WJEC | Level 3 Criminology | 2025 predictions

We’re bringing them out to you as quickly as possible. Don’t forget you can wishlist your papers so you’re the first to know when they are out!

We are back for the second year with Criminology papers to help you with your revision.

Laura, my Head of Criminology, has looked at the trends and patterns that have come up in the past. She’s done a really thorough analysis of the topics and questions that have appeared in previous exam seasons and has used this to write criminology predicted papers for this year.

Follow the link in the description below and this will take you to all the predicted papers that we have available.

In addition to this she has done video a walkthrough of both papers (Unit 2 and Unit 4) so you can see what a top mark band answer looks like in Criminology. These will also talk you through the skills you’ll need to interpret the questions and know how to structure your answers.

You’ll see questions in the same style as those in the exams and be able to unpick what they are actually asking, what needs to be included in your responses and how these should be structured. Then you’ll be ready to do exactly the same in the actual exam!

Please remember to revise everything as these are just predictions. We don’t have any additional information or know anything in advance of the exams - we have not seen the real papers!

Unit 2: Criminological Theories Predictions

Norms and Values: Understand the difference between norms and values. Norms are the expected standards of behaviour in a society, while values are the underlying beliefs that guide these norms. Be prepared to provide examples of each and explain how they influence behaviour. For instance, norms might include queueing politely, while values could be the belief in fairness and equality that underpins this behaviour.

Social and Legal Definitions of Crime: Know the distinction between social and legal definitions of crime. Social definitions refer to societal views on what constitutes criminal behaviour, while legal definitions are formalised in law. Be able to explain examples such as how drug use is criminalised legally but may not be viewed as a crime in certain social contexts, like medical marijuana use.

How and Why Laws Change Over Time: Be familiar with examples of laws that have evolved, such as changes in laws regarding same-sex marriage or cannabis decriminalisation. Understand the factors driving these changes, including shifts in public opinion, scientific advances, and political lobbying. Illustrate with specific historical or recent examples to demonstrate how and why these changes occur.

Application of Laws in Different Circumstances: Be prepared to explain how laws can be applied differently depending on the context. For example, the application of self-defence laws might vary depending on the circumstances of the threat and the perceived level of force used. Have clear examples ready to show how situational factors can affect legal outcomes.

Physiological Theories of Crime: Study physiological theories, which fall under biological theories. Understand key theories like Lombroso’s theory of the ‘born criminal’ or the XYY chromosome theory. Be able to describe these theories, apply them to scenarios, and critically evaluate their strengths and limitations. For instance, while Lombroso’s theory was pioneering, it faced criticism for its deterministic approach and lack of scientific robustness.

Campaigns Informing Policy Development: Focus on newspaper campaigns and their impact on policy development. Be able to discuss examples such as the News of the World’s campaign for Sarah’s Law or The Sun’s "Justice for the 96" campaign. Explain how these campaigns mobilised public opinion and influenced legislative changes, providing concrete examples of policy outcomes resulting from media pressure.

Sociological Theory Informing Policy Development: Review how sociological theories like Merton’s Strain Theory and Labelling Theory have informed policy. Understand how these theories have led to policies such as educational programmes and decriminalisation efforts. Provide examples of how these theories have shaped policies and assess their effectiveness in addressing the root causes of crime.

Best Advice:

Be Specific: When preparing for the exam, ensure your examples and explanations are specific and detailed. Broad generalisations may not fully address the questions.

Use Evidence: Back up your points with precise data, examples, and theoretical explanations. For instance, when discussing physiological theories, include both historical and contemporary examples.

Apply Theories: Be able to apply theories to practical scenarios, demonstrating their real-world implications and effectiveness.

Practice Critical Evaluation: For higher marks, practice evaluating the strengths and limitations of theories and policies, and consider both sides of arguments where applicable.

Finally, remember that questions can also ask about material covered in other units – some questions will be synoptic. Review your knowledge from Unit 1 too! These are likely to be just short answer questions, 1,2, 3 maybe 4 marks – but can still make a big difference to your final mark.

Unit 4: Crime and Punishment Predictions

Internal and external social control: Know the difference between the two – internal and external social control and make sure you have examples that you could present in an answer. Remember that the specification is quite clear about different types of social control – for example, the spec lists tradition, rational ideology and internalisation of social rules as types of internal social control. Be prepared for questions about a specific type of social control and not just internal and external.

Crimes committed by those with moral imperatives: Be able to explain why people commit crimes and link this to their ethical principles and doing what they believe is morally correct. Have case examples ready to use to illustrate this further – this could include The Stansted 15, Kay Gilderdale and even The Suffragettes!

Relationships between different agencies: You need to how different agencies work together within the criminal justice system. Make these links really specific and avoid general things that ALL of the agencies would do. Questions here won’t be tricky, they’ll include agencies that have obvious links – for example the police, the CPS and the courts – you just need to make sure that the knowledge you present is really specific and shows off your deep understanding of their roles.

Models of criminal justice: Make sure you can give a clear explanation of both the due process AND crime control model of criminal justice. Be prepared to answer a 6 mark question and practice identifying which model is in action in different scenarios.

Reparation as an aim of punishment: Be ready to explain what reparation is and how it acts as a form of punishment. Include examples of reparation – financial compensation, restorative justice programmes and community service projects. For those very top responses in extended questions – make links to theory – labelling theory and functionalism are great to use when discussing reparation.

Fine meetings to aims of punishment: You should be able to link fines to the different aims of punishment – the obvious aims here at deterrence and retribution. In a question like this, take each aim of punishment in turn and link it directly back to fines. Having data to use as evidence is always really useful in questions like this – information on how successful they have been for example.

Working practices of the prison service: The specification makes it really clear what is meant by “working practices” – this includes types of criminality, types of offenders and local and national reach. This means that you need to know what types of crimes do people go to prison for and what types of offenders are in prison and how there are different prisons for different types of people. You should also be able to talk about the numbers of prisons that are active and the different categories.

Gaps in state provision affecting social control: Make sure you can quickly identify what the gaps in provision are – this could include limited resources, budget cuts, new technologies being introduced and the heavy use of social media. And then be prepared to explain how each of these are limiting agencies in achieving social control. Have up-to-date data and statistics to illustrate the problems.

Effectiveness of the police and the prison service in achieving social control: It’s important to note for this topic that it’s focused on social control and NOT the aims of punishment. Make sure you’re always reading the questions carefully and fully understand what it’s asking for. When it comes to effectiveness you’ll need to present a balanced argument – so consider how the police and prisons HAVE been effective but always instances where they have been ineffective too. Again, consider the evidence that you have available to support the arguments you make – always have some data and up-to-data statistics available.

Finally, remember that questions can also ask about material covered in other units – some questions will be synoptic. Review your knowledge from Unit 1, 2 and 3 too! These are likely to be just short answer questions, 1,2, 3 maybe 4 marks – but can still make a big difference to your final mark.

If you're preparing for the WJEC Level 3 Criminology qualification, you've come to the right place! This guide will help you navigate the course, understand the exams, and maximise your revision efforts.

Top Advice

1. Know Your Syllabus: Familiarise yourself with the specification to ensure you’ve covered everything.

2. Practice Makes Perfect: Regularly attempt past and practice papers to refine your exam technique.

3. Time Management: Allocate time for revision and ensure you're practising answering questions within exam time limits.

4. Understand the Assessment Objectives (AOs): Focus on applying knowledge, evaluating evidence, and constructing clear arguments.

5. Stay Organised: Use a revision planner to track your progress and ensure you’re reviewing weaker areas.

How Many Criminology Papers Are There?

WJEC Level 3 Criminology has two exam papers, each testing different aspects of the course. Here’s the breakdown:

• Unit 2: Criminological Theories

  • Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

  • Focus: Understanding why people commit crime, exploring biological, sociological, and psychological theories.

  • Format: Combination of short and extended response questions.

• Unit 4: Crime and Punishment

  • Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

  • Focus: Understanding crime control, punishment, and how criminal behaviour is dealt with in society.

  • Format: Short answer questions, extended writing, and case study analysis.

Each unit carries significant weight, so a balanced approach to revision is essential.

When Are the 2025 Criminology Exam Dates?

• Unit 2 Exam Date: 15th May

• Unit 4 Exam Date: 5th June

Check with your exam centre for confirmation of dates and times.

WJEC Criminology Syllabus Checklist

Here’s a quick checklist to ensure you’ve covered all areas of the course:

Unit 1: Changing Awareness of Crime

• Types of crime

• Reasons crimes are unreported

• Campaigns for change

Unit 2: Criminological Theories

• The social construction of criminality

• Biological theories of crime

• Individualistic theories of crime

• Sociological theories of crime

• Policies for crime prevention

Unit 3: Crime Scene to Courtroom (Internally assessed)

• Processes in criminal investigations

• Evidence collection and preservation

• The trial process

• The roles of personnel involved in criminal cases

Unit 4: Crime and Punishment

• Law-making processes

• Models of criminal justice

• Forms of punishment

• Evaluating the effectiveness of punishment

Tick off topics as you study to ensure comprehensive coverage.

WJEC Criminology Practice Papers

Practising past papers is one of the best ways to prepare for your exams. These simulate real exam conditions and help you get comfortable with question styles and time constraints.

• Where to Find Them:

  • WJEC website

  • Online learning platforms like Primrose Kitten Academy

  • Revision guides and workbooks

• Benefits of Practice Papers:

  • Improve time management

  • Identify strengths and weaknesses

  • Familiarise yourself with mark schemes and how to maximise your scores

For the best results, review your answers with a mark scheme and seek feedback to improve.

Final Thoughts

WJEC Level 3 Criminology is a fascinating and rewarding course, but success depends on consistent effort and smart revision. Remember to stay organised, take regular breaks, and prioritise your mental health.

Good luck! You’ve got this! 🌟