Why Keywords Matter More Than Length

• Examiners mark using tight AO1/AO2 descriptors.
• Keywords signal:
  a. legal accuracy
  b. element recognition
  c. correct case usage
  d. proper sequencing
• Using the “right words” makes examiners instantly comfortable.
• Using vague or casual words makes answers look untrained.
• A* students carefully select high-precision keywords to match the marking scheme.
• Weak students use “normal English words,” which lose marks.

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The A Rule: Every Bullet Must Contain A “Mark-Trigger Word”*

These are the exact words that activate marks:

• establish
• satisfy
• amount to
• constitute
• demonstrate
• indicate
• likely
• purpose
• virtual certainty
• assumption of rights
• effective entry
• foreseeable
• significant operating cause
• honest belief
• objective standard

Examiners EXPECT these.
Using them = high AO1/AO2 scores automatically.

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Table 1: Keywords That Examiners Reward Instantly

Category	High-Value Keywords	Why They Work
AO1 Definitions	“assumption of rights” / “possession or control” / “virtual certainty”	shows legal precision
AO2 Application	“on these facts” / “this indicates” / “here,” / “therefore likely”	shows strong linkage
Causation	“but-for” / “foreseeable escape” / “reasonable act” / “thin skull”	examiner-approved
Robbery	“modifies movement” / “force applied” / “in order to steal”	matches s8 wording
Burglary	“effective entry” / “trespass” / “intent at entry”	linked to s9
Criminal Damage	“temporary impairment” / “reckless as to risk”	Hardman + R v G language
Evaluation	“strength is” / “weakness arises” / “alternative view”	AO3 keywords

These are exactly the words examiners tick.

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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 Top 50 Keywords Examiners WANT To See

For Theft

• assumption of rights
• s3 appropriation
• s4 property
• s5 possession/control
• objective dishonesty (Ivey)
• treat as own (s6)
• intent to permanently deprive

For Robbery

• force modifies movement
• minimal force sufficient
• force on property counts
• immediately before/at time
• in order to steal

For Burglary

• effective entry
• partial entry sufficient
• no permission (trespass)
• intent at entry (s9(1)(a))
• theft/GBH inside (s9(1)(b))

For Criminal Damage

• temporary impairment
• damage to property
• reckless as to risk
• honest belief in consent
• lawful excuse

For Causation

• but-for
• significant and operating cause
• foreseeable escape
• reasonable response
• thin skull applies

For Mens Rea

• aim/purpose
• virtual certainty
• foresight of risk
• subjective awareness

For Interpretation (ELS)

• literal meaning
• avoid absurdity
• intention of Parliament
• contextual meaning
• ejusdem generis / noscitur / expressio

Using these = automatic alignment with exam jargon.

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The Words You MUST Avoid (They Lose Marks)

Bad Keyword	Why It Loses Marks
“maybe”	uncertainty = low AO2
“sort of”	informal, vague
“looks like”	no legal certainty
“basically”	non-legal
“kind of like”	childlike phrasing
“feels like”	irrelevant to law
“he clearly did wrong”	moral, not legal
“in my opinion”	NEVER use in Law
“the case story says”	case facts = zero marks
“he committed all crimes”	vague, no detail
“I think”	personal view = useless
“this reminds me of”	irrelevant

Weak students lose marks because they write like this.

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High-Value Keywords For AO2 (Application)

Use these in almost EVERY application line:

• “here,”
• “on these facts,”
• “therefore,”
• “this indicates,”
• “this amounts to,”
• “this satisfies the requirement,”
• “thus,”
• “consequently,”
• “it is likely that,”

These words guide examiners through your logic line-by-line.

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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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Exact Keywords For Each Major Offence

THEFT (s1–7)

Use:

• appropriation
• assumption of rights
• s3
• property (s4)
• possession or control
• belonging to another
• objective dishonesty
• reasonable person
• Ivey standard
• treat as own
• intent to permanently deprive
• s6

Avoid:

• “he stole”
• “he took something”
• “this is stealing”
• “this is wrong”

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ROBBERY (s8)

Use:

• force
• modifies movement
• minimal force sufficient
• immediately before/at the time
• in order to steal
• Dawson & James
• Clouden

Avoid:

• “he violently ran away”
• “he was aggressive”
• “the victim felt scared” (irrelevant)

Emotional words = wasted time.

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BURGLARY (s9)

Use:

• effective entry
• partial entry
• trespass
• no permission
• intent at entry
• s9(1)(a) vs s9(1)(b)
• Collins
• Brown
• Ryan

Avoid:

• “breaking in” (NOT a legal requirement)
• “forced himself inside”
• “he climbed rudely” (irrelevant)

Legal wording matters.

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CRIMINAL DAMAGE

Use:

• destroy/damage
• temporary impairment
• property
• belongs to another
• reckless as to risk
• significant risk
• lawful excuse
• honest belief
• Hardman
• Jaggard

Avoid:

• “he ruined it a bit”
• “he made it dirty”
• “the thing got bad”

We need legal terms.

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CAUSATION

Use:

• but-for
• factual cause
• legal cause
• significant and operating
• foreseeable escape
• Roberts
• reasonable act
• Pagett
• thin skull
• Blaue

Avoid:

• “because of him it happened”
• “it’s his fault”
• “he caused everything”

These sound childish.

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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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Exact Keywords For ELS Questions (Interpretation, Precedent, DL)

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION

Use:

• literal rule
• ordinary meaning
• mischief rule
• defect in earlier law
• purposive approach
• legislative intention
• intrinsic aids
• extrinsic aids
• Pepper v Hart
• Hansard

Avoid:

• “they guess the meaning”
• “they decide randomly”
• “they interpret however they want”

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JUDICIAL PRECEDENT

Use:

• ratio decidendi
• obiter dicta
• binding
• persuasive
• hierarchy
• Practice Statement
• departures
• distinguishing
• overruling
• reversing

Avoid:

• “judges follow each other loosely”
• “judges usually agree”
• “court copies decision”

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DELEGATED LEGISLATION

Use:

• statutory instrument
• Orders in Council
• bylaws
• enabling Act
• ultra vires
• procedural vs substantive ultra vires
• affirmative resolution
• negative resolution

Avoid:

• “small laws”
• “government shortcuts”
• “rules made quickly”

These terms are imprecise.

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Police Powers (PACE)

Use:

• reasonable suspicion
• necessity
• stop and search
• arrest
• detention limits
• Codes of Practice
• admissibility
• exclusion of evidence

Avoid:

• “police can do whatever they want”
• “police just check people randomly”

Not acceptable.

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USE THIS WORD LIST AS CHECKLIST BEFORE SUBMITTING ANY EXAM ANSWER

1. Did you use legal keywords instead of normal words?

2. Did you use case names as labels?

3. Did you avoid emotional/vague words?

4. Did your bullets use high-value verbs?

5. Did you avoid any forbidden phrases?

6. Did every element have a precision keyword?

7. Did you conclude each block with certainty words like “likely”, “therefore”, “conclude”?

This is EXACTLY how A* students write.