AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies Paper 2, June 2025: Question 8
8 marks · Medium difficulty · Short Answer
Identify sentences for youth crimes, name mitigating factors in sentencing, and describe differences between a Youth Court and a Magistrates' Court using Source G.
Practise this questionQuestion
Question text
08 Source F
Youth crimes
A: ‘13-year-old found guilty of B: ‘15-year-old involved in county
antisocial behaviour after local lines.’
park vandalised for third time.’
C: ‘Teens told to ‘stay away’ from D: ‘Youth aged 14 found guilty of
shops after antisocial behaviour senseless murder.’
complaints.’
08.1 Which one of the youth crimes in Source F would be likely to result in a
reparation order?
[1 mark]
Shade in the one correct answer.
A B C D
08.2 Which one of the youth crimes in Source F would be likely to result in a custodial
sentence at a Young Offender Institution?
[1 mark]
Shade in the one correct answer.
A B C D
08.3 Identify two mitigating factors that a youth court might consider when sentencing a
young person.
[2 marks]
08.4 Source G
Magistrates’ Court
A Magistrates’ Court usually deals with those who are over 18 years old. They are
different from Youth Courts.
• Magistrates’ Courts are three magistrates which are called ‘the bench’.
• Magistrates’ Courts are held formally. Magistrates are addressed as ‘sir’
or ‘madam’.
• Since Magistrates’ Courts deal with adults, there is no requirement for parents to
*16*attend as the person is already an adult.
• Magistrates’ Courts are open to the public. A visitor may observe the case and
the press may attend if it is of public interest.
• Usually, only the defendant’s solicitor will attend. Other agencies will support
after the case has concluded.
Describe two ways a Youth Court is different from a Magistrates’ Court.
You should refer to Source G in your answer.
[4 marks]
Mark scheme
Show the mark scheme
Total
Qu Part Marking guidance
marks
08 1 Which one of the youth crimes in Source F would be likely to result 1
in a reparation order?
Correct response: A ‘13-year-old found guilty of
antisocial behaviour after local park vandalised for third time.’
AO1 = 1
Total
Qu Part Marking guidance
marks
08 2 Which one of the youth crimes in Source F would be likely to result 1
in a custodial sentence at a Young Offender Institution?
Correct response: D ‘Youth aged 14 found guilty of senseless murder.’
AO1 = 1
Total
Qu Part Marking guidance
marks
08 3 Identify two mitigating factors that a youth court might consider 2
when sentencing a young person.
Award 1 mark for each correctly identified mitigating factor (×2).
• A greater degree of provocation than normally expected.
• Mental health conditions or disability.
• Youth or age, where it affects the responsibility of the individual
defendant.
• The fact that the offender played only a minor role in the offence.
• Genuine remorse.
• Admissions to police in interview.
• Ready cooperation with authority.
Accept any other appropriate response.
AO1 = 2
Total
Qu Part Marking guidance
marks
08 4 Describe two ways a Youth Court is different from a Magistrates’ 4
Court.
You should refer to Source G in your answer.
Award 1 mark for identifying a difference and 1 mark for developing a
description of the difference (×2).
How a Youth Court is different
Source G
18 from a Magistrates’ Court
Magistrates’ Courts are three A district judge and/or lay
magistrates which are called ‘the magistrates may hear the case.
bench’.
Magistrates’ Courts are held The court room is less formal, eg
formally. Magistrates are people use their first names.
addressed as ‘sir’ or ‘madam’.
Since Magistrates’ Courts deal Parents or carers must attend.
with adults, there is no
requirement for parents to attend
as the person is already an adult.
Magistrates’ Courts are open to The courtroom is private, no
the public. A visitor may observe visitors or press attend.
the case and the press may
attend if it is of public interest.
Usually, only the defendant’s Other agencies are invited, such
solicitor will attend. Other as the youth offending team
agencies will support after the worker.
case has concluded.
NB Accept the age of the defendant as a valid difference
AO2 = 4
How to answer it
Youth Justice & Court Procedures Study Guide
What this question tests
This question assesses your understanding of the youth justice system in England and Wales under AO1 (Recall and Knowledge) and AO2 (Application to Context):
- Types of youth disposals and sentences (reparation orders vs. custodial sentences).
- Sentencing guidelines and mitigating factors that reduce penalty severity.
- Key procedural differences between an adult Magistrates' Court and a specialised Youth Court using source information.
Reparation Orders in Youth Justice
Which crime in Source F would be likely to result in a reparation order?
✅ Correct Answer
A: '13-year-old found guilty of antisocial behaviour after local park vandalised for third time.'
💡 Key Knowledge
A reparation order requires the young offender to repair the harm caused by their offence (up to 24 hours of work), such as:
- Cleaning graffiti or repairing damaged park equipment.
- Writing a letter of apology to the victim or community.
❌ Common Errors
- Confusing a reparation order with a custodial sentence (murder in D is far too serious for a reparation order).
- Choosing C: Simply being "told to stay away" is an informal dispersal or warning, not a formal court-mandated reparation order.
Custodial Sentences for Young Offenders
Which crime in Source F would be likely to result in a custodial sentence at a Young Offender Institution (YOI)?
✅ Correct Answer
D: 'Youth aged 14 found guilty of senseless murder.'
💡 Key Knowledge
- Custodial sentences for youths are a last resort and reserved strictly for grave crimes (e.g., homicide, serious violence).
- 15- to 21-year-olds (and 14-year-olds convicted of grave crimes) can be detained in a Secure Training Centre (STC) or Young Offender Institution (YOI) via a Detention and Training Order (DTO) or section 250 sentence.
🧠 Exam Technique
Look for the severity of the offence. Murder is an indictable-only offence of the utmost gravity, automatically warranting custody even for a juvenile.
Sentencing: Mitigating Factors
Identify two mitigating factors that a youth court might consider when sentencing a young person.
✅ Valid Mark Scheme Points (Any 2)
- Genuine remorse shown by the young person.
- Early guilty plea or ready admissions/cooperation with police during interview.
- Minor or secondary role played in the offence (e.g., peer pressure, coerced by older criminals).
- Mental health conditions, learning difficulties, or disabilities.
- Youth or vulnerability affecting their level of maturity and responsibility.
- High level of provocation prior to the act.
❌ Common Errors & Misconceptions
- Confusing aggravating vs. mitigating: Aggravating factors make sentences harsher (e.g., carrying a weapon, previous convictions). Mitigating factors make them more lenient.
- Giving vague answers: Just writing "they are nice" or "they said sorry" without specifying remorse or full cooperation.
Comparing Youth Court vs. Magistrates' Court
Describe two ways a Youth Court is different from a Magistrates' Court. You should refer to Source G in your answer.
📐 Source G Comparison Matrix
| Adult Magistrates' Court (Source G) | Youth Court (Your Description) |
|---|---|
| Open to the public and the press. | Private and closed: Members of the public are excluded, and press reporting restrictions protect the youth's identity. |
| Parents are not required to attend as defendant is an adult. | Parents/carers must attend if the young person is under 16 (and are expected to attend up to 18). |
| Formal atmosphere (addressed as 'sir' or 'madam'). | Less formal: Lawyers and judges do not wear wigs/gowns; first names are often used to reduce intimidation. |
| Only the solicitor attends; other agencies help after case. | Multi-agency involvement: Youth Offending Team (YOT) officers and social workers attend the hearing directly. |
| Three lay magistrates ("the bench"). | Heard by a specially trained District Judge or specially trained youth magistrates. |
✅ Model Full-Mark Answer
Difference 1:
Source G states that Magistrates' Courts are open to the public, whereas a Youth Court is held in private [1 mark]. This means ordinary members of the public cannot observe, and strict reporting restrictions prevent journalists from naming or identifying the youth [1 mark].
Difference 2:
Source G notes that parents do not need to attend Magistrates' Court, whereas in a Youth Court, parents or guardians are legally required to attend with the child [1 mark]. This ensures parental responsibility is taken and the court can address family circumstances when deciding a rehabilitation plan [1 mark].
🧠 Examiner Commentary & Technique
- Quote or reference the source directly: The question states "You should refer to Source G". Always contrast what Source G says about the Magistrates' Court directly with the rule in the Youth Court.
- Two-step structure: For each point, write:
1) "Source G points out that adult court does [X], but in youth court it is [Y]..."
2) "This means that..." (add extra detail or explanation). - Lost Marks: Candidates frequently lost marks by only describing the adult court from the text without stating what actually happens in the Youth Court.
Topics
3.3 Rights and responsibilities · 3.3.2 What are a citizen's rights and responsibilities within the legal system? · 3.3.3 How has the law developed over time, and how does the law protect the citizen and deal with criminals?
Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies examination, Paper 2, June 2025. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.