SQE candidates face further misery after being notified that the test centre hit by an 'IT issue' will not host an exam that was due to take place on Monday.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority and exam provider Kaplan apologised to candidates who waited more than five hours at a test centre in Hammersmith, London, on Thursday to complete the first 'functioning legal knowledge' (FLK1) assessment paper before being told it was cancelled.

Kaplan has now confirmed to the Gazette that approximately 100 candidates were affected, 'though we are waiting for exact numbers from Pearson Vue, as it was at their test centre'. Kaplan said candidates were unable to take the exam due to an 'IT issue'. It is still waiting for more information from Pearson Vue 'but we understand it to be network related'.

Candidates are due to sit the second 'functioning legal knowledge' exam (FLK2) on Monday.

However, Kaplan said: 'Because of concerns about whether the IT issues at Pearson Vue's test centre in Hammersmith will be entirely resolved by Monday, we have taken the difficult decision that the Hammersmith test centre will not host the FLK2 assessment on Monday 25 July. Therefore all candidates who were booked in the Hammersmith test centre will not be able to sit FLK2 on Monday. All candidates have been notified of this.'

It is unclear how many candidates will be affected by the decision. Kaplan said 2,000 candidates sat the FLK1 exam across all test centres on Thursday. 

Kaplan is rearranging the FLK1 assessment for those who were unable to do it. Given some candidates at the Hammersmith centre were able to sit the exam, the Gazette asked if the rescheduled FLK1 exam will contain different questions. Kaplan said it does not comment on the content of assessments.

Kaplan said it will be 'working with candidates on appropriate refunds'.

A spokesperson for the SRA said: 'Kaplan have updated those candidates who have been affected by the issues at the Hammersmith test centre, and apologised for the stress this issue has caused.

'All affected candidates will have the opportunity to take a rearranged SQE1 assessment. We are in the process of confirming the dates for that, with the aim it takes place as soon as possible. Alternatively, they can choose a full refund.'

One candidate told the Gazette: 'We all made significant financial, personal and professional sacrifices to be treated incompetently by a regulatory body that sets our competency standard is the biggest irony.'

 

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