A2 Law
Chief Examiner
Professor Iwan Davies
General Observations
• Larger entry than for previous series,
more centres new to WJEC coming on
board.
• Overall the standard improved
considerably from the January series.
• Some candidates did not answer the
required number of questions - still
rubric errors.
• Weaker candidates presented preprepared generic answers.
General Observations
• Standard of previous years was
maintained.
• Many candidates produced excellent
scripts.
• Candidates displayed up to date
knowledge of recent changes in the
law e.g. the new defence of loss of
control, and diminished responsibility
Option 02 – LA3 Criminal
Law & Justice
• Q 1. PACE & Rule of Law. Popular
question. Wide variety of answers.
Some candidates merely repeated the
scenario, with little application of the
law to the problem
• Some answers failed to mention the
Police & Criminal Evidence Act 1984,
whilst some only referred to it as
PACE. Candidates should be
reminded that an Act should be given
its full citation when first mentioned in
an answer, it can then abbreviated
• Part b – Overall fairly well done
Option 02 – LA3 Criminal
Law & Justice
• Q 2 Causation & Bail. Popular
question . Both parts a & b were well
done with good application and
supporting case law
• For part a many candidates failed to
discuss the single transaction principle
and only the stronger candidates
provided a full account of constructive
manslaughter
Option 02 – LA3 Criminal
Law & Justice
• Q 3 Police Powers & Legal Aid. This
question on police powers was more
popular than question 1.
• Part a – overall was well done.
However candidates could have
gained higher marks by including more
detail and reference to authority.
• Part b – candidates seem to loathe the
topic of legal aid. Weaker answers
focused on law centres, CAB and the
IPCC whilst barely mentioning the
Criminal Defence Service
Option 02 – LA3 Criminal
Law & Justice
• Q 4 Non Fatal & Juries. This was the
most popular question.
• Part a – candidates showed good
knowledge and understanding of the
offences , explaining them in detail
with supporting case law
• The title of the Offences Against the
Person Act 1861 was often committed
or abbreviated
• Part b – overall was well answered
Option 02 – LA4 Criminal
Law & Justice
• Q 1 Intoxication.
• Overall this was well done. Most
candidates were able to describe the
difference between basic and specific
intent crimes, and case law on the
whole was good.
• Some candidates failed to discus
Majewski.
Option 02 – LA4 Criminal
Law & Justice
• Q 2 Bail
• This was a very popular question and
was very well answered. Excellent use
of statues and cases throughout most
scripts. Links also made to the Human
Rights Act 1998, and current cases of
bail bandits.
Option 02 – LA4 Criminal
Law & Justice
• Q 3 Several defence.
• This was an unpopular question and
answers were generally weak, with
limited case law.
Option 02 – LA4 Criminal
Law & Justice
• Q 4 Strict Liability.
• This was a very popular question.
Candidates were usually able to give a
detailed evaluation of the law, with
excellent supporting cases.
• There was confusion for some as to
what the question was asking, with
some discussing elements of crime.
These candidates were not penalised.
Option 02 – LA4 Criminal
Law & Justice
• Q 5 CPS & Magistrates Court
• This was a very popular question.
Answers were usually of a high
standard. Better candidates also
discussed the Threshold test.
• Part b - less well done. Few
candidates evaluated the role of the
magistrates court, with most simply
explaining the powers of the
magistrates themselves.
Option 02 – LA4 Criminal
Law & Justice
• Q 6 Young offenders
• This was not a popular question.
Overall the answers were weak, very
chatty and lacking in legal authority.
Tackling the Specification
• The ability to answer the question
directly is very significant.
• Essay writing skills will need to be
emphasised.
• Candidates must read each question
carefully before choosing.
• Both parts of questions MUST be
attempted.
Specific Weaknesses
• Mis-reading of questions - read the
questions carefully, noting
commands.
• Clear understanding of command
words is essential and many
candidates failed to fulfil the success
criteria because they failed to
respond to the command words.
Specific Weaknesses
• Time allocation; still evidence of over
and underwriting.
• Not defining key terms.
• Limited deployment of paragraphs.
• Repetition.
• Dated cases / lacking in legal
authority.
For further information, please
contact the Subject Officer at the
WJEC:
Joanna Lewis
245 Western Avenue
Cardiff
CF5 2YX
joanna.lewis@wjec.co.uk