SRA Clarifies SQE Confidentiality: What’s Changed

SQE Confidentiality Rules Have Changed. Here’s What Candidates Can Now Discuss

After the SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Examination), most candidates want to debrief. For a while, the confidentiality wording felt so broad that even normal conversations about the experience could feel risky.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority just updated its SQE candidate confidentiality policy on 23 February 2026 to make the boundary clearer. The rule that matters has not changed: candidates must not share information about the specific content of the assessment questions. What has changed is the confirmation that you can talk about the wider experience of sitting the exam.

What has changed, in plain English

The previous policy referred to “any of the SQE assessment content”. The updated policy narrows this to the “specific content of the assessment questions”. The regulator’s stated aim is fairness, stopping anyone gaining an unfair advantage by sharing what came up in the exam.

The updated policy also points candidates to detailed guidance on confidentiality and candidate behaviour, updated in November 2025. The SRA says the new policy applies from 23 February 2026 and will first apply to the April 2026 SQE2 assessment.

What you can discuss now

The SRA is clear that candidates may want to talk about the practicalities and pressures of a high stakes SQE assessment. Under the updated approach, it is acceptable to discuss things like the assessment arrangements, how challenging you found it, how you prepared, how you managed time, and how you dealt with exam stress. Peer support is also fine, including joining study groups, and discussing public materials such as the assessment specification, the blueprint, and sample questions.

That clarification is helpful. Candidates can share reassurance and practical tips without feeling they are stepping over a line that was never meant to cover those topics.

The line that still matters

The one area where the SRA remains strict is SQE question content. “Specific content of the assessment questions” is not just copying a question word for word. It can also include describing the scenario, key facts, or the precise legal point tested in a way that effectively reveals what appeared.

A simple self check is: would what I am saying help someone predict what they might see in a future SQE sitting? If yes, do not share it.

This matters even more online. A message in a group chat can be forwarded, copied, or screen captured. The guidance makes clear that “sharing” includes posting information about assessment questions online or on chat forums.

Why this sits in a bigger professional picture

Confidentiality rules are common for professional exams, and the SRA’s guidance links exam confidentiality to a fundamental duty in practice: confidentiality as a solicitor. The guidance also highlights something candidates often forget in the rush to compare notes. Shared recollections can be wrong or misleading, and candidates do not know which questions they or others will receive, so “what came up” can be unreliable as well as unfair.

Consequences, and what to do if you are unsure

Breaches can be treated as malpractice or improper conduct under the assessment regulations. The published guidance sets out serious consequences, including failing the assessment and, in most cases, not normally being permitted to sit the SQE again. It also explains that the SRA reserves the right to report findings to employers or sponsors and to take further action where appropriate.

If you are unsure whether something crosses the line, you rarely need to guess. Keep your comments general, avoid specifics about scenarios or topics tested, and check the policy and guidance before posting anything online.

Conclusion

The SRA has not relaxed confidentiality around questions. It has clarified that candidates can discuss the experience of sitting the SQE, including preparation, pressure, and logistics, without breaching the rules. The boundary is still clear: do not share question content, especially online.

If you’re a trainee solicitor or aspiring solicitor, good luck with your SQE journey. Getting these lines right now is a part of building the professional judgment you’ll rely on in practice, where confidentiality and careful communication matter every day.

And if you’re starting to navigate the wider realities of legal work – including how to instruct confidently and what “good evidence” looks like when something is challenged – Tremark Associates is here to support you as you grow into the role. We work alongside legal teams with process serving, investigations, and litigation support, and we’re always happy to help you understand what strong, defensible instructions and reporting should look like.

We also run webinars that attract CPD points, covering practical issues legal professionals actually face. If you’d like the details, or you have a bespoke question about confidentiality boundaries, instructing, or the services we provide, get in touch with the team – we’re glad to help.