9084 · Cambridge International AS Level
9084/22
Criminal Law
Law · June 2024 · Variant 2
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Cambridge Assessment International Education
3.0 / 5
135
180 min
Legal Personnel & Judicial Independence
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
135
Duration
180 min
Session difficulty
3.0 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
In Paper 12 (English Legal System), the short-answer questions in Section A provided quick-win marks for students who could recall precise legal details, such as the specific names of regulatory bodies (e.g., the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Bar Standards Board) and notable Practice Statement cases like Miliangos or Herrington.
However, many candidates lost marks in Section B by presenting one-sided essays.
For instance, in the Judicial Independence question (Q6), candidates often described the concept well (AO1) but failed to critically assess the "extent" of true independence (AO3), missing crucial judicial review examples (e.g., the Miller decisions) or academic critiques like Professor Griffiths' 'pro-establishment' view.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Knowledge & UAO2
Weight: 3100%Application & AO3
Weight: 267%Evaluation & Analysis
Weight: 133%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
Cambridge Principal Examiner Report — component performance and international standards
Level A
Approx. 67% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 56% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 47% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 39% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 30% of maximum mark
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Name or point to the specific feature asked for — avoid extra explanation.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Present multiple perspectives with evidence; balance breadth and depth.
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Match the expected response style for “Assess” questions.
Weigh arguments for and against with evidence; end with a supported judgement.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.5
Min per mark: 1.2
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Legal personnel (English legal system (AS Level))
43 marks this session
Sentencing in England and Wales (Criminal law (AS Level))
30 marks this session
Offences against property (Criminal law (AS Level))
30 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Offences against property
Principles and sources of English law
Legal personnel
Machinery of justice
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1 English Legal System (9084/12):
Paper 2 Criminal Law (9084/22):
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Legal personnel (English legal system (AS Level))
43 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSentencing in England and Wales (Criminal law (AS Level))
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiOffences against property (Criminal law (AS Level))
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
In Paper 12 (English Legal System), the short-answer questions in Section A provided quick-win marks for students who could recall precise legal details, such as the specific names of regulatory bodies (e.g., the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Bar Standards Board) and notable Practice Statement cases like Miliangos or Herrington.
- 2Message
However, many candidates lost marks in Section B by presenting one-sided essays.
- 3Message
For instance, in the Judicial Independence question (Q6), candidates often described the concept well (AO1) but failed to critically assess the "extent" of true independence (AO3), missing crucial judicial review examples (e.g., the Miller decisions) or academic critiques like Professor Griffiths' 'pro-establishment' view.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2024 2024
Law
In Paper 12 (English Legal System), the short-answer questions in Section A provided quick-win marks for students who could recall precise legal details, such as the specific names of regulatory bodies (e.g., the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Bar Standards Board) and notabl
In Paper 12 (English Legal System), the short-answer questions in Section A provided quick-win marks for students who could recall precise legal details, such as the specific names of regulatory bodies (e.g., the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Bar Standards Board) and notable Practice Statement cases like Miliangos or Herrington.
However, many candidates lost marks in Section B by presenting one-sided essays.
For instance, in the Judicial Independence question (Q6), candidates often described the concept well (AO1) but failed to critically assess the "extent" of true independence (AO3), missing crucial judicial review examples (e.g., the Miller decisions) or academic critiques like Professor Griffiths' 'pro-establishment' view.
- Total marks
- 135
- Duration
- 180 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.0 / 5
Session analysis
In Paper 12 (English Legal System), the short-answer questions in Section A provided quick-win marks for students who could recall precise legal details, such as the specific names of regulatory bodies (e.g., the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Bar Standards Board) and notable Practice Statement cases like Miliangos or Herrington. However, many candidates lost marks in Section B by presenting one-sided essays. For instance, in the Judicial Independence question (Q6), candidates often described the concept well (AO1) but failed to critically assess the "extent" of true independence (AO3), missing crucial judicial review examples (e.g., the Miller decisions) or academic critiques like Professor Griffiths' 'pro-establishment' view.
Updated Jun 12, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1 English Legal System (9084/12):
Paper 2 Criminal Law (9084/22):
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
67% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Discussion Essay
60·3·44%
Scenario Application
30·3·22%
Criminal Law Essay
30·2·22%
Short Answer
(Recall)
15·4·11%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Difficulty trend
Compare difficulty across recent years.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1 Section A
0.83 m/minPaper 2 Section A
0.67 m/minPaper 2 Section B
0.67 m/minTotal marks
85
Total time
120 min
Avg pace
0.71
Cumulative marks ladder
The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
The Tort of Negligence
85%85%
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
80%80%
Remedies for Breach of Contract
78%78%
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h 30min
- Total marks
- 60
- Weighting
- 50%
- Question types
- Application of statutory and case source material to scenarios, Define/describe specific criminal law element/actus reus (part a), Evaluate effectiveness or fairness of specific penal statutes (part b)
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.