Why Element-Based Analysis Is the Highest-Scoring Exam Skill

• AS Law scenarios look complicated because facts are mixed together.

• Examiners design them to hide legal issues across multiple sentences.

• A* students do not read stories — they extract elements.

• Every offence at AS Level has fixed components → fixed marks.

• If you break down the scenario into elements, you cannot miss marks.

• Element-based reading instantly separates A* from B/C students.

• The examiner marks each element separately — so you must write separately.

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The A Rule: One Bullet-Block Per Element*

• A* answers break every offence into bite-sized, graded components.

• Each element must be handled with:
  a. Rule
  b. Case
  c. Application
  d. Conclusion

This = guaranteed AO2.

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Universal Element-Extraction Formula (Works for EVERY Offence):

1. Read the scenario once.

2. Underline “trigger words.”

3. Match triggers to offence elements.

4. Write elements in order.

5. MIRAC each element.

6. Add micro-conclusion after each one.

This system never fails.

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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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Trigger Word Table (Recognise Offence Instantly)

A* students classify the offence BEFORE reading details.

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Step 1: Convert Scenario Into Element Checklist

Use subpoints to keep it clean:

Theft Checklist

• a. Appropriation

• b. Property

• c. Belonging

• d. Dishonesty

• e. ITPD

Robbery Checklist

• a. Theft (all elements)

• b. Force

• c. Timing

• d. Purpose

Burglary Checklist

s9(1)(a)

• a. Entry

• b. Trespass

• c. Intent at entry

s9(1)(b)

• a. Entry

• b. Trespass

• c. Theft/GBH inside

Criminal Damage

• a. Damage

• b. Property

• c. Belonging

• d. MR (intent/recklessness)

• e. Lawful excuse

Causation

• a. Factual cause

• b. Legal cause

• c. Intervening acts

Mens Rea

• a. Direct intent

• b. Oblique intent

• c. Subjective recklessness

This is your entire exam plan in one place.

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Step 2: Use Micro-Rules to Avoid Overloading

Examples:

• “Appropriation = assumption of rights (s3).”

• “Dishonesty = objective standards (Ivey).”

• “Force = movement modification.”

• “Entry = effective entry (Brown).”

• “Damage = temporary impairment (Hardman).”

• “Trespass = no permission (Collins).”

No long rules = more time for AO2.

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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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Step 3: Use Case Anchors to Make Elements Strong

One case per point:

• Theft: Morris, Hinks, Oxford v Moss, Turner, Lloyd

• Robbery: Dawson & James, Clouden

• Burglary: Brown, Ryan, Collins

• Criminal Damage: Hardman, Jaggard v Dickinson

• Causation: White, Roberts, Pagett, Blaue

• Mens rea: Mohan, Woollin, Cunningham, R v G

A* students never use more than one case per micro-rule.

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Step 4: Apply Facts Immediately After the Rule

You MUST apply after each element.

Example for appropriation:

• Rule: s3 = assumption of rights.

• Case: Hinks.

• Apply: Ahmed switched SIM cards without permission.

• Conclude: Appropriation satisfied.

This pattern is repeated across every element.

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Step 5: Use “Element Tables” for Complex Scenarios

Burglary s9(1)(a) Table

Tables make the answer examiner-friendly → higher marks.

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Step 6: Build A Scenario Patterns*

You must learn to instantly recognise patterns in fact scenarios.

Pattern 1: “Grabbed + pushed + ran.”

→ Robbery
→ Force + theft = s8

Pattern 2: “Jumped from car.”

→ Causation
→ Roberts → foreseeable escape

Pattern 3: “Police shot V by mistake.”

→ Pagett → chain intact

Pattern 4: “Refused medical treatment.”

→ Blaue → thin skull

Pattern 5: “Climbed through window at night.”

→ Entry + trespass → burglary

Pattern 6: “Paint washed off but left visual change.”

→ Damage (Hardman)

Pattern recognition = instant A*.

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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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Step 7: Transform Long Facts Into Mini-Applications

Example scenario:

• “Ahmed grabbed a bag from the shop counter, shoved the cashier, and ran.”

Break it down:

• Appropriation: grabbed bag → assumption of rights.

• Property: bag = property.

• Belonging: shop had control.

• Dishonesty: ordinary people see it as dishonest.

• ITPD: intended to keep bag.

• Force: shove = force (Dawson & James).

• Timing: force at time of theft.

• Purpose: to facilitate theft → robbery.

Each bullet = marks.

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Step 8: Use “Cause Blocks” for Causation Problems

Factual Causation Block

• Rule: but-for (White).

• Apply: but for Ahmed’s action → harm would not occur.

• Conclude.

Legal Causation Block

• Rule: substantial & operating cause.

• Apply: action significant factor.

• Conclude.

Intervention Block

• Rule: chain broken only if unforeseeable.

• Case: Pagett/Roberts/Blaue.

• Apply: police acts foreseeable OR victim escape foreseeable etc.

• Conclude.

This turns causation into easy marks.

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Step 9: Use the “If / Then” A Method*

Use conditional logic to show depth:

• “If entry was effective, burglary applies; if not, only trespass.”

• “If force modified movement, robbery; if not, theft only.”

• “If dishonesty under Ivey satisfied, theft complete.”

• “If escape foreseeable, chain intact; if not, broken.”

This technique impresses examiners instantly.

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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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Step 10: Divide Scenario Into Named Segments

Name segments based on individuals:

• “Ahmed’s actions inside the store…”

• “Bilal’s push on the victim…”

• “Sara’s entry through the window…”

Naming segments allows clearer application and more marks.

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Step 11: Use the “Three-Element Extraction Test”

When confused:

Ask:

1. What did the defendant DO?

2. Who or what did they affect?

3. What was their mental state?

Apply:

1. What did they DO?

• took → appropriation

• pushed → force

• climbed → entry

• sprayed → damage

2. Who/what affected?

• property → s4

• victim movement → robbery

• building → burglary

3. What mental state?

• aim → direct intent

• virtual certainty → oblique intent

• risk awareness → recklessness

This always leads to correct identification.

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Step 12: Use “Micro-Mark Maximisation”

Each element = 2–3 marks.
If an offence has 6 elements → 12–18 marks possible.

A* students extract EVERY element, even if borderline.

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Step 13: Evaluate Only When Needed

Evaluation is not required for criminal scenario questions unless it naturally appears.

Examples:

• “Intent may be harder to prove because…”

• “Damage threshold debated due to temporary nature…”

• “Force requirement criticised for broad definition…”

Tiny evaluations = high AO3.

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Step 14: Build Final Scenario Flow (Template)

Element 1

• Rule

• Case

• Apply

• Conclude

Element 2

• Rule

• Case

• Apply

• Conclude

Element 3

• Rule

• Case

• Apply

• Conclude

Repeat for all elements.

This structure cannot fail.

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Final A Element Extraction Checklist*

• Trigger words identified

• Offence selected correctly

• Elements listed in order

• MIRAC for each element

• One case per block

• Micro-definitions used

• Micro-applications used

• Mini-conclusions added

• No paragraphs

• No long AO1

• No over-explaining

• Tables used for clarity

• Subpoints used to avoid monotony

• Evaluation only when suitable

• All marks extracted systematically