There is a variety of elements assessed on the LPC. All LPC providers are subject to the SRA's Legal Practice Course Assessment Requirements and you can find links to the relevant pages of the SRA's website at the bottom of this email.
There is little difference between LPC courses in their assessment methods.
On the LPC there are three core areas and three elective areas to be assessed. All of these six areas are assessed by written examinations and the SRA specifies the minimum length of those examinations. The difference in courses will be with closed-book, open-booked, advanced materials etc. Here at Sheffield, the two core areas of Business Law and Practice and Property Law and Practice are each assessed by way of a one hour closed book multiple choice exam and a three hour open-book examination. The core area of Litigation and Advocacy has two open-book exams of up to three hours each. The three elective areas are each assessed by three hour open-book examinations. We also set examinations for professional conduct, solicitors' accounts and wills and administration of estates.
The skills are assessed in a variety of ways, either written examinations, "take-away" assessments, role-play, or other methods. Course providers set their own assessment method and the SRA validate that method. This is where there is some difference between providers. At Sheffield Interviewing and Advising, and Advocacy are assessed via role-play assessments. Writing and Practical Legal Research are "take-away" assessments over a week. Drafting is a three hour examination.
On the LPC (Masters in Legal Practice) at Sheffield you will also be completing a 12,000 word dissertation.
To access the SRA's requirements, you can find these by clicking on the following link: http://www.sra.org.uk/students/resources/legal-practice-course-information-pack.page#heading_toc_j_12
If that is not working visit the Legal Practice Course Information page (http://www.sra.org.uk/students/resources/legal-practice-course-information-pack.page) on the SRA's website (www.sra.org.uk and search) and either scroll down to "Assessments and Awards" or click on "Assessments and Awards" link on the right hand side of the page.