Why Case Usage Determines Your Exam Outcome

• AS Law examiners repeatedly state: “Candidates named cases but did not use them effectively.”
• Students either:
  a. use no cases → lose AO1/AO2 marks
  b. use too many cases → waste time and over-explain
  c. recite case facts → examiner gives zero
  d. mix up cases → examiner penalises accuracy
• A* students know that cases are tools, not stories.
• The goal is micro-ratios, single-line application, no narratives, no background history.

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A Rule: One Element = One Case = One Line*

• Never use more than one case per element unless the offence absolutely requires a comparison.
• A* answers rely on micro-ratios:
  • “Mohan — intent = aim.”
  • “Woollin — virtual certainty.”
  • “Roberts — escape foreseeable.”
  • “Pagett — reasonable act doesn’t break chain.”
• Each becomes a weapon, not a paragraph.

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Where Students Misuse Cases Most

Use a table for clarity:

Offence/Topic	Common Student Mistake	A* Usage
Theft	Writing full stories of Morris/Hinks	Use 7–10 word ratio
Robbery	Two cases but no application	Apply case to force instantly
Burglary	Explain Brown & Ryan in detail	Use one rule per case
Criminal Damage	Explain Hardman in multiple lines	Use “temporary impairment = damage”
Causation	Retell Pagett, Roberts	Use 1-line ratio + apply
Mens rea	Mix Mohan/Woollin	Separate each MR type clearly
Interpretation	Rewriting each rule story	One line per rule

A* students replace paragraphs with high-density bullets.

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Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia, World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change AS Level Law Free Material

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The A Case Formula (Micro-Case Technique)*

Micro-Case = Ratio (4–9 words) + Application (6–12 words)

Examples

• “Mohan — intent = aim; Ahmed aimed to hit V.”
• “Woollin — virtual certainty; harm near certain from action.”
• “Cunningham — foresight of risk; D aware risk of damage.”
• “Brown — effective entry; D’s torso inside shop.”
• “Roberts — foreseeable escape; V’s reaction predictable.”
• “Pagett — reasonable act; police shooting foreseeable.”
• “Hardman — temporary impairment; paint reduced visual quality.”
• “Clouden — force on property counts; wrenching bag = force.”

This entire set = under 100 characters each → examiner-friendly.

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Why Micro-Case Technique Always Scores High

• Examiner sees instant accuracy.
• Zero wasted time.
• AO1 achieved in the smallest space.
• AO2 is automatically integrated.
• No risk of factual errors.
• Allows covering more elements properly since time is saved.
• Allows clean separation of elements → stronger structure.

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Case Application Style Table

Case	Wrong Student Usage	Correct Micro-Usage
Morris	Story about switching labels, defendant behaviour	“Assuming rights = appropriation (Morris)”
Hinks	Long story of exploitation	“Valid gift can be appropriation (Hinks)”
Dawson & James	Full recount of robbery scene	“Minimal force = enough (D&J)”
Clouden	Details of woman’s struggle	“Force on property counts (Clouden)”
Brown	Long description of leaning	“Entry = effective partial entry (Brown)”
Ryan	Entire case facts	“Entry even if partial (Ryan)”
Collins	Full description of window	“Trespass = no permission (Collins)”
Hardman	Story about chalk	“Temporary impairment = damage (Hardman)”
Jaggard v Dickinson	Detailed explanation of drunk mistake	“Belief in permission = lawful excuse”
White	Story about poison	“But-for test”
Roberts	Story of hitchhiker	“Foreseeable escape = chain intact”
Pagett	Story of hostage	“Police act foreseeable = no break”
Blaue	Full detail of religious refusal	“Thin skull — take victim as found”

The right column is what earns marks.

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Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia, World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change AS Level Law Free Material

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A Technique: Use Case Labels, Not Case Narratives*

Always write:

• “(Morris)”
• “(Hinks)”
• “(Roberts)”
• “(Pagett)”

NEVER write:

• “In the case of Roberts, the defendant…”
• “According to the facts of…”
• “This situation resembles the case of Pagett where…”

Case labels are enough.

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How To Insert Cases Correctly Into Each Offence

1. Theft

Appropriation

• Rule: assumption of rights.
• Case: Morris or Hinks.
• Micro-apply: “Ahmed replaced tag.”
• Conclude.

Property

• Case: Oxford v Moss (limits).
• Micro-apply: “Information cannot be stolen.”

Belonging

• Case: Turner.
• Micro-apply: “Owner can steal own property if in custody.”

Dishonesty

• Case: Ivey.
• Apply to conduct.

ITPD

• Case: Lloyd.
• Apply to use/return intention.

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2. Robbery (s8)

Force

• Case: Dawson & James.
• Rule: small force is enough.
• Apply: push modified balance.

Force on property

• Case: Clouden.
• Apply: wrenching bag = force.

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3. Burglary (s9(1)(a) and (b))

Entry

• Case: Brown.
• Rule: effective entry.
• Apply: torso inside.

Alternative

• Case: Ryan.
• Rule: partial entry.

Trespass

• Case: Collins.
• Rule: no permission.

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4. Criminal Damage

Damage

• Case: Hardman.
• Rule: temporary impairment.

Lawful Excuse

• Case: Jaggard.
• Rule: honest belief in permission.

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5. Causation

Factual

• Case: White.
• Rule: but-for.

Escape

• Case: Roberts.
• Rule: foreseeable escape.

Third Party

• Case: Pagett.
• Rule: reasonable response = no break.

Thin Skull

• Case: Blaue.
• Rule: take victim as found.

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6. Mens Rea

Direct Intent

• Case: Mohan.
• Rule: aim/purpose.

Oblique Intent

• Case: Woollin.
• Rule: virtual certainty.

Subjective Recklessness

• Case: Cunningham.
• Rule: foresight of risk.

Modern Standard

• Case: R v G.
• Rule: awareness of risk.

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Written and Compiled By Sir Hunain Zia, World Record Holder With 154 Total A Grades, 7 Distinctions and 11 World Records For Educate A Change AS Level Law Free Material

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How To Apply Cases Without Over-Explaining (A System)*

System: R → C → A → C

• Rule
• Case
• Application
• Conclusion

Example:

• Rule: appropriation = s3 assumption of rights.
• Case: Morris/Hinks.
• Application: “Ahmed swapped labels.”
• Conclusion: “Appropriation satisfied.”

This system turns any scenario into high-scoring analysis.

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Avoid Case-Usage Killers

1. Never write case facts

• No background, no events, no characters.

2. Never write case outcomes

• Never write “defendant guilty/not guilty.”

3. Never compare cases unless asked

• Only use comparisons in evaluation for 15-marks.

4. Never use irrelevant cases

Examples:

• Donoghue, Caparo → NOT AS Law
• Smith & Hogan → not required
• Fagan → not required in AS
• R v Brown (sadomasochism case) → NOT burglary Brown case

5. Never use more than one case per element

• One per element = maximum efficiency.

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Micro-Case Expansion: When You DO Need Two Cases

Rare situations:

1. Robbery

• Dawson & James → minimal force
• Clouden → force on property

2. Entry for Burglary

• Brown → effective entry
• Ryan → partial entry

3. Recklessness

• Cunningham → subjective
• R v G → modern approach

Use two only when they cover different aspects.

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How To Remember Cases Without Memorising Full Facts

Use Concept Hooking:

Theft

• Morris → switching
• Hinks → gift
• Oxford v Moss → information
• Turner → own car
• Lloyd → borrowing

Robbery

• Dawson & James → push
• Clouden → bag

Burglary

• Brown → lean
• Ryan → stuck
• Collins → permission

Criminal Damage

• Hardman → chalk
• Jaggard → mistake

Causation

• White → poison
• Roberts → escape
• Pagett → shield
• Blaue → religion

Mens Rea

• Mohan → aim
• Woollin → baby
• Cunningham → meter
• R v G → boys

Hooks = instant recall.

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High-Scoring Case Chains

Use case chains only when necessary.

Causation Chain

• White → but-for
• Roberts → foreseeability
• Pagett → third-party
• Blaue → thin skull

Mens Rea Chain

• Mohan → aim
• Woollin → certainty
• Cunningham → subjective risk
• R v G → modern risk

Chains impress examiners in long answers without over-explaining.

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Case Law Integration Table (Scenario-Based)

Scenario Fact	Legal Point	Case to Use	Application Line
“He pushed the victim”	Force	Dawson & James	push = minimal force
“He yanked the bag”	Force on property	Clouden	wrenching = force
“He climbed through window”	Entry	Brown	torso inside = entry
“Only arm inside”	Entry	Ryan	partial entry ok
“Took money from own shop till”	Belonging	Turner	property in custody
“Used chalk that washed off”	Damage	Hardman	temporary impairment
“Victim ran due to fear”	Escape	Roberts	foreseeable
“Police killed by mistake”	Third-party	Pagett	reasonable act

This table alone can win 12–15 marks if repeated correctly.

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Final A Case Usage Checklist*

• Use case labels, not stories
• Micro-ratios only
• One case per element
• Apply in the line immediately after
• No retelling facts
• No long rules
• No case history
• Use tables for complex topics
• Use subpoints for clarity
• Use chains only when logical
• All case names correct and syllabus-appropriate
• Micro-conclusions always present