Every LawByLak module maps exactly to the OCR H418, OCR H018, and AQA 7162 specifications. No off-spec content, no padding, no guessing what the examiner wants. Coverage detailed point-by-point per topic.
OCR runs both H418 (full A-Level, two-year linear) and H018 (AS-Level, one-year standalone). AQA runs 7162 (A-Level) and 7161 (AS). Each board has its own paper structure, case list, and weighting — and a few quirks that catch students out.
Full A-Level · Linear · Two-year course · 100% external examination
The OCR H418 specification covers the English legal system, criminal law, and one optional module (tort or human rights). Assessment is across three papers, each 2 hours, sat at the end of the second year. There is no coursework. The full specification is published by OCR and updated periodically — always cross-reference the current version on ocr.org.uk.
Section A: legal system, sources of law, dispute resolution. Section B: criminal law (general elements, fatal offences, non-fatal offences, property offences, defences).
Section A: law making (parliament, delegated legislation, statutory interpretation, judicial precedent, EU/ECHR sources). Section B: the law of tort (negligence, occupiers' liability, nuisance, Rylands v Fletcher, vicarious liability, defences, remedies).
Section A: the nature of law (rules, morality, justice, balancing conflicting interests). Section B: one optional module — either Human Rights or Contract Law. Includes synoptic essay-style questions.
Paper 3 contains the synoptic element — you're expected to draw on knowledge from Papers 1 and 2 within the optional-module answers. This is where the highest-scoring students show range. Don't treat the optional module as siloed.
AS-Level · One-year standalone · 100% external examination
OCR H018 is the AS-Level — a one-year standalone qualification covering the legal system and criminal law (Paper 1 of H418) plus law making and tort (Paper 2 of H418). It does not include the nature of law or the optional module. Students who complete H018 can progress to the full A-Level (H418) without re-sitting the AS papers, but H018 marks do not contribute to the A-Level grade.
Section A: legal system. Section B: criminal law — general elements, fatal & non-fatal offences, property offences, defences. Identical content to H418 Paper 1, slightly shorter exam.
Section A: law making. Section B: tort. Identical content to H418 Paper 2.
The H018 content is a strict subset of H418. Every LawByLak topic for criminal law works identically for H018 — the only difference is the exam length and the absence of synoptic assessment.
Full A-Level · Linear · Two-year course · 100% external examination
AQA 7162 covers the same broad core as OCR — legal system, criminal law, tort, human rights, contract — but spreads them across three papers in a different combination. AQA also pairs human rights with another topic on Paper 3 (rather than offering it as an optional module). Always check the current spec on aqa.org.uk.
Section A: nature of law & the English legal system. Section B: criminal law (offences against the person, property offences, defences).
Section A: nature of law (overlap with Paper 1). Section B: tort law — negligence (including pure economic loss & psychiatric injury), occupiers' liability, nuisance, vicarious liability, Rylands v Fletcher, remedies, defences.
Section A: nature of law. Section B: contract OR human rights (centres choose). Contract covers formation, contents, vitiating factors, discharge, remedies. Human rights covers protection, restrictions, enforcement under the HRA 1998.
AQA places "the nature of law" inside Section A of every paper (so it's tested three times), whereas OCR puts it as a discrete Section A of Paper 3 only. If you're switching boards or comparing past papers, this is the most common confusion point.
All A-Level Law specifications are marked against three assessment objectives. They are weighted roughly the same across boards, but how they appear in questions differs.
Knowledge & understanding
Demonstrate accurate, detailed knowledge of legal rules, principles, and the legal system. Get the law right. State the correct test, name the right case, cite the correct statute and section. AO1 is the floor — without it, AO2 and AO3 collapse.
Application
Apply legal rules and authorities to the scenario. Use the facts of the problem question, not generic discussion. AO2 is where you say "like in Adomako" and explain the parallel — not just drop the name. Examiners reward specific, scenario-anchored application.
Analysis & evaluation
Critically evaluate the law — its strengths, weaknesses, fairness, consistency, reform proposals. AO3 is the lever that lifts answers from Level 3 to Level 4 (and from B/C to A/A*). Stock-phrase evaluation gets noticed; reasoned, specific evaluation gets marks.
OCR and AQA all weight AO1 + AO2 heavily (about 80% of marks combined), with AO3 at 20%. But AO3 is concentrated in extended/essay questions — so on a 25-mark essay, AO3 might be 8–12 marks. Treating extended questions like long short-answers (no evaluation) ceilings you at Level 3.
LawByLak topic modules include 10 AO3 evaluation paragraphs per topic — examiner-aligned, structured around the CAAP formula (Critique → Authority → Alternative → Position).
OCR H418 Paper 1 Section B and AQA 7162 Paper 1 Section B cover broadly the same Criminal Law syllabus. Below is the canonical topic list with the cases most likely to come up — across general elements, fatal offences, non-fatal offences, property offences, and defences.
| Topic | Content covered | Key cases | LawByLak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topic 1 General Elements | Actus reus, mens rea (direct & oblique intent, recklessness), causation, omissions, strict liability, coincidence, transferred malice | R v White; R v Smith; R v Cheshire; R v Pagett; R v Mohan; R v Woollin; R v G; Latimer; Pembliton; Fagan v MPC; Thabo Meli; R v Miller; R v Pittwood; R v Stone & Dobinson | Live |
| Topic 2 Murder | Common-law definition, AR (unlawful killing of human being under Queen's Peace), MR (malice aforethought — express + implied), year-and-a-day rule abolished | R v Vickers; R v Cunningham [1981]; DPP v Smith; AG's Ref No 3 of 1994; R v Inglis; R v Matthews & Alleyne | Live |
| Topic 3 Loss of Control | Coroners and Justice Act 2009 ss.54–55. Partial defence. Three-element test (loss of self-control, qualifying trigger, normal-person test). Sexual infidelity exclusion under s.55(6)(c). | R v Clinton, Parker & Evans; R v Dawes, Hatter & Bowyer; R v Asmelash; R v Jewell | Live |
| Topic 4 Diminished Responsibility | HA 1957 s.2 (as amended by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 s.52). Four elements: abnormality of mental functioning, recognised medical condition, substantial impairment, explanation. Reverse burden on D. | R v Golds; R v Wilcocks; R v Dietschmann; R v Wood; R v Byrne; R v Tandy | Live |
| Topic 5 UAM | Unlawful act manslaughter (constructive). Four elements: unlawful act, objectively dangerous (Church), caused death, mens rea for the act. | R v Church; R v Mitchell; R v Kennedy (No 2); R v Newbury & Jones; R v Goodfellow; R v Dawson; R v Watson | Live |
| Topic 6 GNM | Gross negligence manslaughter. Adomako four-stage test: duty of care, breach, gross breach, causation of death. | R v Adomako; R v Wacker; R v Misra & Srivastava; R v Rose; R v Singh; R v Bateman | Live |
| Topic 7 Common Assault | Common law (charged under s.39 CJA 1988). Apprehension of immediate unlawful force. No physical contact required. | R v Ireland; Collins v Wilcock; R v Burstow; R v Constanza; Tuberville v Savage | In build |
| Topic 8 Battery | Common law (charged under s.39 CJA 1988). Application of unlawful force. Slightest touching can suffice. | Collins v Wilcock; R v Thomas; DPP v Santana-Bermudez; Fagan v MPC; DPP v K; Haystead v DPP | In build |
| Topic 9 ABH (s.47) | Assault occasioning ABH (s.47 OAPA 1861). AR: assault/battery + ABH. MR: mens rea of assault/battery only. | R v Miller [1954]; R v Chan Fook; R v Roberts; R v Savage; DPP v Parmenter; T v DPP; DPP v Smith (hair) | In build |
| Topic 10 GBH s.20 | Malicious wounding / inflicting GBH (s.20 OAPA 1861). MR: foresight of some harm (Cunningham recklessness). | DPP v Smith; JCC v Eisenhower; R v Burstow; R v Dica; R v Mowatt; R v Savage; DPP v Parmenter | In build |
| Topic 11 GBH s.18 | Wounding/causing GBH with intent (s.18 OAPA 1861). Specific intent. Maximum: life imprisonment. | DPP v Smith; R v Belfon; R v Morrison; R v Taylor; R v Bryson | In build |
| — Theft | Theft Act 1968 s.1. Five elements: appropriation (s.3), property (s.4), belonging to another (s.5), dishonesty (Ivey test), intention permanently to deprive (s.6). | R v Hinks; R v Gomez; R v Morris; R v Turner (No 2); Ivey v Genting Casinos; R v Barton & Booth; R v Lloyd; R v Velumyl | Planned |
| — Robbery | Theft Act 1968 s.8. Theft + use/threat of force on any person, immediately before or at the time of theft, in order to steal. | R v Robinson; R v Dawson & James; R v Clouden; R v Hale; R v Lockley | Planned |
| — Burglary | Theft Act 1968 s.9. Two forms: s.9(1)(a) entry as trespasser with ulterior intent; s.9(1)(b) commission of theft/GBH once inside. | R v Collins; R v Brown; R v Ryan; R v Walkington; R v Stevens v Gourley; B & S v Leathley | Planned |
The cases above appear regularly in OCR and AQA mark schemes. Strong candidates know more than the list — but credit is given for any properly cited case that supports the legal point. Don't memorise cases mechanically; memorise the principle each one stands for.
Most candidates lose marks not because they don't know the content but because they run out of time on extended questions. Calibrate your timing in advance.
5-mark question = 5 min
15-mark question = ~20 min
25-mark essay = ~35 min
Per extended response
OCR and AQA papers are all split into sections with separate marks. If Section A is worth 40 marks and Section B is worth 35, give Section A about 60 minutes and Section B about 55 — including planning. Spending 75 minutes on Section A because you "know it better" guarantees a Section B disaster. Use a watch.
If you're choosing a board, or switching, here's what actually differs.
| Feature | OCR H418 | AQA 7162 |
|---|---|---|
| Specification code | H418 (A-Level), H018 (AS) | 7162 (A-Level), 7161 (AS) |
| Total marks | 225 (3 × 75) | 240 (3 × 80) |
| Paper duration | 2 hours each | 2 hours each |
| Criminal law location | Paper 1, Section B | Paper 1, Section B |
| Tort location | Paper 2, Section B | Paper 2 (entire paper) |
| Nature of law placement | Paper 3, Section A only | Section A of all three papers |
| Optional module | Human Rights or Contract (centre choice) | Contract or Human Rights (centre choice) |
| Synoptic element | Yes — Paper 3 Section B essays | Yes — via nature-of-law overlap |
| Coursework | None | None |
| Statute books in exam | Not permitted | Not permitted |
| AO weighting | AO1 ≈40% · AO2 ≈40% · AO3 ≈20% | AO1 ≈40% · AO2 ≈40% · AO3 ≈20% |
LawByLak topic modules are built primarily around OCR H418 Paper 1 Section B (and the equivalent AQA 7162 Paper 1 Section B). The cases, statutes, and legal principles are the same across both boards — what differs is question style and exam phrasing.
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227 key terms from actus reus to wounding with intent. Plainly defined with case authority. OCR and AQA.
Browse the glossary →Every case named in OCR mark schemes and AQA specimen materials. Searchable, with one-line ratios.
View case index →12 evidence-based techniques, sample Level 4 paragraphs, examiner-flagged mistakes, and a 6-week plan.
Read the guide →Long-form explainers — actus reus, mens rea, causation, transferred malice — all with worked examples.
Browse explainers →40+ Q&As about LawByLak, the OCR/AQA specs, exam technique, and pricing.
Open the FAQ →The published OCR H418/H018 specification document on ocr.org.uk. Always the authoritative source.
Visit OCR site →Get the free sample module walkthrough — no card needed. Or jump straight to a £6.99 topic module.
