BPP University Law School:
Law Conversion Course
Assessments
This short video explains the assessment strategy of the core conversion course.
For those of you studying the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (known as the PGDL), this video covers
how these two parts of this programme is assessed.
For those of you who are studying the LLM Law & Legal Practice (which we will call the LLM) the
video covers assessments for just the first stage of your programme, the core conversion course
content, which is exactly the same as the PGDL. This video does not consider stage 2, where you
can select one of three different options to complete the Masters’ qualification, in any detail.
References to the core conversion content in this video are therefore to the PGDL.
What we will cover
In this video we will cover:
The assessment methodology of the PGDL
An overview of how each module is assessed on the PGDL
How the PGDL award is calculated
The role of formative assessment
PGDL Modules
The PGDL is comprised of 8 core modules, each of which is worth 15 credits. In order to pass the
PGDL, you must pass each of these 8 core modules.
As this is a masters level programme, the pass mark for each assessment is 50%. A copy of the
level 7 marking criteria against which you will be assessed is contained in Appendix 4 of the
Programme Handbook. The Board of Examiners has no discretion to compensate for failure of any
modules, which means you must pass each of the 8 modules in order to pass the programme.
Your Assessment Journey
Your assessment journey on the PGDL follows the stages on the slide for each of the core modules.
In preparing to begin learning on a module, you should watch the module information video,
which introduces you to the learning outcomes, aims and assessment strategy of each module.
You should also familiarise yourself with the module outline. You will then be able to begin your
module work, which includes formative assessment. Formative assessments serve a
developmental purpose, they do not count towards the final results for your module or
programme
We will consider the role and format of formative assessment on the PGDL Programme at the end
of this video.
After the 10 workshops for each core module, you will enter a period of revision and assessment
before then sitting the summative assessment for each module. Summative assessments are used
to gauge the extent to which you have successfully met the stated learning outcomes for the
module. They provide you with the ability to demonstrate what you have learned. They are the
assessments that count towards your BPP award.
There are no professional assessments external to BPP within the Postgraduate Diploma in
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Law programme however, they are a feature of the vocational programmes (for both the solicitor
and barrister routes) if you progress onto either the STC or the BTC.
PGDL: Assessment Methology
Before we look at how each of the modules are assessed across the two parts of the PGDL, we will
look in overview at the PGDL assessment methology first. Both internal and external factors
influenced the design of the assessment strategy for the programme.
As already mentioned, there are no professional assessments external to BPP within the PGDL,
however as these are a feature of the vocational programmes (for both the solicitor and
barrister routes) the assessments on the PGDL are designed with these external assessments in
mind, to ensure that you are well-prepared for success in those assessments should they progress
to a vocational programme in future. If on completion of the PGDL you elect to progress to
either:
the Solicitor Training Course Part 1; or
the Barrister Training Course Part 1
you will be required to complete centrally set multiple-choice tests, as determined by the relevant
regulatory body.
Developing a familiarity and proficiency in completing multiple choice tests during PGDL therefore
prepares you well for progression to either of these routes of additional study, and it is for this
reason that multiple choice tests form a large part of the assessment strategy of both parts of the
programme.
Externally too, there are changes in the legal profession that have influenced the design of both
the programme and assessment strategy. The importance of legal skills in practice means that
we’ve embedded skills into the programme and assess skills within each of the core module. In
line with the technology that will be used to support your learning and teaching within the Law
School, your assessments will also be conducted online. This will be done through the use of
innovative assessment platforms; this reflects the wider technological changes that have taken
place in legal practice.
Internally, we wanted to design a programme with a wide range and variety of assessments,
recognising that the traditional 3 hour hand written exam does not allow all learners to best
demonstrate their knowledge and understanding. In order to promote deep learning (rather than
a surface approach learning) and prepare you for the practice of law we have designed a very
practice focused approach to assessments, where you will be required to undertake professional
tasks to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of a given area. This may be very
different to the more academic assessment strategy that a lot of you may be used to from you
study at undergraduate level.
Across the programme the assessment methods used comprise of:
short-form questions, requiring evaluation and explanation of the law and/or application
of the law to short-form client based scenarios;
professional, practice-based written assessments focusing on specific topics within a
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BPP University Law School:
module syllabus;
research-based coursework;
oral assessment; and
MCQs (as discussed before)
All of the assessment methods involve realistic client scenarios, which reflect contemporary legal
practice, and are set in the context of the different legal employers. You will be required to review,
analysis and evaluate legal documentation as part of this.
By completing these different assessment methods across the programme as a whole you will
have the opportunity to demonstrate the breadth of your knowledge as well as the depth of your
conceptual understanding of the law and your ability to apply the law to a given professional task
effectively. Due to the varied nature of the assessments you will also be able to demonstrate your
proficiency in a range of foundational legal skills, including research, written and oral
communication.
We will now consider how each of the individual modules are assessed.
PGDL Part 1: Module Assessments
Part 1 of the PGDL programme consists of Public Law 1, Contract Law, Tort Law and Company Law.
Students studying the PT PGDL will be studying Public 1 and Contract Law in term 1 of Part 1 and
then Tort and Company in term 2 of their Part 1 of the Programme.
Each of these modules is assessed by way of one 2 hour written exam.
40% of each of these assessments comprises scenario based MCQs. These will assess the breadth
of your understanding of a module and will be drawn from across the entire syllabus of a module.
These also replicate the style of MCQs on the external professional assessments should you
progress onto either the solicitors or barristers vocational training course. You will have plenty of
opportunities to practice MCQS for each of the assessments as part of formative assessment,
which will be explained in a moment.
The remaining 60% of the module exam will comprise a practice-based written task. For example,
a matter analysis task which requires you to review documents in relation to a particular client
matter, to identify the legal issues and risks, and to report on these risks applying your knowledge
of the law to the information provided. Tasks of this nature require an in-depth understanding of
the foundational legal principles, as well as an ability to execute a given task to a professional
level. An advance release materials pack for each of these assessments, which will be released
several weeks before the exam, will enable you to identify some of the legal areas being assessed
in depth as part of the professional task. This will enable you to conduct focused in-depth revision
on certain parts of the syllabus, which you can identify as being assessed in this written part.
You will be expected to demonstrate legal skills in each of these tasks, and will be assessed on
your legal writing and problem solving skills in each of these Part 1 modules, with 12% of each
module mark allocated to skills. You FLS module which is taught in both parts of the programme,
will develop your skills in both legal writing and problem solving during part 1 of the programme.
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BPP University Law School:
This method of assessment will prepare you well for the professional tasks you will be expected to
complete in your further professional legal education and in practice.
PGDL Part 2: Module Assessments
Now to consider Part 2 of the PGDL Programme.
Students studying the FT programme will study these 4 modules together. Part time students will
study Public Law 2 and Crime together in their first term of Part 2 and then Land and Trusts law
together in their second term of Part 2 of the programme.
Public Law 2 is assessed entirely by way of a Legal research coursework - Research skills are
fundamental to any legal professional and therefore developing research skills at this first stage in
your legal education will support you in your future career success, regardless of whether you
wish to train as a solicitor or a barrister. 20% of the mark for this coursework will assess your legal
research skills, which you will develop in the FLS module at the same time as studying Public Law
2.
Crime is assessed by way of both an MCQ exam (which comprises 40% of the overall mark) and a
separate oral assessment, which comprise 60% of the overall module mark. Good oral
communication skills are critical to all forms of legal practice and as part of your oral assessment,
your oral communication skills will be assessed.
You will have the opportunity to develop your oral communication skills in preparation for this
assessment during your FLS module, which you will study at the same time.
Land and Trust each have a 1 hour MCQ exam, which will assess breadth of knowledge of the
module. The remaining 60% of both Land and Trusts in assessed by way of a combined
assessment. This is a combined assessment task for Land Law and Trusts Law. This assessment will
require you to consider a realistic, client-based scenario and to correctly identify the precise legal
issues (which will cover both Land and Trusts law issues) and to accurately apply the relevant
law. You will receive an advance release client file prior to the assessment, from which you will be
able to apply your understanding of both subjects to identify the legal issues raised. In the exam,
you will be required to undertake a professional task, such a drafting a file note for your
supervisor. 20% of this combined assessment will assess your skills in advanced problem solving,
case analysis and written communication.
PGDL Award
If you pass each of the 8 modules across both parts of the programme you will be awarded a PG
diploma in Law. In terms of weighting, each of the 8 core modules counts equally towards your
overall mark. This means each of the 8 modules in Parts 1 & 2 of the programme are worth 12.5%
of the overall mark.
There are four classifications for postgraduate awards: distinction, merit, pass and fail.
If you achieve an average percentage mark across all 8 modules of between 50% and less than
60% - you will be awarded a pass. If your average percentage mark is between 60% and less than
70%* you will be awarded a merit. In order to be awarded a distinction, you must achieve an
average percentage mark of 70%* or above.
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BPP University Law School:
You must pass all modules at the first attempt in order to attain a merit or distinction.
For more information about how your final award is calculated, you are referred to BPP’s Manual
of Procedures and Policies and the Programme Handbook.
LLM Award
Completing the PGDL awards you 120 masters level credits. Those of you enrolled onto the LLM
will then go on to complete either part 1 of the STC, Part 1 of the BTC or a professional project
each of which are a further 60 credits at masters level. The % mark you achieve in this second
stage of your masters programme would be weighed with the 2 parts of the conversion course to
determine your final award on the LLM. As with the PGDL, you final award would be a Fail, Pass,
Merit or Distinction
Formative Assessment
Each of the 8 core modules on the PGDL has continuous formative assessment. Formative
assessments do not count towards the final results for your module or programme; instead, they
are developmental. They are an opportunity for you to consolidate your understanding of your
learning and prepare for the final summative assessments.
They provide you with feedback on your performance, giving guidance on how it can be improved.
In addition to formative feedback on your performance, you might also be required to reflect
(personally) on how your performance might be improved or maintained.
Each module has two formal components to formative assessment:
1. Formative MCQs. As part of your consolidation of each workshop for a core module, you
will be directed to complete 5 assessment level MCQs in BPP Adapt. These are individual
elements in adapt, which just contain practice assessment style MCQs in respect of the
topic are have covered in that workshop. They are therefore an opportunity for you to
consolidate your learning of a topic; see how the topic could be assessed by MCQ; and
practice your skill of answering MCQs. Of course, you are able to revisit these again and
again as part of your continuous consolidation/revision for a module. You will gain
feedback in respect of the answer you submit for an MCQ. If you get the answer wrong,
the feedback will not just tell you the correct answer, rather it will direct you to what you
need to revisit and/or explain why the answer selected was wrong. This approach
encourages you to go back to the materials to understand why you picked the wrong
answer and therefore allows you to try the question again. This approach (although
occasionally frustrating) is supported by learning theory and promotes deeper learning of
the content, which means the information is much more likely to be retained.
2. In addition to the formative MCQs, each module has a Written component (or oral in the
case of crime). This will reflect the same structure and style of any corresponding
summative assessment. This is therefore an excellent opportunity to prepare for the
summative assessment. There will be a window of several weeks in which you can
complete the formative assessment. During this assessment window you can complete
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BPP University Law School:
the formative assessments at anytime, but once you start one, you will have to complete it
in timed conditions, replicating the summative assessment. Once you have completed the
formative assessment, you will be required to engage with the marking criteria and self
assess your assessment using the marking guide and criteria that tutors use. This is an
important part of the formative, which will enable you to identify your own strengths and
weaknesses and engage with the marking criteria which you are being judged against. You
will then receive formative feedback from a tutor.
Although each module has these two formal components to formative assessment, do remember
that formative assessment might take many forms and so too might formative feedback. You
might, for example, receive: verbal feedback provided by tutors or peers in workshops; generic
feedback provided to all students following completion of a particular exercise or activity; or
feedback provided in response to online single best answer question tests. These are all
opportunities for you to reflect on your performance and how it can be improved for the final
summative assessment.
Summary
This brings us to the end of this recording of assessments on the PGDL Programme.
You should now understand the assessment strategy and methodology of the programme, how
each module is assessed in overview, what you will be marked against, and the role of formative
assessment on the programme.
We suggest you spend some time reading the level 7 marking criteria against which you will be
assessed which is contained in Appendix 4 of the Programme Handbook. Further information
about how each module is assessed is also found within the module outlines and module
information video.
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