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GCE ADVANCED SUBSIDIARY (AS) AND ADVANCED (A) LEVEL SPECIFICATIONS

SUBJECT CRITERIA FOR LAW

1. Introduction

1.1 AS and A level subject criteria set out the knowledge, understanding, skills and assessment objectives common to all AS and A level specifications in a given subject. They provide the framework within which the awarding body creates the detail of the specification.

Subject criteria are intended to:

• help ensure consistent and comparable standards in the same subject across the awarding bodies;

• define the relationship between the AS and A level specifications, with the AS as a subset of the A level;

• ensure that the rigour of A level is maintained;

• help higher education institutions and employers know what has been studied and assessed.

• Any specification which contains significant elements of the subject Law must be consistent with the relevant parts of these subject criteria.

2. Aims

2.1 AS and A level specifications in Law should encourage students to:

• develop knowledge and understanding of selected areas of English law;

• develop an understanding of legal method and reasoning;

• develop the techniques of logical thinking and the skills necessary to analyse and solve problems by applying legal rules;

• develop the ability to communicate legal arguments and conclusions with reference to appropriate legal authority;

• develop a critical awareness of the changing nature of law in society.

3. Specification Content

3.1 AS and A level specifications in Law should be of sufficient length, depth and breadth to allow candidates to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills specified below, and must include a rationale for the choice of areas of law and/or themes which indicate how the following criteria for content are addressed.

There are no prior knowledge requirements for AS and A level specifications in Law.

Knowledge, Understanding and Skills

3.2 AS and A level specifications should require candidates to study:

• legal structures eg court structures, legal personnel;

• legal processes eg dispute resolution, law making;

• legal issues eg law reform, relationship between law and morals;

• legal methods and legal reasoning eg precedent, statutory interpretation.

• AS and A level specifications should require candidates to:

• analyse and evaluate, interpret and use legal material to consider issues and/or problems appropriate to the areas covered in the specification;

• communicate a clear, concise and logical argument substantiated by legal authority.

3.3 In addition, A level specifications should require candidates to:

• study one or more areas of substantive law in depth;

• develop the skills necessary to analyse and solve problems by applying legal rules.

4. Key Skills

4.1 AS and A level specifications in Law should provide opportunities for developing and generating evidence for assessing the Key Skills listed below. Where appropriate, these opportunities should be directly cross-referenced, at specified level(s), to the criteria listed in Part B of the Key Skills specifications.

• Communication

• Improving Own Learning and Performance

• Information Technology

• Problem Solving

• Working with Others

5. Assessment Objectives

5.1 All candidates must be required to meet the following assessment objectives. The assessment objectives are to be weighted in all specifications as indicated. The assessment objectives for AS and A level are the same.

Assessment Objectives		Weighting
		AS	A2	AL
AO1	recall, select, deploy and develop knowledge and understanding of legal principles accurately and by means of example and citation;	45-55%	35-45%	40-50%
AO2	analyse legal material, issues and situations, and evaluate and apply the appropriate legal rules and principles;	30-40%	45-55%	37.5-47.5%
AO3	present a logical and coherent argument and communicate relevant material in a clear and effective manner using appropriate legal terminology.	5-15%	5-15%	5-15%

The assessment objectives apply to the whole specification.

6. Scheme of Assessment

6.1 Internal Assessment

A level specifications in Law may have a maximum internal assessment weighting of 20%.

6.2 Synoptic Assessment

All specifications should include a minimum of 20% synoptic assessment. All synoptic assessment units should be taken at the end of the course and be externally assessed. Synoptic assessment in Law will draw on all three of the AS and A level assessment objectives and will require candidates to:

‘demonstrate an understanding of at least one branch of law using legal methods and reasoning to analyse legal material, to select appropriate legal rules and apply these in order to draw legal conclusions and to draw together and make connections between this area of law and between legal structures and/or legal processes and/or legal issues in Section 3.2 of the criteria'.

Examples of synoptic assessment tasks might include:

• a legal problem-solving unit of assessment using a scenario based on one or more of the branches of law being studied in A2, the response to which would involve candidates making connections with other elements of the knowledge and understanding in the specifications, eg "legal structures" or "legal processes";

• a case study, intended to exploit the advantages of time and variety of means of information gathering and analysis. The topic would involve rigorous legal research and interpretation of data, and cover at least one branch of law, drawing in appropriate elements of the knowledge and understanding in the specification.

6.3 Key Skills Assessment

The Key Skill of Communication must contribute to the assessment of Law at AS and A level as stated in paragraph 13 of the Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced level qualification-specific criteria.

The requirement for all AS and A level specifications to assess candidates' quality of written communication will be met through assessment objective 3.

7. Grade Descriptions

7.1 The following grade descriptions indicate the level of attainment characteristic of the given grade at A level. They give a general indication of the required learning outcomes at each specified grade. The descriptions should be interpreted in relation to the content outlined in the specification; they are not designed to define that content. The grade awarded will depend in practice upon the extent to which the candidate has met the assessment objectives overall. Shortcomings in some aspects of the examination may be balanced by better performances in others.

7.2 Grade A

Candidates are able to recall a substantial body of relevant information and present a well structured response to the question identifying a range of issues. They are able consistently to integrate descriptive and evaluative material, make connections where appropriate, demonstrate strong analytical and problem solving skills and construct a sound, coherent and relevant argument supported appropriately.

7.3 Grade C

Candidates recall a sound body of information and are able to relate it to issues raised by the question. They demonstrate some analytical and problem solving skills, make connections and present a sound argument with some use of authority or other evidence.

7.4 Grade E

Candidates either provide generally accurate accounts of some relevant, descriptive material and/or identify issues raised by the question, identify connections and offer a basic evaluation drawing simple conclusions.