repeatedly in SQE2 outcomes and is a normal response to high-stakes assessments.
2. “Forgetting” the SQE2 exams is not realistic for everyone
Advice to put the exams completely out of your mind until SQE2 results day may work for some candidates, but not all. Personality, temperament, and tolerance for uncertainty vary significantly, and it is important to manage the waiting period in a way that works for you.
3. Redirect energy rather than catastrophising
If you find yourself thinking frequently about SQE2 results, the aim should be to channel that energy constructively. Planning calmly is far more productive than allowing anxious speculation to take over. Structure can be reassuring during periods of uncertainty.
4. Sensible planning for a possible SQE2 resit
If you are concerned about the possibility of not passing SQE2, it can be helpful to reflect while the experience is still fresh. Consider what you might approach differently in the event of a resit—whether in relation to preparation strategy, exam technique, time management, or specific skills assessments. Brief notes made now can provide valuable clarity later, if needed.
5. Plan for passing SQE2 as well
Equally important is planning on the assumption that you have passed. Consider how you will mark the achievement on SQE2 results day, and what your next steps will be—whether that involves completing Qualifying Work Experience (QWE), preparing an application for admission as a solicitor, or progressing within your current role.
The period between the SQE2 exams and results day is also an opportunity to rest and reconnect with life outside exam preparation. Allow yourself space to decompress and regain balance after an intensive period of study.
6. Next steps: results analysis and resit planning
If you would like a structured review of your SQE2 performance once results are released—or would like to discuss a considered approach to resit planning if required—one-to-one SQE results analysis sessions are available. These sessions focus on identifying patterns, assessing technique, and mapping clear next steps, whether you are planning ahead or responding to results.