Paper 2 is where a lot of AS Level Law students trip up — not because Criminal Law is conceptually harder than English Legal System, but because the compulsory scenario question in Section A demands precise application, not just definitions. Here’s what Paper 2 actually covers, what your notes need to include, and where to download the free past papers to practise against.
What Paper 2 (Criminal Law) Actually Covers
Paper 2 is the second of the two AS Level papers in the Cambridge 9084 syllabus, worth 60 marks over 1 hour 30 minutes. Section A is a single compulsory scenario-based question with source material, split into three parts and worth 30 marks — this is where precise application to the facts given matters most. Section B asks you to choose one of two questions (a short answer plus an essay), also worth 30 marks. Like Paper 1, it carries 50% of the AS qualification.
The syllabus groups Paper 2 into three areas: elements of a crime, offences against property, and sentencing in England and Wales.
Key Topics You Need Solid Notes On
- Elements of a crime — actus reus (including omissions and causation), mens rea (intention, recklessness), and strict liability offences.
- General defences — insanity, automatism, intoxication, self-defence, and duress, plus the specific circumstances each one applies to.
- Offences against property — theft, robbery, burglary, and criminal damage, with the exact statutory definitions from the Theft Act and Criminal Damage Act.
- Sentencing in England and Wales — the aims of sentencing (retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, protection of the public, reparation) and the range of sentences available to courts.
What a Good Set of Free Paper 2 Notes Should Include
Because Section A is scenario-based, your notes need more than definitions — they need a clear structure for applying each element (actus reus, mens rea, defence) to a set of facts, the way examiners expect in an IRAC-style answer. For general note-taking strategy and a wider notes library, see The Complete A Level Law Notes PDF for Exam Preparation and Essential A Level Law Resources Every Student Needs — use them alongside the paper-specific notes here rather than instead of them.
Free Paper 2 Past Papers — Download Now
Criminal Law is a paper you get better at by practising scenario questions, not by re-reading theory. Our resource hub has the real LAW 9084/21, 9084/22, and 9084/23 papers (Criminal Law) available as a free download, with their mark schemes:
→ Download Free Paper 2 Past Papers & Mark Schemes
How to Use These Notes and Past Papers Together
Work through the elements-of-a-crime notes first, then attempt a Section A scenario question under timed conditions (roughly 25–30 minutes). Mark your answer against the scheme and check specifically whether you applied the law to the facts given, rather than just describing the law in general. Repeat with defences next, then property offences — building confidence one sub-topic at a time is far more effective for a scenario-based paper than trying to revise everything at once.
About Sir Owais Mirchawala’s A Level Law Classes
Sir Owais Mirchawala is a Cambridge-trained A Level Law specialist based in Pakistan, with 15+ years of teaching experience and ACCA & ICAEW qualifications behind him. His AS Level classes cover Paper 2’s scenario-question technique in detail — how examiners split marks across AO1, AO2, and AO3 — rather than just theory. Read more on the About page, or see what’s covered in the AS Level Law course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paper 2 harder than Paper 1?
Most students find Paper 2 more demanding because Section A forces you to apply law to a scenario rather than answer more general questions, but it rewards focused practice on application technique more than raw memorisation.
Do I need to know specific case law for Paper 2?
Yes — key cases on causation, intention, and each defence come up repeatedly in examiner reports as the difference between average and strong answers.
Is there an O Level Law syllabus for Criminal Law?
No — Cambridge only offers Law at AS and A Level (syllabus 9084), so Paper 2 is where every student meets Criminal Law for the first time, regardless of their O Level background.
Final Thought
Free Paper 2 notes are most useful when they’re built around applying law to facts, not just defining terms — and the fastest way to build that skill is pairing your notes with the real scenario questions examiners have already asked. Start with the topic breakdown above, then work through the free downloads linked here.
If you’d like to find out more, feel free to get in touch.