How to Achieve an A* in A-Level Law

Achieving an A* in A-Level Law is an ambitious and commendable goal. To do so, you must go beyond simply memorising legal rules. High-level success requires a critical understanding of legal systems, precise application of law to given scenarios, and the ability to construct well-reasoned arguments in essay form. This guide sets out a comprehensive approach to help you prepare effectively, revise efficiently, and perform confidently in your exams.

Understand the Specification Thoroughly

Each exam board (such as AQA, OCR, or Eduqas) structures its content differently. Your first priority should be to familiarise yourself with the exact topics, assessment objectives, and command words listed in your board’s specification.

Key Recommendations:

• Download the your exam boards specification.
• Create a revision timetable and include the topics and subtopics. Revision World has a free revision timetable available.
• Pay close attention to the command words used in past paper questions (e.g., 'explain', 'analyse', 'evaluate'), and learn what level of detail and judgement is expected for each.

A strong understanding of what is assessed allows you to target your revision strategically and avoid wasting time on irrelevant content.

Master the Core Legal Content

A-Level Law is content-heavy. To excel, you must develop a deep understanding of legal concepts and case law, not just surface-level definitions.

Topics to Focus On (based on AQA, as an example):

• English Legal System: Courts and appeals, legal personnel (judges, solicitors, barristers), access to justice, and alternative dispute resolution.
• Criminal Law: Elements of a crime (actus reus, mens rea), non-fatal offences (e.g. assault, battery), fatal offences (e.g. murder, manslaughter), defences (e.g. insanity, intoxication).
• Tort Law: Duty of care, breach, causation, damage, defences and remedies.
• Optional Units: Either Human Rights Law or Contract Law, depending on your school’s selection.

Effective Revision Methods:

• Create detailed case summaries that include the facts, legal issue, judgment, and significance.
• Use mind maps to link topics and cases under broader legal principles.
• Regularly test yourself on key definitions, legal tests (such as the Caparo test for duty of care), and case names.

Quality matters more than quantity. You do not need to know hundreds of cases, focus on those with major legal significance and be able to explain them clearly and apply them correctly.

Develop Strong Essay Writing Skills

Writing legal essays is a central part of A-Level Law assessment. Your responses must show clarity, structure, and critical engagement with the question.

The IRAC Technique:

Most law students use IRAC to structure their essays effectively:

• Issue: Identify the specific legal issue or question raised by the scenario or essay title.
• Rule: Set out the relevant legal rules or principles.
• Application: Apply the law to the specific facts of the case or the question. This is where critical thinking and interpretation come in.
• Conclusion: Offer a well-reasoned judgement or summary.

Tips for High-Scoring Answers:

• Always focus on answering the question directly and avoid simply reciting memorised content.
• Integrate case law naturally into your argument rather than listing it mechanically.
• Use precise legal terminology and avoid vague expressions.
• Provide balanced arguments, especially in evaluative questions, and demonstrate awareness of wider implications or criticisms of the law.

You should also practise writing introductions that set the context of the answer and conclusions that reflect the strength of your argument and reasoning.

Use Legal Terminology Accurately

Examiners are looking for students who write and think like lawyers. Correct use of legal language shows sophistication and subject mastery.

Examples:

• Use "actus reus" and "mens rea" instead of "guilty act" and "guilty mind" unless defining terms.
• Refer to "legal duty of care established in Donoghue v Stevenson" rather than vague terms like "a rule made in a case".
• Speak about "causation in fact" and "causation in law" as distinct elements.

A glossary of key terms and concepts can be a useful tool to reinforce this vocabulary during revision.

Practise Past Papers Effectively

Practicing exam past papers under timed conditions is one of the most powerful ways to prepare for your exam. Revision World contains all the available past papers.

How to Practise:

• Start with open-book attempts and gradually move to timed conditions.
• Use the official mark schemes to self-assess and identify where you lost marks.
• Annotate model answers to see how they are structured and why they achieved high marks.
• Ask your teacher to mark and give feedback on selected answers.

Aim to complete at least 3–5 full practice papers before the exam, and review recurring themes in the questions.

Prioritise Quality Over Quantity in Case Law

Many students fall into the trap of trying to memorise every case they encounter. This is unnecessary and can lead to confusion.

Better Strategy:

• Focus on 5–7 key cases per topic that illustrate core principles.
• Understand the facts, legal principle, and the reasoning of the judgment.
• Practise applying those cases to novel scenarios, not just reciting their details.

You can use colour-coded case charts, flow diagrams, or case flashcards grouped by area of law to reinforce your learning.

Use Active Revision Techniques

Active revision helps move information into long-term memory. Simply re-reading notes is passive and less effective.

Suggested Techniques:

• Teach a friend or explain legal concepts aloud as this helps expose gaps in your understanding.
• Use flashcards (physical or digital) for quick recall of definitions and cases.
• Record yourself summarising a topic and play it back during revision.
• Create visual summaries like flowcharts to map legal processes (for example, the route of appeal in civil or criminal cases).

Mixing revision styles also helps avoid boredom and improves retention.

Prepare Strategically and Maintain a Healthy Mindset

In the Final Weeks:

• Prioritise practice questions over note-taking.
• Focus on weaker topics and seek help from teachers where needed.
• Avoid cramming  and spread your revision across a realistic timetable.
• Sleep well and take regular breaks to avoid burnout.

On Exam Day:

• Read all questions carefully and underline command words and key terms.
• Allocate time sensibly: do not spend too long on a single question.
• Leave 5–10 minutes at the end to review your answers and correct any errors.
• Stay calm, trust your preparation, and keep your answers focused.

Insights from High-Achieving Students

• "Start your revision early and stick to a plan as it's better than cramming in the final week."
• "Don’t just learn the cases, understand how to apply them to facts."
• "Ask for feedback on your essays. That’s how you learn where you’re losing marks."
• "Keep a list of legal terms and review it regularly as it boosts your confidence."