Readers Course Entrance Exam: Preparation Seminar Jason Harkess - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Readers’ Course Entrance Exam: Preparation Seminar

Jason Harkess Chief Examiner

2 October 2018

About the exam

• 3 hour partially open-book

exam (extracts of legislation provided in exam)

• Topics: civil/criminal

procedure, evidence and ethics

• Types of questions:
• “pure rule” and “application”

(most questions are of the “application” type)

• multi-choice, short-answer,

and long-answer questions

• Pass mark 75%

Examinable material

• Exam Materials:
• Reading Guide specifies

examinable sub-topics within each general topic and prescribed texts;

• Reading Guide specifies

prescribed legislation (all examinable provisions are extracted);

• Reading Guide identifies

selected cases.

• Hard copy of Reading

Guide and Legislation extracts provided to each candidate in exam (soft copies can now be downloaded from Bar website).

• Candidates are expected

to be familiar with the selected cases referred to in Reading Guide.

Exam preparation

• Candidates who perform well in

the exam:

• have read and understood

Reading guide;

• have read and understood

examinable provisions and how they may be applied;

• have read and understood

selected case law;

• have read relevant parts of

prescribed texts;

• have read previous

examinations and sample answers (available on Bar website).

General exam tips

• Read factual problems carefully.
• Read specific instructions in

each question carefully:

• a simple/general question

giving wide scope to raise/discuss a number of legal issues (e.g. ‘is the evidence admissible?’;

• a more directed/multi-

faceted question where all components must be addressed (e.g. ‘What is the rule in Browne v Dunn? How does it apply in this case? Explain the rule’s rationale.)

• Sensible time management.
• Answer every question.
• Write legibly.

Examiner’s marking process

• Designed to be objective and fair.
• Candidate’s answers for each

question assessed against marking guide.

• Mark recorded for each question

reflects overall assessment of extent to which candidate’s answer:

• identifies/addresses relevant

points;

• demonstrates understanding
• f law and its application to

facts;

• is expressed

clearly/succinctly.

Sample answers from Oct ‘14

• Refer to handout.