Dozens of aspiring solicitors who were unable to sit a qualifying exam last week due to an IT fiasco are still waiting to hear if they will receive compensation. One candidate had to cancel a foreign holiday, while others incurred hefty expenses for what turned out to be unnecessary travel and hotel rooms.

For SQE1, a computer-based multiple choice test, candidates must complete two ‘functioning legal knowledge’ papers, known as FLK1 and FLK2.

After the Gazette was contacted by several angry candidates, exam provider Kaplan confirmed that 111 people were unable to sit FLK1 at the Hammersmith test centre on Thursday, 21 July. Worried that the ‘IT issue’ would not be resolved in time, Kaplan also cancelled the FLK2 paper that 139 candidates were due to sit at the same test centre. The exams have now been rescheduled – FLK1 for 4 August and FLK2 for 8 August – and will be held at the Chiswick test centre.

Kaplan said ‘root cause analysis’ is being conducted by the test centre provider, Pearson Vue, to identify the IT issue at Hammersmith.

Candidates said conditions at the Hammersmith centre were far from ideal. The registration process took longer than expected, rooms felt unventilated, and people rushed to go to the toilet as they were repeatedly told the exam would be starting soon.

The Gazette was told many candidates could be left hundreds or thousands of pounds of pocket – some booked hotels to ensure they arrived promptly by 8.30am for a 9am start, and some travelled from abroad. One candidate had to cancel a pre-booked holiday abroad to sit the rescheduled exams.

A candidate said: ‘The two exams come at a cost of over £1,500. This is then due again for the second part of the SQE. The majority of candidates have also paid over £2,000 for the preparation course and materials. [Many] took unpaid leave or holiday from work.’

For those unable to attend the rescheduled exam dates, the next scheduled sitting for SQE1 is in January 2023.

A spokesperson for Kaplan said: ‘We understand that candidates will likely have queries around expenses. Our immediate priority has been rescheduling the assessment. We have told candidates that we will provide them with an update on refunds and expenses as soon as possible and by no later than 2 August.’

Kaplan apologised for the ‘distress and inconvenience’ caused. ‘The experience at the Pearson Vue test centre in Hammersmith fell short of our expected standards of delivery and we are working with Pearson Vue to ensure these issues do not happen again.’

The Solicitors Regulation Authority also apologised for the stress caused to candidates. Asked about financial penalties, the SRA said: ‘It wouldn’t be appropriate to go into details of commercially confidential contractual arrangements.’