The Law Reform (Frustrated Contracts) Act 1943 is unfit for purpose and ought to be replaced. Discuss.

Grade Numerical
Equivalent

Description of Attainment for the Award of Grade

A++

85-100 “A” range: First Class

A first class answer is one that has a thoughtful
structure, a clear message, which depending on the
question, may display personal reflection informed by
wider reading of appropriate sources and a good grasp
of detail (as evidenced by the choice of relevant
examples which are well integrated into the answer’s
structure).

A high first-class answer should reveal an exceptional
ability to offer novel or innovative insights for
consideration.

A very high first-class answer should be of a standard
that is suitable for publication in a relevant student
journal (subject to minor amendments).

Generally, first-class answers are ones that are
excellent for an undergraduate level and which achieve
this standard in one or more of the following:

• comprehensiveness and accuracy;

• clarity of argument and expression;

• integration of a range of materials;

• evidence of wider reading;

• insight into the theoretical issues.

Excellence in one or more of these areas should be in
addition to the qualities expected of an upper second-
class answer.

A+

78

A

75

A- 72

B+

68 “B” range: Upper Second Class

An upper second-class answer is one that shows very
good levels of knowledge and understanding of the
subject area under consideration. Importantly, such an
answer must have dealt effectively with the question
asked and it should satisfy most, if not all, of the
following:

• demonstrate a good understanding of relevant
principles and concepts;

• be generally accurate and well-informed by a
suitable range of appropriate reading;

• be reasonably comprehensive in scope;

• be well-organised and structured;

• be succinctly and cogently presented;

• display some evidence of insight, particularly through
the application of relevant rules/principles and/or the
development of significant arguments.

B

65

B- 62

C+

58 “C” range: Lower Second Class

A lower second-class answer is a substantially correct
one that demonstrates most, if not or all, of the
following:

• offers sound levels of knowledge and understanding
of relevant principles and concepts.

• provides a competent answer to the set question
(albeit based largely on textbooks and lecture
notes).

• predominantly focuses on reprising material
knowledge rather than on the development of key
arguments (or the provision of appropriate
analysis).

• Satisfactory levels of presentation, structure and
clarity of expression.

A lower second-class answer may contain some major
errors or omissions. It could be a good answer (i.e., an
upper-second class answer) to a related question but
not the one set by the assessor.

C

55

C- 52

D+

48 “D” range: Third Class

A third-class answer should demonstrate some basic
knowledge and understanding of the general area
under consideration. However, it may be weak in the
following ways;

• descriptive only;

• does not answer the question directly;

• misses key points;

• contains important inaccuracies

• covers material sparsely, possibly in note form;

• assertions not supported by authority or evidence.

• limited evidence of problem-solving skills.

D 45

E 42 Pass

A pass represents the minimum requirements for an
acceptable standard at the bottom of the third-class
category. There is just sufficient information to indicate
that the student has a general familiarity with the subject
area. Such answers typically:

• contain very little appropriate or accurate material;

• cover the basic material in only a cursory fashion;

• are poorly presented and do not development
arguments.

F 38

Very close and Not bad Fails

35 Too little by way of information or analysis to pass. “E”
grade answers show enough familiarity with the subject
matter of the question (or topic) to suggest that the
student made a genuine, if failing attempt, to learn it.

A mark of 38 denotes a very close fail and the assessor
gives it accepting that a second assessor or an external
examiner may, on reflection, raise this to a pass.

F 25 Bad fail

By contrast with an “E” grade, in an “F” grade answer
there is insufficient material to indicate that the student
made a serious attempt to learn the subject matter
addressed by the exam question or essay topic.

F- 15 “F-” is a grade to be given to an answer which, under
examination conditions, typically for lack of time,
consists of a paragraph or two or an answer plan
relevant to the question but not more.

0 0 Grade given for un-submitted work, unanswered
questions, answers which are wholly irrelevant to the
question set and show no sign of reading the question.