LIVERPOOL LAW SCHOOL
MARKING SCHEME FOR EXAMINATIONS AND ASSESSED COURSEWORK
LEVEL 1
Please note: This scheme applies to examinations and assessed coursework. However it should be borne in mind that, within each
classification, standards will differ between those pieces of work which are prepared in advance with adequate time for proofreading, editing etc. and have scope for extensive research in the student’s own time (such as coursework); and those that are
done under the time pressure of an examination, relying on the student’s memory for legal detail. So, for example: full and accurate
citations of cases and academic comment are expected in coursework, whereas a simple reference to the name of a case, an
author or an article will be sufficient in examinations; slight mishaps of spelling and grammar will be more readily tolerated in
answers written under examination conditions; and a greater depth of discussion is expected in coursework of, say, 2500 words,
than is usually found in an exam essay written in 45 minutes. Equally, you will see below that the marking criteria in relation to
presentation apply to coursework only.
Available Step
Marks (%)
First Class
A first class mark
of / in excess of
90% will be
awarded for work
which excels in
most of the
following:
All relevant legal issues identified
Full and focused engagement with the question
Excellent knowledge and understanding of relevant legal principles including the most complex
issues
Excellent grasp of relevant doctrinal / policy problems
Fluent use of relevant, appropriate and up-to-date primary materials
Evidence of considerable research from independent study as well as core materials
Clear and compelling structure
Clear and compelling conclusions
Clear and thorough referencing
Excellent standard of English including as regards use of technical language
Excellent presentation*
95
A first class mark
in excess of 80%
will be awarded
for work which
demonstrates
most of the
following:
All relevant legal issues identified
Excellent engagement with the question
Excellent knowledge and understanding of basic principles
Good grasp of relevant doctrinal / policy problems
Fluent use of relevant, appropriate and up-to-date primary materials
Evidence of extensive independent research as well as core materials
Clear and convincing structure
Well-substantiated conclusions
Clear and thorough referencing
Very good standard of English including as regards use of technical language
Very good presentation*
88
A first class mark Most main legal issues identified
90
85
82
78
in excess of 70%
will be awarded
for work which
demonstrates
some
of
the
following:
Good engagement with the question
Good knowledge and understanding of basic principles
Reasonable grasp of relevant doctrinal / policy problems
Evidence of relevant, appropriate and up-to-date primary materials
Evidence of research from independent study as well as core materials
Clear and convincing structure
Well-substantiated conclusions
Clear and thorough referencing
Good standard of English
Good presentation*
75
Upper Second
Class
An upper second
class answer will
generally
demonstrate
some
of
the
following:
Majority of main legal issues identified
Reasonable engagement with the question
Reasonable knowledge and understanding of basic principles
Some grasp of relevant doctrinal / policy problems
Evidence of relevant and appropriate primary / secondary materials
Comprehensible structure
Arguable conclusions
Appropriate referencing
Proficient standard of English
Reasonable presentation*
68
Some main legal issues identified
Competent engagement with the question
Competent knowledge and understanding of basic principles
Evidence of relevant primary / secondary materials
Fairly comprehensible structure
58
65
62
Lower Second
Class
A lower second
class answer will
generally
demonstrate
some
of
the
55
52
following:
Relevant conclusions
Adequate referencing
Competent standard of English
Competent presentation*
Third Class
A third class
answer
will
generally
demonstrate
some
of
the
following:
Basic legal issues identified
Some engagement with the question
Some knowledge and understanding of basic principles
Some evidence of relevant primary / secondary materials
Some attempt to structure argument / analysis
Some attempt to draw relevant conclusions
Some referencing
Adequate standard of English
Adequate presentation*
48
Few legal issues identified
Limited engagement with the question
Limited knowledge and understanding of basic principles
Limited evidence of relevant primary / secondary materials
Little attempt to structure argument / analysis
Limited attempt to draw relevant conclusions
Poor referencing
Poor standard of English
Poor presentation*
38
45
42
Fail
A fail mark will
be awarded for
work which
demonstrates
some of the
following:
A fail will be No / almost no relevant legal issues identified
awarded for work No real engagement with the question
which
Poor knowledge and understanding of basic principles
35
32
25
demonstrates
Little / no evidence of relevant primary / secondary materials
some
of
the No real attempt to structure argument / analysis
following:
No real attempt to draw relevant conclusions
Poor referencing
Poor standard of English
Poor presentation*
* These criteria apply to coursework only
15
5