Why Students Panic When They Don’t Know the Rule

• They expect every question to match their notes.
• They try to remember exact textbook wording.
• They think not knowing the rule = losing the whole question.
• They forget that AS Law rewards reasoning more than memory.
• They underestimate how many marks come from AO2 (application).
• They forget the examiner can only test rules from the syllabus, so the “unknown” part is usually the way the facts are presented—not the law itself.
• A* students stay calm and fall back on structure, not memory.

---

Golden Principle: The Facts ALWAYS Reveal the Rule

• You can extract the rule by reading the facts carefully.
• The scenario is structured to signal which topic applies.
• AS Law questions never hide the rule—they hide it in plain sight.
• The “unknown” feeling happens because the facts look unfamiliar, not because the law is missing.
• You never actually need recall — you need recognition.

---

Step 1: Identify the Offence or Topic Using Trigger Words

• “Took the phone” → Theft
• “Pushed/struggled” → Robbery
• “Entered house/shop/garage” → Burglary
• “Smashed, broke, damaged” → Criminal damage
• “Demanded money” → Blackmail
• “Gave false information” → Fraud
• “Destroyed property” → Criminal damage
• “Caused victim to run/flee” → Criminal causation (Roberts)
• “Third party shot V” → Criminal causation (Pagett)
• “Religion/weakness/health condition” → Thin skull (Blaue)
• “Says the threat” → Assault (if ELS or basic criminal element appears)

Once you identify the offence → the rule becomes obvious.

---

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

---

Step 2: Break the Offence into Element Blocks

Even when you don’t recall the rule:

Theft

• Appropriation
• Property
• Belonging to another
• Dishonesty (Ivey)
• ITPD

Robbery

• Theft
• Force
• Immediately before/at the time
• In order to steal

Burglary (s9(1)(a))

• Entry
• Trespass
• Intent at entry (steal/GBH/criminal damage)

Burglary (s9(1)(b))

• Entry
• Trespass
• Theft/GBH actually committed

Criminal Damage

• Destroy/damage
• Property
• Belongs to another
• Intention/recklessness
• Lawful excuse

Causation

• But-for (White)
• Victim escape (Roberts)
• Third-party acts (Pagett)
• Thin skull (Blaue)

Mens Rea

• Direct intent (Mohan)
• Oblique intent (Woollin)
• Subjective recklessness (Cunningham)
• Modern recklessness (R v G)

Even if rule wording is forgotten → elements always guide the answer.

---

Step 3: Use the MIRAC Method

Mini IRAC for each element:

I: Issue
R: Rule (even partial rule is fine)
A: Apply facts
C: Mini-conclusion

If you forget exact rule wording → explain the general idea and apply it clearly.

Examples:

• “Issue: whether Ahmed appropriated the item.”
• “Rule: appropriation involves assuming owner’s rights.”
• “Application: Ahmed removed the security tag.”
• “Conclusion: appropriation likely.”

This earns AO2 even if AO1 is only partially remembered.

---

Step 4: Use Safe-Guess Rule Statements

The examiner will not punish you for approximating the rule as long as it is legally correct in essence.

Examples:

If you forget the definition of appropriation

• Safe guess: “Appropriation is taking over any rights of the owner.”
• This is correct enough.

If you forget Ivey dishonesty wording

• Safe guess: “Dishonesty judged by standards of ordinary honest people.”
• Also correct.

If you forget burglary

• Safe guess: “Burglary involves entering a building as a trespasser with criminal intent.”
• Still correct enough.

If you forget robbery

• Safe guess: “Robbery is theft using force.”
• Minimal but legally acceptable.

If you forget criminal damage

• Safe guess: “Criminal damage means destroying or harming property belonging to someone else.”
• Acceptable.

Safe guesses protect AO1 and enable AO2.

---

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

---

Step 5: Use the Facts to Rebuild the Rule

Examples:

Scenario Fact: “He kicked the door and cracked it.”

→ Points to: criminal damage
→ Rule rebuild: “Criminal damage includes temporary impairment.”

Fact: “She pushed the cashier and grabbed the money.”

→ Points to: robbery
→ Rule rebuild: “Robbery is theft with force immediately before or at the time.”

Fact: “He climbed in through the window at night.”

→ Points to: burglary
→ Rule rebuild: “Burglary involves entering as a trespasser with intent.”

Fact: “Victim jumped from the moving car.”

→ Points to: Roberts
→ Rule rebuild: “Victim actions do not break chain if foreseeable.”

Fact: “Police shot at D and killed V instead.”

→ Points to: Pagett
→ Rule rebuild: “Reasonable third-party acts don’t break the chain.”

Facts tell you the missing law.

---

Step 6: Apply Cases Even If You Forget Ratios

Even partial ratios earn marks.

Examples:

White

• “But-for the defendant’s act, harm would not occur.”

Roberts

• “Victim escape must be foreseeable.”

Pagett

• “Third parties acting reasonably do not break chain.”

Blaue

• “Defendant takes victim as found.”

Mohan

• “Direct intent = aim or purpose.”

Woollin

• “Virtual certainty test.”

Cunningham

• “Recklessness = foresight of risk.”

R v G

• “Modern approach to recklessness.”

Morris

• “Switching labels amounts to appropriation.”

Hinks

• “Gifts can still be appropriation.”

Clouden

• “Force can be applied to property.”

Brown

• “Entry must be effective.”

You don’t need exact wording — core idea = marks.

---

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

---

Step 7: When You Truly Remember Nothing

Even if you blank on the rule:

Use the General Structure of Criminal Liability

• Actus reus
• Mens rea
• Causation (if relevant)
• Defences (rare in AS scenarios)

Apply each one:

• “Actus reus: Ahmed removed the item.”
• “Mens rea: Ahmed intended to keep it.”
• “Causation: conduct led directly to harm.”
• “Conclusion: guilt likely.”

Even without full law → marks come from correct structure.

---

Step 8: Use Statutory Sections as Anchors

Even without rule wording, section numbers are strong AO1.

• “Under s3, appropriation…”
• “Under s4, property includes…”
• “Under s5, belonging to another includes…”
• “s8 defines robbery…”
• “s9 defines burglary…”
• “Under the Criminal Damage Act, damage includes…”
• “Fraud Act s2 deals with false representation…”

Sections give automatic credibility.

---

Step 9: Use Logic When Law Is Missing

Examiners love logical application.

Examples:

If force is used

• “Force was used; force is central to robbery.”

If property is damaged

• “Damage occurred; criminal damage applies.”

If item was taken

• “Taking someone else’s property suggests theft.”

If entry was without permission

• “Entry without permission suggests trespass.”

Legal logic → high AO2 marks.

---

Step 10: Use the A “Opposite Result” Technique*

If unsure about a rule, show both possibilities:

Example:

• “If the entry was effective, burglary applies; if ineffective, it may not.”
• “If the force was sufficient to modify movement, robbery applies; if not, theft only.”

This shows examiner-level analysis even in uncertainty.

---

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

---

Step 11: Use Scenario Signals Hidden in Names, Times, Places

Examiners hide clues in:

• Time of day
• Building type
• Object type
• Victim’s reaction
• Whether force used before/after theft
• Entry point

Examples:

“He entered the house at 3AM.”

→ Suggests trespass + burglary

“He snatched the bag and pushed her.”

→ Suggests robbery

“She accepted the gift but pressured an elderly victim.”

→ Suggests appropriation (Hinks)

“The paint washed off the next day.”

→ Suggests temporary impairment (Hardman)

“He demanded money via message.”

→ Suggests blackmail

These clues rebuild the rule for you.

---

Step 12: Turn Every Unknown Question Into a Checklist

Even if you don’t remember law:

Checklist for ANY theft-ish scenario

• Did they take something?
• Was it property?
• Did it belong to someone?
• Were they dishonest?
• Did they intend to keep it?

Checklist for ANY force scenario

• Was there theft?
• Was force used?
• Was it before/during theft?
• Was force to steal?

Checklist for ANY entry scenario

• Was there entry?
• Was it trespass?
• What intent existed?
• Was it 9(1)(a) or 9(1)(b)?

Checklist for ANY damage

• Was property damaged?
• Was it intentional or reckless?
• Was there lawful excuse?

You can score 70–80% using checklists alone.

---

Step 13: Default Mini-Definitions for Emergency Use

If you forget exact definitions:

• “Theft is dishonestly taking property belonging to another.”
• “Robbery is theft with force.”
• “Burglary is trespassing with criminal intent.”
• “Criminal damage is causing harm to property.”
• “Fraud is dishonest representation to gain.”
• “Appropriation is taking over rights of the owner.”
• “Dishonesty follows ordinary standards.”
• “ITPD is intention to keep property.”
• “Direct intent = aim.”
• “Recklessness = aware of risk.”
• “But-for test checks factual cause.”

All acceptable.

---

Step 14: Remember: AS Paper Will NEVER Test Something Outside These Topics

Meaning:

• If the scenario is about force → robbery
• If entry → burglary
• If taking → theft
• If breaking/damaging → criminal damage
• If lies/false information → fraud
• If chain of causation → White, Roberts, Pagett, Blaue
• If mental element → Mohan, Woollin, Cunningham, R v G

You NEVER actually get a truly unknown question.

---

Final A Checklist for Unknown Questions*

• Identify offence via trigger words
• Break offence into elements
• Use mini-definitions if rule forgotten
• Apply facts to each element
• Use one case per issue
• Use section numbers where possible
• Use names from scenario
• Write mini-conclusion after each element
• Use opposite-outcome analysis if unsure
• Trust logic + structure