#19820 - Aqa Exam Technique For The 15 Mark Questions - AQA A-Level Law (with Contract Law)

General structure and tips for AQA A-Level Law 15 markers

General information

The 15 markers should always have the following instruction, this is important: ‘you are required to provide an extended answer which shows a clear, logical and sustained line of reasoning leading to a valid conclusion.’

There will usually be 10 marks for the evaluation on the theoretical topic and 5 marks for the evaluation of this topic concerning a substantive/practical part of the law.

You must address both parts of the question, and you must allocate the appropriate time/wording according to the marks (so write more about the first part as it is 10 marks, and write less about the second part as it is 5 marks).

For the first part (10 marks):

Answer the question/statement: tick off each instruction/topic word to make sure you have covered it (eg explain, meaning, importance, cause, effectiveness, etc).

• Define the key terms/theories.

• Make an evaluative/analytical point in relation to what the question is asking. Give an example/theorist for the points to highlight why it is valid/provide further information. Explain the example to show how it supports your point. Take the examples from any area of the law, whatever example you can best develop. Even if the question in the second part specifies only to apply to a certain legal area, you do not need to do this in the first part of the question.

  • From a previous examiners’ report: ‘answers could undoubtedly have been stronger and more comprehensive had they incorporated examples drawn additionally from other areas of law in the first part of the question, opening up the possibility of examination of a broader range of interests, and so a deeper analysis of the role of the law,’ so that examples of law in the second part of the question would not be repetitive and could provide further evaluative value.

• Repeat the above steps for more points, in order to fully answer the question/statement.

  • From a previous examiners’ report: ‘For instance, in relation to the decision in R v R, some students simply asserted that the case demonstrates that there is a moral dimension to the law. They did not explain why or how this might be so.’

• Give a solid, rounding-up conclusion that is ‘valid’ – link the conclusion to the points made, do not introduce anything new in the conclusion, just summarise the points.

• Check the conclusion and paragraphs match, in order to build a ‘clear, logical and sustained line of reasoning.’ Make sure you answer the question/statement through analysis and...