AQA A-Level Law (7162): complete guide to the modules and the exams
A complete guide to AQA A-Level Law (specification 7162). Covers the nature of law and the English legal system, criminal law, tort, and the choice between human rights and contract, how the three written papers are structured and marked, the synoptic themes, and how to study each module for top grades.
AQA A-Level Law (specification 7162) is a two-year linear course assessed by three written papers at the end of Year 13. There is no coursework. This page is the index: below is a map of the four study areas, the exam structure, the synoptic themes, and how to study each one.
The four study areas of AQA Law
The specification is built around the English legal system plus three substantive areas of law.
- 3.1 The nature of law and the English legal system
- What law is (law versus morality and justice), how law is made by Parliament and through delegated legislation, statutory interpretation and judicial precedent, the criminal and civil courts, lay magistrates and juries, the legal profession and judiciary, and access to justice. This content is studied throughout and appears in all three papers.
- 3.2 Criminal law
- The rules and theory of criminal law, the general principles of liability (actus reus, mens rea, causation), the non-fatal offences against the person, the fatal offences (murder and manslaughter), the property offences of theft and robbery, and the general defences.
- 3.3 Tort
- The rules and theory of tort, negligence, occupiers' liability, private nuisance and the rule in Rylands v Fletcher, vicarious liability, and the defences and remedies in tort.
- 3.4 The nature of law and human rights, or contract
- Students study one option. The contract option covers the rules and theory of contract, formation, the terms of a contract, vitiating factors, discharge and remedies. The human rights option covers the protection of rights under the European Convention and the Human Rights Act 1998.
Exam structure
AQA A-Level Law is assessed by three written papers, all sat at the end of the course. Each paper combines the English legal system content with one substantive area.
- Paper 1 - the nature of law and the English legal system, and criminal law. 2 hours, 100 marks, 33.3%.
- Paper 2 - the nature of law and the English legal system, and tort. 2 hours, 100 marks, 33.3%.
- Paper 3 - the nature of law and the English legal system, and the option (human rights or contract). 2 hours, 100 marks, 33.3%.
Each paper mixes shorter questions with extended problem-solving and evaluation questions that draw on the synoptic themes.
The synoptic themes
Three or more themes run across the whole qualification and are tested in the extended questions: the rules and theory of each area of law, the relationship between law and morality, the relationship between law and justice, the role of fault, and the balance between individual rights and society. Strong candidates link these across modules, for example discussing fault in both criminal law and tort.
How to study AQA Law
Law rewards precise legal knowledge, fluent use of authority, and disciplined application.
- Work from the specification. Each topic is a checklist of rules; questions are written from them.
- Build a case bank. Learn a manageable set of leading cases and statutes for each topic and be able to apply them, not just recite them.
- Drill the problem-question method. Identify the issue, state the law with authority, apply it to the facts, and conclude.
- Prepare balanced evaluation. For institutions and doctrines, prepare arguments on both sides for the extended questions.
- Rehearse the synoptic themes. Practise linking fault, morality and justice across criminal law, tort and the option.
The modules, topic by topic
Each module has specification-level answer pages with worked exam questions and cross-links, plus an overview guide and a quiz:
- The nature of law and the English legal system - see the module overview.
- Criminal law - see the module overview.
- Tort - see the module overview.
- The contract option - see the module overview.
For the official specification
AQA publishes the full specification (7162), past papers and mark schemes at aqa.org.uk. Always revise from the current specification and AQA's own past papers, because question style and the option formats are board-specific.
Legal Studies guides
In-depth written guides with paired practice quizzes.
- AQA A-Level Law 3.1 The nature of law and the English legal system: a complete overview of law-making, the courts and access to justice
A deep-dive AQA A-Level Law guide to the nature of law and the English legal system. Covers the nature of law, parliamentary law-making and supremacy, delegated legislation, statutory interpretation, judicial precedent, the criminal and civil courts, lay people, the legal profession and judiciary, and access to justice, with the cases and exam patterns AQA repeats.
20 min readRead → - AQA A-Level Law 3.2 Criminal law: a complete overview of liability, offences and defences
A deep-dive AQA A-Level Law guide to module 3.2 Criminal law. Covers the rules and theory of criminal law, actus reus and mens rea, non-fatal offences, fatal offences (murder and manslaughter), property offences (theft and robbery) and the general defences, with the leading cases and exam patterns AQA repeats.
20 min readRead → - AQA A-Level Law 3.3 Tort: a complete overview of negligence, land torts, liability and remedies
A deep-dive AQA A-Level Law guide to module 3.3 Tort. Covers the rules and theory of tort, negligence (duty, breach, causation and remoteness), occupiers' liability, private nuisance and Rylands v Fletcher, vicarious liability, and the defences and remedies in tort, with the leading cases and exam patterns AQA repeats.
19 min readRead → - AQA A-Level Law 3.4 The nature of law and human rights, or contract: a complete overview of the contract option
A deep-dive AQA A-Level Law guide to module 3.4, the contract option. Covers the rules and theory of contract, formation (offer, acceptance, consideration and intention), the terms of a contract, vitiating factors, discharge of contract and the remedies in contract, with the leading cases and exam patterns AQA repeats.
19 min readRead →
Legal Studies practice quizzes
Multiple-choice drills with worked answer explanations. Your scores stay on this device.
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