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to complete a group task which requires the development and display of skills required in the field of
business, especially as it relates to legal aspects. The fact that the grade received for this task is
applicable to all members of the group was also seen as a revolutionary and futuristic position to be
assumed by the Council since the results of tasks undertaken in the real world usually have
implications for the team.

16. Mr Mitchell, Attorney-at-Law and Lecturer at the T.A. Marryshow Community College in
Grenada, stated that in most part the changes to the syllabus provide more clarity and scope needed,
but he felt that ‘Internal Assessments are necessary and its [sic] importance should not be
downplayed.’ He went on to suggest that the word limit should remain the same 2,500 on the grounds
that ‘any reduction in the word limit for this discipline would not be in the best interest of the student’.
His justification was also that ‘based on the topics chosen, such a word limit would not allow for
sufficient depth, and students should be allowed to demonstrate their knowledge and analytical skills
which is necessary at this level’. Mr LaTouche, on his part, thought that the syllabus was
comprehensive and recommended that in Unit 1 Module 3: Criminal Law Aiding and Abetting should
be added under the heading of Inchoate Offences, as well as Accident should be added to the existing
list under the heading Defences available in Criminal Law.

17. The Panel decided to comply with the SBA Policy regarding word count, and set the word limit
for the SBA at 1,500. They also added Aiding and Abetting under the heading of Inchoate Offences,
and Accident to the list of defences to be addressed in the syllabus (see details at Appendix III).

DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIMEN PAPERS

18. The Assistant Registrar/Examinations Development and Production Division (EDPD) guided
the meeting on the outline of assessment for the syllabus. She advised the members of the Panel that
Paper 01 will still consist of 45 multiple choice items. However, the Assistant Registrar/EDPD
recommended to the Panel that consideration should be given to changing the format of Paper 02 to
allow for streamlining the assessment of the syllabus with other CAPE® syllabuses and the policy of
the Council regarding the psychometric robustness of Paper 02 as well as to facilitate online
assessment. Consequently, in this revised syllabus, Paper 02 consists of three compulsory extended-
response questions with one based on each Module. These are also divided into sections which require
candidates to provide responses which span the knowledge, comprehension and application levels on
the Bloom’s Taxonomy.

19. In the case of Paper 031, the SBA, candidates are now required to work in groups to conduct
their research, as well as compile and submit the resulting report which should not exceed 1,500
words. The SBA task is based on any topic covered in any of the three Modules of the Unit. No changes
were made to Paper 032, the alternative to the SBA, and which is written by private candidates. This
Paper focuses on topics prescribed for each Year and Unit, consists of one compulsory question which
may be divided into parts, and is expected to test skills similar to those tested by Paper 031.

20. The Assistant Registrar/EDPD reminded the Panel that the Specimen Papers were essential as
they would help to clarify the assessment specifications and guide the Examining Committee; thus the
rubrics of the Specimen Papers and Mark Schemes must be clear and of a high quality. She then shared
samples of ideal test items and guided the Panel in constructing the Specimen Papers, Mark Schemes
and the Answer Keys in accordance with the amendments made to the syllabus (see details at
Appendix III).

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