Liverpool Law School
LIVERPOOL LAW SCHOOL
MARKING SCHEME FOR EXAMINATIONS, ASSESSED COURSEWORK AND DISSERTATIONS
LEVEL 3
Please note: This scheme applies to examinations, assessed coursework and dissertations. However it should be borne in mind that, within each classification, standards will differ between those pieces of work which are prepared in advance with adequate time for proof-reading, editing etc. and have scope for extensive research in the student’s own time (such as coursework and dissertations); and those that are done under the time pressure of an examination, relying on the student’s memory for legal detail. So, for example: full and accurate citations of cases and academic comment are expected in coursework and dissertations, whereas a simple reference to the name of a case, an author or an article will be sufficient in examinations; slight mishaps of spelling and grammar will be more readily tolerated in answers written under examination conditions; and a greater depth of discussion is expected in coursework of, say, 2500 words, than is usually found in an exam essay written in 45 minutes. Equally, you will see below that the marking criteria in relation to presentation apply to coursework and dissertations only.
Available Step Marks (%)First Class
A first class mark of / in excess of 90% will be awarded for work which excels in most of the following: / All relevant legal issues identified
Full and focused engagement with the question
Excellent knowledge and understanding of relevant legal principles including the most complex issues
Excellent grasp of relevant doctrinal / policy problems while still accurately reporting the legal position
Excellent ability to recognise and evaluate inconsistencies of legal argumentation / to rank possible outcomes / to formulate some personal perspectives / to offer own reasoned views on unresolved legal disputes (where appropriate)
Fluent use of relevant, appropriate and up-to-date primary materials
Evidence of considerable independent research as well as core materials
Excellent incorporation of secondary sources into analysis
Clear and compelling structure
Clear and compelling conclusions
Clear and thorough referencing
Excellent standard of English appropriate to complex / specialist legal matters
Excellent presentation* / 95
90
A first class mark in excess of 80% will be awarded for work which demonstrates most of the following: / All relevant legal issues identified
Excellent engagement with the question
Excellent knowledge and understanding of relevant legal principles
Excellent grasp of relevant doctrinal / policy problems while still accurately reporting the legal position
Good ability to recognise and evaluate inconsistencies of legal argumentation / to rank possible outcomes / to formulate some personal perspectives / to offer own reasoned views on unresolved legal disputes (where appropriate)
Fluent use of relevant, appropriate and up-to-date primary materials
Evidence of extensive independent research as well as core materials
Good incorporation of secondary sources into analysis
Clear and convincing structure
Well-substantiated conclusions
Clear and thorough referencing
Very good standard of English appropriate to complex / specialist legal matters
Very good presentation* / 88
85
82
A first class mark in excess of 70% will be awarded for work which demonstrates some of the following: / Most main legal issues identified
Evidence of ability to identify additional legal issues suitable for further research (where appropriate)
Close engagement with the question
Excellent knowledge and understanding of relevant legal principles
Good grasp of relevant doctrinal / policy problems while still accurately reporting the legal position
Evidence of ability to recognise and evaluate inconsistencies of legal argumentation / to rank possible outcomes / to formulate some personal perspectives / to offer own reasoned views on unresolved legal disputes (where appropriate)
Use of relevant, appropriate and up-to-date primary materials
Evidence of good research from independent study as well as core materials
Evidence of effective incorporation of secondary sources into analysis
Clear and convincing structure
Well-substantiated conclusions
Clear and thorough referencing
Very good standard of English appropriate to complex / specialist legal matters
Very good presentation* / 78
75
Upper Second Class
An upper second class answer will generally demonstrate some of the following: / Majority of main legal issues identified
Good engagement with the question
Good knowledge and understanding of relevant legal principles
Reasonable grasp of relevant doctrinal / policy problems
Use of relevant and appropriate primary materials
Evidence of some research from independent study as well as core materials
Some evidence of incorporation of secondary sources into analysis
Good structure
Appropriate conclusions
Appropriate referencing
Good standard of English appropriate to complex / specialist legal matters
Good presentation* / 68
65
62
Lower Second Class
A lower second class answer will generally demonstrate some of the following: / Some main legal issues identified
Competent engagement with the question
Competent knowledge and understanding of relevant legal principles
Some grasp of relevant doctrinal / policy problems
Evidence of relevant and appropriate primary / secondary materials
Comprehensible structure
Arguable conclusions
Adequate referencing
Standard of English sufficient to convey complex / specialist legal matters
Competent presentation* / 58
55
52
Third Class
A third class answer will generally demonstrate some of the following: / Basic legal issues identified
Some engagement with the question
Some knowledge and understanding of relevant legal principles
Some grasp of relevant doctrinal / policy problems
Some evidence of relevant and appropriate primary / secondary materials
Some attempt to structure argument / analysis
Some attempt to draw relevant conclusions
Some referencing
Tolerable standard of English for purposes of conveying complex / specialist legal matters
Adequate presentation* / 48
45
42
Fail
A fail mark will be awarded for work which demonstrates some of the following: / Few legal issues identified
Limited engagement with the question
Limited knowledge and understanding of relevant legal principles
Little grasp of relevant doctrinal / policy problems
Limited evidence of relevant and appropriate primary / secondary materials
Limited attempt to structure argument / analysis
Limited attempt to draw relevant conclusions
Poor referencing
Poor standard of English for purposes of communicating complex / specialist legal matters
Poor presentation* / 38
35
A fail will be awarded for work which demonstrates some of the following: / No / almost no relevant legal issues identified
No real engagement with the question
Poor knowledge and understanding of relevant legal principles
No real grasp of relevant doctrinal / policy problems
Little / no evidence of relevant and appropriate primary / secondary materials
No real attempt to structure argument / analysis
No real attempt to draw relevant conclusions
Poor referencing
Poor standard of English for purposes of communicating complex / specialist legal matters
Poor presentation* / 32
25
15
5
* These criteria apply to coursework and dissertations only