Kaplan Assessments wins Best Summative Assessment at the eAA Awards

We are thrilled to announce a major milestone: winning the Best Summative Assessment award at the prestigious International e-Assessment Association (eAA) Awards 2026.

The e-Assessment Association recognised Kaplan Assessments' work with the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) as a demonstration of excellence in high-stakes assessment delivery. This accolade reflects the scale, rigour, and innovation that have defined the SQE since its introduction and serves as a proud acknowledgment of the work carried out on behalf of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

According to the eAA panel, "The judges were particularly impressed by a highly professional and well-executed summative assessment programme."

What this award means

Winning the Best Summative Assessment award is more than a moment of celebration, it is a reflection of years of meticulous planning, academic and professional input, psychometric validation, and operational execution.

The SQE launched in 2021 following an extended period of public consultation and piloting. Kaplan Assessments have been responsible for delivering a single, consistent standard of entry into the legal profession. The SQE replaced a system previously delivered by over 30 suppliers with different pass rates, a system that placed significant financial and structural barriers in the path of aspiring solicitors. In its place, the SQE introduced a modern, accessible, and robust assessment route that has attracted a cohort broad in terms of ethnicity, disability, age, and sex.

With more than 13,000 candidates undertaking SQE1 in 2025 alone, the rate of growth has been exceptionally fast. This industry impact was explicitly celebrated by the eAA panel, noting that the "Judges recognised the strong evidence of impact, and the careful attention given to fairness, accessibility, and large-scale delivery."

A collaborative achievement

An assessment of this scale and complexity does not come together without an extraordinary team effort. We would like to thank everyone who has played a role in the successful delivery of the SQE, including:

• Psychometricians whose expertise ensures all assessments meet the highest standards of validity and reliability
• Qualified solicitors, who are involved in the writing and development of each question and provide academic rigour
• Professional actor assessors and solicitor assessors, who bring authenticity and consistency to the face-to-face assessment stations
• Operations and delivery teams, who ensure seamless assessment experiences across test centres globally

We would also like to extend our gratitude to the SRA for their continued partnership and shared commitment to ensuring the consistent and high standard of entry to the legal profession.

Why the SQE stood out to the judges

The SQE stood out for the breadth and ambition of what it set out to achieve and what it has delivered.

"Judges also recognised the project’s thoughtful design, operational strength, and clear understanding of the demands of high-stakes assessment."

SQE1 tests applied legal knowledge through two 180-item single best answer multiple-choice papers, mapped to published Functioning Legal Knowledge in assessment specifications covering a range of practice areas including Business Law, Property Law, Dispute Resolution, and Criminal Law and Practice.

SQE2 draws heavily on OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) methodology from medicine, consisting of 16 stations with 18 marked submissions. Twelve stations are written assessments delivered in test centres globally, mirroring real tasks expected of a newly qualified solicitor such as drafting court documents or writing a letter of advice. Four oral stations place candidates in realistic face-to-face scenarios, including client interviews and courtroom advocacy, assessed by trained actor and solicitor assessors respectively.

The result is a consistent, scalable, and deeply authentic assessment of the knowledge and skills required to practise law.

Looking ahead

This recognition marks a point of pride but also a prompt to look forward. Kaplan Assessments remain committed to continuous innovation in high-stakes professional assessment, building on the SQE's strong foundation to further improve the candidate experience and enhance accessibility.

As the legal profession continues to evolve, assessment must evolve with it and we are proud to be leading the way.