Politics and Law ATAR Course Year 12 Syllabus (2013/33191 [v8], for teaching from 2025)
Units 3 and 4 are assessed through school-based tasks (Investigation 10%, Short answer 15%, Essay 15%, Source analysis 20%, Examination 40% of the school mark) and one ATAR course examination (10 minutes reading time, 3 hours working time) that is combined with the moderated school mark. The 2026 examination has three sections, and the raw marks equal the percentages: Section One, Short answer (answer three of four questions, each 10 marks in three parts, 45 minutes, 30%); Section Two, Source analysis (answer one of two questions, each built on a written source and worth 20 marks in four parts that increase in complexity, 35 minutes, 20%); Section Three, Essay (answer one of two Part A: Unit 3 questions and one of two Part B: Unit 4 questions, 25 marks each, 50 minutes each, 50%). Only standard writing items are permitted: pens, pencils, sharpener, correction fluid or tape, eraser, ruler and highlighters. No calculators, notes or copies of the Constitution.
Past papers on this subject span more than one syllabus. Papers written under an older one still work as practice, but the units and content areas they test have changed — the index labels every paper with the syllabus it was set under.
Year 12 syllabus 2013/33191 [v8], effective 1 January 2025 (current) · 2025–2026Earlier versions of the Year 12 syllabus (examined from the first WACE ATAR course examinations in 2016 to 2024) · 2016–2024
The units and content areas, one by one
Each area below lists the concepts named in the syllabus, what the SCSA exam asks of them, and the mistake that most often costs marks.
- Principles, Parliament and the executive (Unit 3)
- Lawmaking and the High Court (Unit 3)
- Federalism and constitutional change (Unit 3)
- Accountability (Unit 4)
- Rights and democratic principles (Unit 4)
Area 1 of 5
Principles, Parliament and the executive (Unit 3)
The foundations of Unit 3: responsible and representative government, the separation and division of powers, and Westminster conventions; legislative, executive and judicial power under the Constitution compared with one non-Westminster system; Parliament's functions in theory and practice (ss 7, 24, 51, 53); the Governor-General (ss 61-64, 68, 28, 57, 72 and 1975); the Prime Minister, Cabinet and Ministry; the Opposition and shadow ministry; and mandates, including competing mandates.
What the syllabus lists under this area · 6 points
- Principles: responsible and representative government, separation and division of powers, Westminster conventions
- Comparison with a non-Westminster system
- Functions of the Commonwealth Parliament (ss 7, 24, 51, 53)
- Governor-General roles and powers
- Prime Minister, Cabinet and the Ministry
- Opposition, shadow ministry and mandates
What the exam asks
2025 Section One asked for the constitutional versus Westminster executive and the meaning of responsible government, and for House versus Senate powers under s 53. A Part A essay asked whether prime ministerial power is unchecked across Prime Ministers since 2007. 2023 Section Two used a commentary on the multiple-portfolios episode to test conventions and representative and responsible government, and Section One tested the Opposition and mandates. A 2023 essay asked whether the Governor-General's powers are bound by convention or redundant.
Where marks go missing
Defining a principle in textbook terms but not applying it. Examiners repeatedly flagged 'responsible government' and 'Westminster system' as poorly understood. Say who is responsible to whom, through which convention, and give a recent example of it working or failing.
10 real SCSA questions indexed on this area →
Area 2 of 5
Lawmaking and the High Court (Unit 3)
How law is made in Parliament and in the courts, and who influences it: individuals (independents, ministers, citizens), political parties (party discipline, party room, minor parties in the Senate) and pressure groups. Also the High Court's roles and powers (ss 71, 72, 73, 75, 76), with at least one common law and one constitutional decision.
What the syllabus lists under this area · 2 points
- Influence of individuals, parties and pressure groups on lawmaking
- High Court roles, powers and decisions
What the exam asks
2024 Section One asked for an individual's influence on lawmaking and a recent pressure group example; a 2025 essay asked whether partisanship has improved Commonwealth lawmaking; 2022 asked whether parties outweigh pressure groups. The 2021 source question tested special leave and High Court jurisdictions.
Where marks go missing
Using a pressure group or court example with no outcome. The marks go for showing how the influence changed (or failed to change) a specific bill or legal rule, and the 2024 report notes candidates ignored the 'lawmaking process' focus.
2 real SCSA questions indexed on this area →
Area 3 of 5
Federalism and constitutional change (Unit 3)
Federalism: exclusive, concurrent and residual powers (ss 51, 52, 90, 107, 109); Commonwealth financial powers (ss 51(ii), 87, 90, 92, 96); how the balance has shifted since 1901 through vertical fiscal imbalance and HFE, referral of powers, COAG and National Cabinet with Ministerial Councils, co-operative versus coercive federalism, and High Court interpretation (external affairs, corporations, taxation); constitutional change by referendum (s 128), High Court decisions, referral and unchallenged legislation; at least one reform proposal; and contemporary issues of political and legal power.
What the syllabus lists under this area · 4 points
- Constitutional and financial powers
- Change in the federal balance (VFI, COAG/National Cabinet, High Court interpretation)
- Formal and informal constitutional change
- Reform proposals and contemporary issues
What the exam asks
2025 Section Two used an academic extract on pandemic-era federalism and asked students to evaluate National Cabinet; 2022 asked students to evaluate two High Court judgments on federalism. Essays tested referendums as a strength (2024), High Court interpretation with financial and non-financial cases (2023) and formal and informal change (2022).
Where marks go missing
Writing a prepared referendum history. The 2024 report says prepared essays missed the focus on the 'process' of formal change. Answer the claim in front of you, and for federalism questions name the head of power and the case.
3 real SCSA questions indexed on this area →
Area 4 of 5
Accountability (Unit 4)
The practices of governance (participation, rule of law, human rights, open government, natural justice) and accountability across all three branches: Parliament (elections, Privileges Committees, procedures, judicial review); the Executive and public servants (IMR, CMR, Senate Estimates and another committee, the Auditor-General, the ART, judicial review); the Governor-General (appointment, removal, 1975, Hollingworth); and the courts (appeals, parliamentary scrutiny, transparency and public confidence, s 72).
What the syllabus lists under this area · 5 points
- Practices of governance
- Accountability of the Commonwealth Parliament
- Accountability of the Executive
- Accountability of the Governor-General
- Accountability of the courts
What the exam asks
Accountability appears every year: 2025 essays on judicial review and elections (Parliament) and IMR/CMR (Executive), and a short answer on the appeals process; 2024 on censure, naming and the High Court's role, plus a source question evaluating the Governor-General's accountability through the Hollingworth affair; 2023 on Senate Estimates, another committee and the Privileges Committees.
Where marks go missing
Confusing parliamentary accountability with executive accountability. The 2023 and 2025 reports both flag this. Parliament is held to account by voters, the courts and its own privilege processes; the Executive is held to account by Parliament, auditors, tribunals and courts.
9 real SCSA questions indexed on this area →
Area 5 of 5
Rights and democratic principles (Unit 4)
How human rights are protected in Australia (Constitution, common law, statute, the Victorian, ACT and Queensland charters) and in one other country; the status of international covenants, protocols and treaties; how Australia and one other country uphold or undermine political representation, popular participation, the rule of law, judicial independence and natural justice; and the changing political and legal rights of a particular group in Australia.
What the syllabus lists under this area · 4 points
- Human rights protection in Australia and international instruments
- Rights and democratic principles in one other country
- Democratic principles in Australia
- Changing rights of a particular group
What the exam asks
2025 asked about a group's changing legal rights and the denial of natural justice, plus a source on electing judges abroad leading to an evaluation of Australia and the rule of law. 2024 tested international instruments, with essays on participation and judicial independence in Australia and one other country, and on statutes versus judgments for a particular group. A 2023 essay asked how far the system protects human rights.
Where marks go missing
Treating 'one other country' as optional, or describing Australia only. Comparative questions need parallel evidence for both countries on each named principle, then a judgement on the extent of each.
6 real SCSA questions indexed on this area →
Common questions
Which syllabus applies to the 2026 exam?
The Year 12 syllabus 2013/33191 [v8], effective 1 January 2025. It was first examined in 2025. It names the Administrative Review Tribunal (previously the AAT) and National Cabinet with Ministerial Councils, so check older papers for outdated terms.
How is the exam structured?
Three hours plus ten minutes reading. Section One: answer three of four short-answer questions (10 marks each). Section Two: answer one of two source-analysis questions (20 marks). Section Three: one Unit 3 essay and one Unit 4 essay, each chosen from two (25 marks each). Total 100 marks, and the raw marks equal the section percentages (30/20/50).
How are the essays marked?
With a 25-mark guide: explaining terms and setting the parameters (5), discussing relevant issues with pertinent examples (10), evaluation, assessment or analysis linked to the question's terms (8), and a conclusion that draws the argument together (2). Every recent report warns that narrative essays score poorly.
How recent do my examples need to be?
The design brief lets questions ask for contemporary issues (the last three years) and recent issues (the last ten years). Questions often say 'in recent years' or 'since 2007'. Keep a checked evidence bank for each dot point and make sure every example is accurate. The reports tell teachers to fact-check examples.
Do I need to study another country?
Yes. Unit 3 compares Australia with one non-Westminster system, and Unit 4 examines rights protection and democratic principles in one other country. Recent questions in both units have asked for another country by name.
What do these practice papers not cover?
School-based assessment (the investigation and in-class tasks) sits outside the ATAR course examination. Practice papers use original constructed sources rather than SCSA's copyrighted extracts, and they contain no multiple choice. The multiple-choice bank is revision only.