Question quality, in the open
Four things you can check for yourself: how hard our questions are and how we know, how other candidates answered each one, which law each question is written to, and every correction we have made.
How we grade difficulty
- Every question we write is solved repeatedly, closed-book, with the options shuffled between attempts. It scores 0 to 6 according to how many attempts get it right, so lower means harder: 2.5 or below is labelled hard, 3 to 4.5 standard, 5 or above easy.
- We calibrate that measure against the SRA's published sample questions. A batch of new questions must average 3.5 or lower, roughly where the SRA's original 90 samples sit on the same measure.
- In a random sample of 120 questions from our three books, the average was 2.92, against 2.88 for the SRA's 130 pre-tested sample questions. Those figures cover the books only.
- The limit: on the SRA's pre-tested questions, the measure correlates with the share of candidates answering correctly at r = 0.36. It compares sets of questions. It doesn't predict your score.
How other candidates answered
After you answer a question in Solon Chambers, you see:
- the share of candidates who got it right first time;
- how first answers split across the five options;
- the median time taken;
- the question's difficulty percentile against the rest of the bank.
The figures appear only once at least 30 candidates have answered that question on their first attempt, so early numbers can't mislead. Repeat attempts are excluded, and the figures are refreshed nightly.
The law each question is written to
- Questions for the January 2027 sitting state the law of England and Wales as at 11 September 2026. The SRA examines the law as it stood four calendar months before the first assessment in a window (SQE1 specification), and the January 2027 window opens on 11 January 2027 (SRA booking windows).
- Every question shows its law-as-at date, and the date it was last changed, under the worked solution.
- Keys, worked solutions and option notes are checked against primary sources: legislation.gov.uk, published judgments, the Civil Procedure Rules and the SRA Standards and Regulations. Where we have recorded the key authority for a question, it is shown under the solution.
- When questions move to a later sitting's law date, each changed question is logged as "Law updated".
Corrections
- Every question has a Report button. Reports are checked against current primary sources, and an answer key is changed only when two independent checks agree it is wrong.
- Every change to a live question after publication appears automatically in the corrections log, with its date, the type of change (answer changed, explanation clarified, law updated or wording) and the question reference.
- Corrections to the printed books are listed on the method page.
What we don't claim
- We don't offer a pass prediction or a "ready" score.
- We don't claim to be error-free. If you spot an error, use the Report button on the question or contact us.
- Figures from our books describe the books, not the online bank.
FAQ
- How do you know how hard your SQE1 questions are?
- Every question is solved repeatedly, closed-book, and scored 0 to 6 by how many attempts get it right. We calibrate that measure against the SRA's published sample questions. Once 30 candidates have answered a question first time, you also see the share who got it right.
- What date is the law in your questions correct to?
- Questions for the January 2027 sitting are written to the law as at 11 September 2026. That is the date the SRA examines for the January 2027 window. Each question shows its date under the worked solution.
- What happens if I find a mistake?
- Report it from the question. We check it against current primary sources, and a key changes only when two independent checks agree. Every change appears in the public corrections log.
Solon Prep is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.