Cambridge AS & A Level Law 9084/12 is the May/June 2026 Paper 1 (English Legal System), variant 2. It is an AS Level component that lasts 1 hour 30 minutes, is worth 75 marks and is sat by every 9084 candidate. You answer seven questions: all five short questions in Section A (25 marks) and two of the three two-part questions in Section B (25 marks each). The biggest single parts are the 15-mark part (b) evaluations, marked separately for analysis and evaluation. This guide goes through every question and shows what the official mark scheme credited. The paper and its mark scheme are free on the Tutopiya Learning Portal.

For an overview of all four 9084 papers from this series, see A Level Law 9084 May/June 2026 past papers: what came up and how it was marked.

9084/12 at a glance

Rubric: answer all questions in Section A and two questions from Section B, seven questions in total.

Question	Section	Topic	Command word	Marks
1	A (compulsory)	One intrinsic aid to statutory interpretation	Identify	1
2	A (compulsory)	Two reasons a person may not qualify as a magistrate	Identify	2
3	A (compulsory)	The three Bail Act 1976 grounds for refusing bail	Explain	6
4	A (compulsory)	Two key aspects of an adversarial legal system	Describe	6
5	A (compulsory)	Criticisms of delegated legislation	Discuss	10
6	B (choose two of 6–8)	(a) Civil justice reforms after the Woolf report (10); (b) the effects of the Woolf reforms (15)	Explain; assess	25
7	B (choose two of 6–8)	(a) How mediation and conciliation work, with examples (10); (b) which is more effective for civil disputes (15)	Explain; discuss	25
8	B (choose two of 6–8)	(a) How judges are trained (10); (b) whether judges are independent of political bias (15)	Explain; assess	25
		Total answered (Section A + two from Section B)		75

Question-by-question walkthrough

Section A: five compulsory questions (25 marks)

Question 1: one intrinsic aid (1 mark) One mark for any one intrinsic aid, that is, something found inside the Act itself. The mark scheme listed the long title, the preamble, headings, schedules, marginal notes, interpretation sections and rules of language. Naming an extrinsic aid such as Hansard would not answer the question.

Question 2: two reasons a person may not qualify as a magistrate (2 marks) One mark per reason, up to 2. Credited reasons included certain criminal convictions, being an undischarged bankrupt, serving in the armed forces, working as a police officer or traffic warden, doing work that is incompatible with sitting as a magistrate, failing to show the six key qualities at interview, and not meeting the age and residency requirements.

Question 3: the three Bail Act 1976 grounds (6 marks) All AO1. Marks go for naming each ground and for describing it, so a bare list of three grounds is not enough for full marks. The three main grounds are that the accused may:

• fail to surrender to custody;
• commit an offence while on bail;
• interfere with witnesses or otherwise obstruct the course of justice.

The mark scheme also listed other grounds for refusal: the defendant’s own protection, already being in custody for another offence, and being charged with certain serious offences such as murder or Class A drugs offences. Describing a ground means explaining what it covers, for example why a court would worry about a defendant who has absconded before.

Question 4: two key aspects of an adversarial system (6 marks) All AO1, with a mark for naming each aspect and further marks for describing it in more detail. The aspects the mark scheme listed:

• it is used in common law systems, including the English legal system;
• advocates for each side present their party’s case;
• each side builds its own case and tries to discredit the other’s;
• the case is presented to an impartial judge or jury, who decides the outcome only after hearing both sides.

Any other relevant aspect was also credited. Pick two you can develop, rather than listing five.

Question 5: criticisms of delegated legislation (10 marks) This is the only levels-marked question in Section A: 6 marks for AO2 (analysis and application) and 4 for AO3 (evaluation), each on its own grid. The top AO2 level (5–6) needs clearly reasoned analysis with effective use of relevant examples; the full 4 for AO3 needs clearly focused evaluation backed by evidence.

Criticisms in the mark scheme:

• it takes law-making away from the democratically elected House of Commons and lets unelected people make law;
• much of it is drafted by unelected civil servants and simply rubber-stamped by a minister;
• sub-delegation hands law-making down another level;
• the sheer volume makes it hard to find out what the current law is;
• it often uses obscure or technical language, which can cause problems of interpretation for judges;
• parliamentary and judicial controls over it are limited.

To score in AO2 and AO3, don’t just list these. Explain why each one matters and how serious it is, and use examples of delegated legislation and of the controls to show it.

Section B: two from three (50 marks)

All three questions share the same marking:

• Part (a), 10 marks, all AO1: a four-level grid. Level 4 (9–10) is accurate and detailed in most relevant areas, with thorough knowledge of key examples, cases or statutes and correct legal terminology. Level 3 (6–8) is mostly accurate but thin in places, Level 2 (3–5) has some accuracy but lacks detail, and Level 1 (1–2) is limited.
• Part (b), 15 marks: AO2 out of 8 and AO3 out of 7, each on a three-level grid. The top AO2 level (6–8) needs focused, reasoned analysis throughout, supported by well-developed use of legal rules, cases or statutes. The top AO3 level (6–7) needs reasoned evaluation of most of the relevant issues, supported by relevant material, and a coherent argument. Every part (b) mark scheme ends by crediting any reasoned conclusion.

Question 6: the Woolf reforms (25 marks)

• (a) Explain the reforms that followed the Woolf report (10): the indicative content covers the three tracks (small claims raised from the old £1000 limit to £10,000 now; the fast track for straightforward cases of £10,000–£25,000; the multi-track for larger claims), the intermediate track introduced in 2023, pre-action protocols and allocation questionnaires, fixed recoverable costs, encouraging ADR, judges managing cases, more use of IT, simpler documents and procedures, a single set of Civil Procedure Rules for the High Court and County Court, and shorter timetables both to trial and for trials themselves.
• (b) Assess their effects (15): positive effects in the mark scheme are better co-operation between parties, more out-of-court settlements, cases sent to the right court through the tracks, more proactive judges, less delay, a streamlined process, and more ADR, which means fewer and shorter trials. On the other side: cost problems remain and costs often exceed the amount claimed, delays have not really fallen, and the 2011 government consultation paper Solving Disputes in the County Court found the system had not kept pace with major economic shifts and needed more focus on dispute resolution and debt recovery.

Question 7: mediation and conciliation (25 marks)

• (a) How each works, with examples (10): mediation uses a neutral, trained mediator who acts as a facilitator to help the parties reach their own compromise. It takes different forms, such as formalised settlement conferences, mini-trials and online dispute resolution; examples in the mark scheme include mediation services, the Centre for Dispute Resolution and West Kent mediation. Conciliation also uses a neutral trained person, but the conciliator plays a more active role, suggesting grounds for compromise, in private, face to face or with each party separately. Examples included Acas, the Labour Relations Agency and the National Conciliation Service for the retail motor industry. The question asks for examples, so name some.
• (b) Which is more effective for civil disputes? (15): both are cheaper than court, use trained neutrals and allow compromise rather than a strictly legal outcome. For mediation: the parties stay in control, it suits smaller disputes such as neighbour and pre-divorce disputes, and even if the case goes to court it can narrow the issues; but it only works if the parties are willing to co-operate, it is mainly used by businesses, it can still cost money and it is not binding. For conciliation: it can include agreements about future business, which helps companies keep working together, and it suits parties used to negotiating; but the conciliator may push a resolution, it may not lead to settlement and it is not always binding. Weigh them against each other and reach a verdict.

Question 8: judges (25 marks)

• (a) How judges are trained (10): the mark scheme splits this into two areas. The main elements: knowledge of substantive law, evidence and procedure, and building judicial skills; an induction programme on first appointment, including a 3–5 day residential course; mentors for new lower-level judges; induction for superior judges at the appropriate level; and continuing education for experienced judges through residential, non-residential and e-learning courses, including new legislation. Social context: human awareness training covering gender, race and disability, and how unrepresented parties, witnesses, jurors and victims see the courts, to make judges aware of other viewpoints.
• (b) Are judges independent of political bias? (15): for independence, judges are separate from the legislature and executive, are trained to avoid bias, and through judicial review and human rights cases have ruled against the government. The mark scheme’s examples include R v Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1995), R v Home Secretary, ex parte Fire Brigades Union (1995), H v Mental Health Review Tribunal (2001), A and Another v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2004) and the Gina Miller challenge, R (Miller) v The Prime Minister (2019). Against, Professor Griffith argues judges tend to be pro-establishment and conservative with a small “c”, and the mark scheme lists pro-government decisions such as Council of Civil Service Unions v Minister for the Civil Service (1984) and AG v Guardian Newspapers Ltd (1987).

Where the marks are on 9084/12

By assessment objective, for a candidate answering Section A and any two Section B questions:

Assessment objective	Section A	Section B (two questions)	Total
AO1 Knowledge and understanding	15 (Questions 1–4)	20 (two part (a)s)	35
AO2 Analysis and application	6 (Question 5)	16 (two part (b)s)	22
AO3 Evaluation	4 (Question 5)	14 (two part (b)s)	18
Total	25	50	75

• Almost half the paper is knowledge. Questions 1 to 4 and both part (a)s reward accurate recall, so learn the lists: intrinsic aids, magistrates’ disqualifications, bail grounds, the tracks and their limits.
• The two part (b)s carry 30 marks, and they are marked for analysis and evaluation, not description. Retelling your part (a) answer in part (b) earns little.
• Question 5 is the only Section A question with no AO1 marks. Its 10 marks are all for analysing and evaluating the criticisms.

How to self-mark 9084/12 with the mark scheme

1. Mark Questions 1 and 2 point by point. One mark per correct aid or reason, and stop at the maximum.
2. For Questions 3 and 4, check each point has a name and a description. A name on its own earns only part of the credit; look for a sentence that explains what the ground or aspect means.
3. Give Question 5 two separate marks. First an AO2 mark out of 6 for how well you analysed the criticisms with examples, then an AO3 mark out of 4 for how far you weighed them. Add them.
4. Level part (a) as a whole. Compare your answer with the indicative content and ask whether it is accurate and detailed in most relevant areas (9–10) or thin in places (6–8). Missing statutes, figures or examples usually holds an answer at Level 3.
5. Give part (b) an AO2 mark out of 8 and an AO3 mark out of 7. Within each level, the mark scheme says to give the top mark if you meet the description convincingly, a middle mark if adequately and the bottom mark if you only just meet it.
6. Check your conclusion. Every part (b) credits a reasoned conclusion. If you only summarise both sides, your AO3 mark is unlikely to reach the top level.

Sit 9084/12 as a timed mock

You have 90 minutes for 75 marks, a little over a minute per mark.

Block	Marks	Time
Read the paper and choose two Section B questions	–	3 minutes
Questions 1 and 2	3	2 minutes
Question 3	6	6 minutes
Question 4	6	6 minutes
Question 5	10	12 minutes
First Section B question: (a) 11 min, (b) 17 min	25	28 minutes
Second Section B question: (a) 11 min, (b) 17 min	25	28 minutes
Check, especially part (b) conclusions	–	5 minutes

Choose your Section B questions by part (b): it is worth 15 of the 25 marks, so pick the debates you can argue on both sides with cases or examples.

Other May/June 2026 9084 papers

• 9084 Paper 22 (Criminal Law)
• 9084 Paper 32 (Law of Contract)
• 9084 Paper 42 (Law of Tort)

Practise and download

• Download 9084/12 and its mark scheme on the Learning Portal →
• All 9084 May/June 2026 papers: overview and marking patterns
• Try a free A Level Law quiz

Need help with a 9084 topic? Book a free trial lesson with an A Level Law tutor →

Frequently asked questions

How many questions do you answer on 9084 Paper 12 May/June 2026? +

Seven. You answer all five short questions in Section A, worth 25 marks together, and two of the three Section B questions, worth 25 marks each. The paper is out of 75 and lasts 1 hour 30 minutes.

What came up in Section B of 9084/12 in 2026? +

Question 6 was on the civil justice reforms that followed the Woolf report and their effects. Question 7 was on how mediation and conciliation work and which is more effective for civil disputes. Question 8 was on how judges are trained and whether they are independent of political bias.

What were the three Bail Act grounds in 9084/12 Question 3? +

The mark scheme's three grounds were that the accused may fail to surrender to custody, may commit an offence while on bail, or may interfere with witnesses or otherwise obstruct the course of justice. It also listed other grounds, such as the defendant's own protection.

How are the Section B questions on 9084/12 marked? +

Part (a) is 10 marks of AO1 knowledge on a four-level grid; the top level, 9 to 10, needs accurate, detailed knowledge with key cases, statutes or examples. Part (b) is 15 marks, split 8 for AO2 analysis and 7 for AO3 evaluation, each marked on its own three-level grid.

Which cases did the 9084/12 mark scheme list for judicial independence? +

For Question 8(b) it listed decisions against the government, including the Fire Brigades Union case (1995), H v Mental Health Review Tribunal (2001), A v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2004) and Miller v The Prime Minister (2019), and pro-government decisions such as the GCHQ case (1984) and AG v Guardian Newspapers (1987).

Where can I download 9084/12 May/June 2026 and its mark scheme? +

Both are free to download and print on the Tutopiya Learning Portal, on the Cambridge AS & A Level Law 9084 past papers page.

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