Kaplan apologises after hundreds of SQE students wrongly told of exam cancellation

Kaplan has apologised after more than 230 candidates sitting the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) were wrongly told their October assessments had been cancelled at their request.

The emails were sent to students last Wednesday evening - when Kaplan’s call centre was closed - after a "system error" occurred while implementing changes designed to make the assessments more accessible, according to the company.

In a widely reported statement, Kaplan apologised for the error and said candidates were told the following morning that their bookings remained secure - although one student wrote on LinkedIn that her exam centre was subsequently changed and her oral assessments cancelled, describing the process as "utterly shocking".

Not the first controversy

This is the latest SQE mishap under Kaplan, which has administered the exam on behalf of the SRA since it was launched in 2021.

In April last year, 175 candidates were mistakenly told they had failed SQE1 due to a marking error - with some reportedly losing their training contracts as a result - before Kaplan apologised for the error and issued a £250 "goodwill payment" to affected students. Meanwhile, in 2022, reports emerged that candidates at a London test centre endured a five-hour wait before being told their exams that day were cancelled due to technical issues.

Back in August, hundreds signed a petition calling for SQE reform, citing the toll it has taken on their "mental, financial and physical wellbeing".

The SRA declined to comment.