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100+ Free A-Level Law Practice Questions

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Retained EU law in the UK is now governed primarily by which Act, as amended by the 2023 reform?

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: A-Level Law Exam

A*-E

Grading scale

Ofqual

3 papers

Linear assessment structure

AQA, Edexcel, OCR specifications

2 hours

Per paper duration

AQA 7162, Edexcel 9LA0, OCR H418

100

Free practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

AQA, Edexcel, OCR A-Level Law is assessed through three linear end-of-course papers. Coverage spans the English legal system, criminal law, tort, contract and legal concepts, with grading on the A*-E scale on 2026 specifications.

Sample A-Level Law Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your A-Level Law exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which of the following is NOT a primary source of law in England and Wales?
A.Acts of Parliament
B.Common law (case law)
C.Textbooks by leading academics
D.Retained EU law
Explanation: Primary sources are those that create binding law: statute, common law (judicial precedent) and retained EU law (since the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018). Academic writing is only persuasive and so is a secondary source.
2A statutory instrument is best described as which type of delegated legislation?
A.Law made by a government minister under powers given by an enabling Act
B.Local rules made by a county council
C.Emergency legislation made by the Privy Council in wartime
D.Rules of court drafted by senior judges only
Explanation: Statutory instruments are made by government ministers using powers delegated to them in a parent or enabling Act. They are the most numerous form of delegated legislation, regulating detailed matters Parliament has neither time nor expertise to handle.
3Which rule of statutory interpretation was applied in Whiteley v Chappell (1868), where a defendant who impersonated a dead voter was found not guilty?
A.Literal rule
B.Golden rule
C.Mischief rule
D.Purposive approach
Explanation: The court used the literal rule: the statute prohibited impersonating any person 'entitled to vote'. Because a dead person cannot be entitled to vote, the literal words meant no offence was committed. The case is the standard illustration of the literal rule producing an absurd result.
4The mischief rule comes from which historical case?
A.Heydon's Case (1584)
B.Pepper v Hart (1993)
C.R v Allen (1872)
D.Adler v George (1964)
Explanation: Heydon's Case set out the mischief rule's four-stage test: identify the common law before the Act, the mischief the Act was passed to remedy, the remedy Parliament resolved on, and the true reason for that remedy. It remains the classic authority cited in A-Level answers.
5Which intrinsic aid would a judge use when interpreting a statute?
A.The long title and preamble of the Act
B.Hansard reports of parliamentary debate
C.Reports of the Law Commission
D.A leading textbook on the subject
Explanation: Intrinsic aids are found inside the Act itself: the long title, short title, preamble, headings, schedules and definitions section. Hansard, Law Commission reports and textbooks are all extrinsic aids found outside the Act.
6What is meant by the term ratio decidendi?
A.The binding legal reason for the decision
B.An incidental remark not binding on later courts
C.The dissenting opinion of the minority judges
D.The case name and citation reference
Explanation: The ratio decidendi is the principle of law on which the case was decided. It is the part of the judgment that creates binding precedent under the doctrine of stare decisis. Other comments are obiter dicta.
7Since the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 took effect, which court sits at the top of the UK court hierarchy for domestic appeals?
A.The Supreme Court
B.The Judicial Committee of the House of Lords
C.The Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
D.The Privy Council
Explanation: The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 created the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, which began sitting in October 2009. It replaced the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords as the highest domestic appeal court.
8Which Practice Statement allowed the highest court to depart from its own previous decisions when 'it appears right to do so'?
A.Practice Statement 1966
B.Young v Bristol Aeroplane Co (1944)
C.London Tramways v LCC (1898)
D.R v Howe (1987)
Explanation: The 1966 Practice Statement issued by Lord Gardiner LC freed the House of Lords (now Supreme Court) from being absolutely bound by its own previous decisions, allowing departure when it appeared right to do so. London Tramways had previously held the House strictly bound.
9Which technique does a judge use when, although a case is similar, the material facts are sufficiently different to avoid applying a binding precedent?
A.Distinguishing
B.Overruling
C.Reversing
D.Disapplying
Explanation: Distinguishing allows a court to avoid following an otherwise binding precedent by pointing out material factual differences. Balfour v Balfour was distinguished in Merritt v Merritt on the basis that the spouses in Merritt were separated, showing intention to be legally bound.
10Which courts have ORIGINAL criminal jurisdiction in England and Wales?
A.Magistrates' Court and Crown Court
B.Crown Court and Court of Appeal
C.County Court and Magistrates' Court
D.Supreme Court and Crown Court
Explanation: The Magistrates' Court hears all summary trials and either-way cases at first instance, while the Crown Court tries indictable and elected either-way offences with a jury. Both are courts of original criminal jurisdiction; the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court are appellate only.

About the A-Level Law Exam

A-Level Law is offered by AQA (7162), Edexcel (9LA0) and OCR (H418) as part of the UK A-Level qualification framework. The course covers the English legal system, criminal law, tort, contract and concepts of law, assessed through three 2-hour written papers at the end of Year 13.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

6 hours total — three 2-hour papers

Passing Score

Grade E is the minimum pass, Grades A*-E count as a pass (A*-A-B-C-D-E)

Exam Fee

£75-£130 per subject (school-set entry fee) (AQA, Edexcel, OCR)

A-Level Law Exam Content Outline

Core

Nature of Law and the English Legal System

Sources of law (statute, common law, delegated legislation, retained EU law), statutory interpretation, judicial precedent, court hierarchy, civil and criminal process, juries, legal personnel

Core

Criminal Law

Actus reus and mens rea, non-fatal offences against the person, murder and manslaughter (voluntary and involuntary), theft, robbery and burglary, general defences

Core

Tort Law

Negligence (duty, breach, causation, remoteness), occupiers' liability (1957 and 1984 Acts), nuisance, Rylands v Fletcher, vicarious liability, defences and remedies

Optional/Core

Contract Law

Formation (offer, acceptance, consideration, intention, capacity), terms (express, implied, exclusion clauses), vitiating factors, discharge and remedies

Core

Concepts of Law

Law and morality, law and justice, law and society, the rule of law, fault-based liability, balancing of conflicting interests

How to Pass the A-Level Law Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Grade E is the minimum pass, Grades A*-E count as a pass (A*-A-B-C-D-E)
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 6 hours total — three 2-hour papers
  • Exam fee: £75-£130 per subject (school-set entry fee)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

A-Level Law Study Tips from Top Performers

1Learn case names and the legal principle each one establishes — examiners reward accurate case citation
2Practise applying authority to scenario questions using a clear IRAC (Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion) structure
3Compare ratio decidendi and obiter dicta when revising precedent — the distinction is a recurring exam question
4Use examiner reports each summer to see which cases and statutes were credited and which were dropped

Frequently Asked Questions

What exam boards offer A-Level Law?

A-Level Law is offered by AQA (7162), Edexcel (9LA0) and OCR (H418). All boards follow Ofqual subject content but vary in the chosen substantive options (tort and contract or tort and human rights) and paper structure.

When is the A-Level Law exam taken?

Exams are written in the May-June series at the end of the two-year linear A-Level course. Most students sit three 2-hour papers in Year 13.

How is A-Level Law graded?

A-Levels are graded A*-E. A* is the highest grade and E is the minimum pass. UCAS tariff points are awarded for A-Level grades on most university applications.

How many papers does A-Level Law have?

All three boards use three written papers covering the English legal system plus criminal law, tort and either contract or human rights. There is no coursework (NEA) component.