Criminal law: past paper questions
Real questions on criminal law
The newest 20 of 176 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 9084/11 · May/June 2026 · Q2[2]
Identify two criminal offences.
See it on the paper → - 9084/13 · May/June 2026 · Q2[2]
Identify two criminal offences.
See it on the paper → - 9084/21 · May/June 2026 · Q1a[10]
Belinda wants to change the colour of her hair and visits Grace’s hairdressing shop. Belinda chooses a colour, and they agree a price of £100. Grace changes the colour of Belinda’s hair. Belinda says that her hair is not the colour agreed. Grace demands the £100 saying that she has done exactly what Belinda requested....
See it on the paper → - 9084/21 · May/June 2026 · Q1b[10]
Charles books and pays in advance for an overnight stay at a hotel. He mistakenly believes that the payment includes breakfast. Charles has breakfast at the hotel and leaves without paying for it. The hotel contacts the police, and Charles is arrested later in the day. Explain how the source material will apply to Char...
See it on the paper → - 9084/21 · May/June 2026 · Q1c[10]
Sue is driven home from the train station by Tony in his taxi. When they arrive, Tony tells her the fare is £20. Sue says that she needs to go into the house to get the money and leaves the taxi. Sue decides not to pay, so she runs away and hides. Sue is later arrested by the police. Explain how the source material wil...
See it on the paper → - 9084/21 · May/June 2026 · Q2a[5]
Describe the aggravating factors that the court considers when sentencing adult offenders.
See it on the paper → - 9084/21 · May/June 2026 · Q2b[25]
Evaluate the fairness of the law relating to the mens rea of theft. Or
See it on the paper → - 9084/21 · May/June 2026 · Q3a[5]
Describe the actus reus of the offence of robbery.
See it on the paper → - 9084/21 · May/June 2026 · Q3b[25]
Evaluate the law relating to the offence in s.22 Theft Act 1968. Source Material for Section A Question 1 Theft Act 1978 Section 3 Making Off Without Payment ‘(1) … a person who, knowing that payment on the spot for any goods supplied or service done is required or expected from him, dishonestly makes off without havin...
See it on the paper → - 9084/22 · May/June 2026 · Q1a[10]
To celebrate their anniversary Toby gives Bella a unique and distinctive bracelet. Toby stole the bracelet from Sandra’s shop the previous day. Later that week, Bella is checking the internet, and she sees an appeal from Sandra for the return of a stolen bracelet. Bella realises that it is the bracelet that Toby has gi...
See it on the paper → - 9084/22 · May/June 2026 · Q1b[10]
As a result of an investigation, Police Constable (PC) Clara takes possession of several stolen cell phones found in Suzy’s shop. PC Clara decides to see if she can catch customers trying to buy stolen cell phones. Frank, knowing the shop sells stolen cell phones, enters and buys one from PC Clara, believing it is stol...
See it on the paper → - 9084/22 · May/June 2026 · Q1c[10]
Ranjit meets his good friend Amir in a café. Amir offers to sell Ranjit a brand-new watch for half its normal price, claiming it to be an unwanted gift. Although Ranjit suspects it might be stolen, Amir reassures him by showing him a convincing fake receipt. Ranjit buys the watch. However, the watch was stolen by Amir...
See it on the paper → - 9084/22 · May/June 2026 · Q2a[5]
Identify the mitigating factors that the court considers when sentencing adult offenders.
See it on the paper → - 9084/22 · May/June 2026 · Q2b[25]
Evaluate the law relating to legal causation in the actus reus of a crime. Or
See it on the paper → - 9084/22 · May/June 2026 · Q3a[5]
State the requirements that can be attached to a youth rehabilitation order.
See it on the paper → - 9084/22 · May/June 2026 · Q3b[25]
Evaluate the effectiveness of s9 Theft Act 1968.
See it on the paper → - 9084/23 · May/June 2026 · Q2a[5]
Describe the aggravating factors that the court considers when sentencing adult offenders.
See it on the paper → - 9084/23 · May/June 2026 · Q2b[25]
Evaluate the fairness of the law relating to the mens rea of theft. Or
See it on the paper → - 9084/23 · May/June 2026 · Q3a[5]
Describe the actus reus of the offence of robbery.
See it on the paper → - 9084/23 · May/June 2026 · Q3b[25]
Evaluate the law relating to the offence in s.22 Theft Act 1968. Source Material for Section A Question 1 Theft Act 1978 Section 3 Making Off Without Payment ‘(1) … a person who, knowing that payment on the spot for any goods supplied or service done is required or expected from him, dishonestly makes off without havin...
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
The five AO1 marks were awarded for any of the points below: • The offence of handling stolen goods is found in s22 Theft Act 1968. • The goods must be stolen at the time of handling. • Goods and proceeds can be handled. • Handling means receiving, keeping, removing or realising goods or proceeds for someone’s benefit or arranging to do any of those things. • The defendant must know or believe th...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9084/21 Q2(a) (Cambridge)
The best responses used relevant and detailed factual information to support both analysis and evaluation. Weaker responses tended to take a more factual approach; some included a conclusion which was a simple evaluative answer to the question and some did not include any analysis or evaluation. The mark scheme makes it clear that to move up the mark levels candidates need to engage with each of t...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9084/21 Q2(b) (Cambridge)
The five AO1 marks were awarded for any of the points below: • Detention at His Majesty’s pleasure – those aged 10 – 17 and convicted of murder are detained for a minimum of 12 years. • Detention for serious crimes – offences where the maximum custodial sentence for an adult is 14 years and some sexual or firearms offences. • Young offender institutions – for offenders aged 15 – 20 with a minimu...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9084/21 Q3(a) (Cambridge)
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