Information reviewed 22 August 2026
The module
What is LA1040 Contract Law?
LA1040 is the University of London's Level 4 Contract Law module. It is compulsory on both the Standard Entry and Graduate Entry LLB routes and is also a compulsory module on the Graduate Diploma in Commercial Law. The University identifies Contract Law as one of the foundation subjects of legal knowledge.
The module is about more than remembering cases. You need to understand how an enforceable agreement is made, what obligations it contains, what may undermine it, when it comes to an end and what the law does when obligations are not performed. You must then use those principles to analyse unfamiliar facts and construct a legally supported answer.
October assessment
When is LA1040, and what is the 2026 format?
LA1040 Contract Law is listed for Monday 26 October 2026.
Check your own invitation for the time, delivery arrangements and any location-specific information.
The University's public course information says that Laws modules are assessed by typed examination and that the detailed format is made available on the Laws VLE. Publicly available 2026 module instructions describe two unseen elements:
Multiple-choice element
25 compulsory questions, to be completed within one hour once the online test is started.
Typed examination element
A compulsory directed problem question, followed by two answers selected from a choice of five questions.
Build the legal map
What should you revise for LA1040?
Start with the current module guide and turn its syllabus into a checklist. The topic map below reflects the publicly available LA1040 module description, but it is not a substitute for the version supplied to you on the VLE.
Formation and modification
Offer and acceptance, intention, consideration and changes to an existing bargain.
The content of the contract
Express and implied terms, classification, incorporation, interpretation and control of exclusion clauses.
Capacity
The capacity to contract, with particular attention to the position of minors.
Vitiating factors
Mistake, misrepresentation, duress and undue influence, including their effects and remedies.
Third parties
Privity of contract and the circumstances in which a third party may enforce a term.
Performance and discharge
Performance, breach, termination and frustration, including the consequences of discharge.
Remedies
Damages, causation, remoteness, mitigation, agreed remedies and relevant equitable relief.
Do not revise each topic as an isolated island. Many strong problem answers depend on connections: formation may lead to a dispute about terms; misrepresentation may sit alongside breach; termination questions may lead directly into damages; and third-party rights can change who is entitled to sue.
Live revision · 19 September
Turn knowledge into answers while there is still time to improve.
The online Contract Law Intensive is timed five weeks before the LA1040 assessment. Use it to consolidate the foundations, practise application and identify weaknesses early enough to address them.
A practical sequence
How I would prepare in the weeks before the exam
- 1Map the syllabus.
Use the current module guide to mark topics as secure, uncertain or not yet covered. Do not let favourite topics crowd out weaker areas.
- 2Rebuild weak foundations.
Use a clear video or written explanation, then return to the cases, statutes and module reading. Produce short rule-and-authority notes rather than a second textbook.
- 3Practise retrieval and application.
Move between MCQs, directed problems, longer problem questions and essays. Review why an answer worked, not merely whether it was correct.
- 4Work under time pressure.
Plan and write to the current format. Allocate time in advance, practise stopping when time expires and leave no required answer untouched.
- 5Finish with targeted review.
In the final fortnight, revisit recurring errors, difficult authorities and statutory provisions. Avoid replacing practice with indiscriminate rereading.
Free video teaching
Contract Law and LA1040 revision videos
Review the connected foundations of Contract Law
Use this as a structured overview, then test each area against your current LA1040 module guide and your own notes.
Watch directly on YouTube ↗Use it for general LA1040 preparation and exam technique, not for the current number, weighting or arrangement of questions.
Earlier guidance on preparing for the LA1040 examination
The broader advice on preparation remains useful. For the October 2026 structure, use the current VLE and assessment notice.
Watch directly on YouTube ↗Read alongside the videos
A written Contract Law revision resource
Contract Law for SQE1
This written guide was produced for SQE1, not specifically for LA1040. It is nevertheless useful for revising the central rules and relationships across English Contract Law. Check its coverage against the LA1040 module guide and add the wider reading and authorities required for your degree assessment.
Read the Contract Law guide ↗From law to marks
How to approach the different question types
Choose the best legal answer
- Identify the precise rule being tested before looking for a conclusion.
- Apply every material fact and eliminate answers that are legally possible but not best.
- Keep moving; flag uncertainty only if the platform and current instructions permit it.
Follow the task you are given
- Use the sub-questions or directions as your structure.
- State the rule and authority concisely, then apply them closely to the facts.
- Explain uncertainty and reach a reasoned conclusion for each issue.
Answer the question, not the topic
- For essays, take a position and organise authority around the proposition.
- For problems, analyse parties, issues, rules, application and remedies.
- Plan briefly, control time and preserve space for a conclusion.
Avoidable losses
Common mistakes in Contract Law revision
- Using an old format. Past papers and videos can teach law and technique, but only current instructions tell you what the 2026 assessment requires.
- Describing instead of applying. Accurate law earns limited credit if it is not used to resolve the facts or address the essay proposition.
- Ignoring statutes. Contract Law is case-heavy, but relevant statutory provisions must be understood accurately rather than mentioned superficially.
- Revising topics in isolation. Real problems often cross formation, terms, vitiating factors, discharge and remedies.
- Leaving practice too late. Writing under time pressure is a separate skill and needs rehearsal before the final week.
Before 26 October
Final LA1040 preparation checklist
- I have checked the current LA1040 module guide and VLE instructions.
- I know the current weighting, timing and submission arrangements.
- I can identify the main rule and authority across every syllabus area.
- I have practised MCQs and reviewed the reasons behind wrong answers.
- I have planned and written directed problems under timed conditions.
- I have practised both problem and essay responses.
- I know my recurring weaknesses and have a short final-review list.
Quick answers
Frequently asked LA1040 questions
When is the LA1040 Contract Law assessment in October 2026?+
The University of London assessment timetable lists LA1040 Contract Law for Monday 26 October 2026. Candidates should still check their own official assessment notice for the time and any arrangements applying to their location.
What is the LA1040 assessment format in 2026?+
Publicly available 2026 module instructions describe two unseen elements: a compulsory 25-question multiple-choice element worth 25%, and a typed examination element worth 75% comprising a compulsory directed problem and two answers selected from five questions. The University states that current format information is supplied through the Laws VLE, which should be treated as authoritative.
What should I revise for LA1040 Contract Law?+
Use the current module guide as your checklist. Core areas commonly include formation and modification, contractual terms, capacity, vitiating factors, third-party rights, performance, breach and discharge, and remedies. Revision should combine legal rules and authority with repeated application to problems, essays and multiple-choice questions.
Is the older LA1040 exam video still useful?+
Yes, for general revision planning and examination technique, but not as a statement of the current assessment format. The format has changed since that video was recorded, so candidates must use their current VLE instructions and assessment notice for the 2026 rules.
Are there free LA1040 and Contract Law revision resources?+
Yes. This page embeds a current Contract Law revision video and an earlier LA1040 examination guidance video, and links to Dr Yannis's written Contract Law guide on Substack. These independent resources should be used alongside the official module materials.
Is there a live LA1040 revision workshop before the October exam?+
Yes. Dr Yannis is running a 90-minute online Contract Law Intensive on 19 September 2026. It covers Contract Law foundations, multiple-choice technique, directed problems, and problem and essay planning. Places are limited and entry uses an expression-of-interest process.
Is this an official University of London LA1040 page?+
No. This is independent revision guidance created by Dr Yannis and published by Glintiss Ltd. Dr Yannis does not work for the University of London or the LA1040 module, and the page is not organised, affiliated with or endorsed by the University of London.
The University of London timetable, your Laws VLE, module guide and personal assessment notice take priority over this independent page. Dates, formats and arrangements may change.