Legal Studies 2013 Examination:
Extended response test
Sample assessment instrument
This sample has been compiled by the
QSA to help teachers plan and develop
assessment instruments for individual
school settings.
This sample has been compiled by the QSA to help teachers plan and develop assessment
instruments for individual school settings. It demonstrates the following dimensions:
 Knowing and understanding the law
 Investigating legal issues
 Responding to the law.
Assessment instrument
Area of study: Family and the law
Syllabus references: Sections 2, 3 & 4
Task
Critically review the issue raised in the stimulus article
by:
 describing the relevant law relating to wills
 explaining the purpose of wills in protecting the
various stakeholder interests
 analysing the situation to identify and examine legal
issues and stakeholders’ perspectives
 applying relevant legal principles and procedures to
determine legal outcomes
 evaluating the law using the criteria of just and
reasonable outcomes
 making decisions and recommendations about how
effectively the law protects the interests of families
and include any possible changes to the law
 justifying decisions and recommendations using
evidence and legal reasoning.
14039 R1
Comments
Students are given the opportunity to:
Knowing and understanding the law
 describe facts using legal terminology
 explain legal concepts and processes
 communicate meaning using language
conventions to suit purpose and audience
Investigating legal issues
 analyse legal situations to identify and
examine legal issues and stakeholders’
perspectives
 apply legal concepts and processes to legal
issues to determine legal outcomes
Responding to the law
 evaluate the law and stakeholder responses
 makes decisions and recommendations about
legal outcomes and their implications
 justify decisions and recommendations using
evidence and legal reasoning.
Context
You have been commissioned to write a 400–600 word
feature article for the publication: The Law in Today’s
Society.
Your editor has requested you critically review the
issue related to the will of Mrs Emily Nancarrow (see
stimulus overleaf).
11.5 c m
Stimulus
Ferret hits the jackpot
Andrew Swann
A terrier cross named Ferret has inherited a fortune after being
named chief beneficiary in her wealthy owner’s will.
On Monday it was announced that Emily Nancarrow had
bequeathed $750 000 to the dog she and her late husband Don
had rescued from the RSPCA over a decade ago.
Mrs Nancarrow has entrusted the continued care of her elderly
pet to her neighbours, Leonie and Phil Harris, who reportedly
often took Ferret for walks during her owner’s final prolonged
illness.
Mrs Harris spoke to a Courier-Mail reporter yesterday. ‘We told
Emily we would be happy to look after Ferret if she was no longer
able to,’ she stated, ‘but we had no idea that any money would be
part of the arrangement’.
In the event of Ferret’s death, the remaining money has been
willed to the RSPCA. Mrs Nancarrow’s four children were
unavailable for comment but are known to be unhappy about
their mother’s decision.
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Legal Studies 2013 Examination: Extended response test
Sample assessment instrument
Investigating legal issues
Knowing and understanding the law
Instrument-specific criteria and standards
Standard A
Standard B
Standard C
Standard D
Standard E
The student work has the
following characteristics:
The student work has the
following characteristics:
The student work has the
following characteristics:
The student work has the
following characteristics:
The student work has the
following characteristics:
 appropriate definition and
comprehensive description of
facts showing discriminating
use of legal terminology
 appropriate definition and
detailed description of
facts using relevant legal
terminology
 definition and description
of facts using legal
terminology
 partial definition or simple
description of some facts
using legal terminology
 statement of facts using
some legal terminology
 thorough and effective
explanation of a
comprehensive range of legal
concepts and processes
 detailed explanation of a
range of legal concepts
and processes
 explanation of legal
concepts and processes
 simple explanation of
some legal concepts and
processes
 statement of aspects of
legal concepts and
processes
 coherent and effective
communication of meaning
using well-chosen language
conventions suited to
purpose and audience.
 clear communication of
meaning using
appropriate language
conventions suited to
purpose and audience.
 communication of
meaning using language
conventions suited to
purpose and audience.
 communication using
language conventions
suited to aspects of the
purpose and audience.
 communication using
inconsistent language
conventions.
The student work has the
following characteristics:
The student work has the
following characteristics:
The student work has the
following characteristics:
The student work has the
following characteristics:
The student work has the
following characteristics:
 discerning selection and
organisation of legal
information from relevant and
valid sources
 purposeful selection and
organisation of legal
information from relevant
sources
 selection and
organisation of legal
information from sources
 selection and
organisation of aspects
of legal information from
some sources
 selection of obvious
information
 thorough and discriminating
analysis of legal situations to
identify and examine relevant
legal issues and stakeholder
perspectives
 detailed and informed
analysis of legal
situations to identify and
examine relevant legal
issues and stakeholder
perspectives
 analysis of legal
situations to identify and
examine legal issues and
stakeholder perspectives
 simple analysis of legal
situations to identify and
examine some legal
issues and/or
stakeholder perspectives
 identification of some
legal issues and/or
stakeholder perspectives
 discerning application of legal
concepts and processes to
legal issues to determine
logical legal outcomes.
 systematic application of
legal concepts and
processes to legal issues
to determine logical legal
outcomes.
 application of legal
concepts and processes
to legal issues to
determine appropriate
legal outcomes.
 partial application of
some legal concepts
and/or processes to legal
issues to determine legal
outcomes.
 identification of some
legal concepts and/or
processes relating to
aspects of legal issues.
1
Queensland Studies Authority March 2014
1.5 c m
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3
Responding to the law
Standard A
Standard B
Standard C
Standard D
Standard E
The student work has the
following characteristics:
The student work has the
following characteristics:
The student work has the
following characteristics:
The student work has the
following characteristics:
The student work has the
following characteristics:
 discerning evaluation of the
law and stakeholder
responses
 effective evaluation of the
law and stakeholder
responses
 evaluation of the law and
stakeholder responses
 simple evaluation of
aspects of the law and/or
stakeholder responses
 description of aspects of
the law and/or
stakeholder responses
 discerning decisions and
insightful recommendations
made about the suitability of
legal outcomes and their
implications
 relevant decisions and
logical recommendations
made about the suitability
of legal outcomes and
their implications
 decisions and
recommendations made
about the suitability of
legal outcomes and their
implications
 simple decisions and/or
recommendations made
about suitability of legal
outcomes and/or their
implications
 statement of decisions
and/or opinions
 convincing and reasoned
justification of decisions and
recommendations using
evidence and legal
reasoning.
 valid and logical
justification of decisions
and recommendations
using evidence and legal
reasoning.
 justification of decisions
and recommendations
using evidence and legal
reasoning.
 simple justification of
decisions and/or
recommendations.
 justification inconsistent
with decisions and/or
recommendations.
Note: Colour highlights have been used in the table to emphasise the qualities that discriminate between the standards.
Key: Qualitative differences across the standards
Cognitive processes demonstrated in the response
Additional differences across the standard
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Legal Studies 2013 Examination: Extended response test
Sample assessment instrument