Maxim Mastery Test: 40 Legal Maxims MCQs to Sharpen Your Mind

Legal maxims condense centuries of legal wisdom into just a few words. Knowing them isn’t merely academic — it sharpens argument, aids interpretation, and gives precision to legal thought. To support your preparation and quick revision, Legal Bites presents a focused set of 40 MCQs on key maxims, perfect for exams, interviews, and everyday legal reasoning. Let’s dive in and test how many you truly know.

Maxim Mastery Test: 40 Legal Maxims MCQs to Sharpen Your Mind

1. Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea means

A. A guilty act with innocent intent

B. The act does not make a person guilty unless the mind is guilty 

C. Ignorance of law is no excuse

D. Let the buyer beware

Answer: B

2. Audi alteram partem relates to

A. Penal sanctions

B. Doctrine of precedent

C. Hear the other side 

D. Equity jurisdiction

Answer: C

3. Nemo judex in causa sua means

A. No one should be a judge in his own cause 

B. No person can be arrested without warrant

C. No suit without loss

D. Let justice be done

Answer: A

4. Ignorantia juris non excusat means—

A. Ignorance of fact is no excuse

B. Ignorance of law is no excuse 

C. Knowledge is mandatory

D. Justice delayed is justice denied

Answer: B

5. Res ipsa loquitur applies when

A. Facts are unknown

B. The thing speaks for itself 

C. No negligence exists

D. Burden of proof lies on defendant

Answer: B

6. Volenti non fit injuria stands for the legal principle that

A. A person who volunteers must be compensated

B. One who consents to risk cannot later complain

C. Every injury must be compensated

D. Liability exists even without fault

Answer: B

7. Ubi jus ibi remedium means

A. Where there is a right, there is a remedy 

B. Remedy precedes right

C. Law favours none

D. Welfare state doctrine

Answer: A

8. Damnum sine injuria implies

A. Injury without damage

B. Damage without legal injury

C. Strict liability rule

D. Exemplary damages

Answer: B

9. Injuria sine damno means

A. No right without damage

B. Legal injury even without loss

C. Tort without remedy

D. Act without negligence

Answer: B

10. Falsus in uno falsus in omnibus

A. False in one thing, false in everything

B. Truth prevails

C. Innocent until proven guilty

D. Equity follows the law

Answer: A

11. Qui facit per alium facit per se means

A. No vicarious liability

B. Multiple actors, multiple liabilities

C. Employer not liable for agent

D. Act done by agent is act of principal

Answer: D

12. Caveat emptor means

A. Seller beware

B. Consumer is king

C.  Buyer beware

D. No liability for defect

Answer: C

13. Caveat venditor is

A. Buyer beware

B. Contract voidable

C. No liability for hidden fault

D. Seller beware

Answer: D

14. Novus actus interveniens means

A. New statute overrides old

B. No liability for natural act

C. New act breaks the chain of causation

D. Negligence is presumed

Answer: C

15. Contra proferentem rule applies to

A. Ambiguous contracts 

B. Criminal revision

C. Bail

D. Equity execution

Answer: A

16. Delegatus non potest delegare means

A. A delegate may not further delegate

B. Delegation is always permitted

C. No law applies to delegates

D. Only agent liable

Answer: A

17. Expressio unius est exclusio alterius

A. Law is flexible

B. Silence implies consent

C. Mention of one implies exclusion of others

D. No statute is final

Answer: C

18. Ejusdem generis doctrine applies when

A. Broad terms precede specific

B. General words follow specific 

C. Specific words have no relevance

D. Only general terms matter

Answer: B

19. Ratio decidendi means

A. Obiter dicta

B. Reason for decision 

C. Facts of case

D. Dissenting opinion

Answer: B

20. Obiter dicta refers to

A. Binding precedent

B. Stare decisis rule

C. Final decree

D.  Incidental observations

Answer: D

21. Actus curiae neminem gravabit

A. Court’s act shall prejudice none

B. Error by judges is unchallengeable

C. Appeals are discretionary

D. No right without remedy

Answer: A

22. Lex non cogit ad impossibilia means

A. Everything is possible by law

B. Equity overrides law

C. Law never compels what is impossible

D. Contract is absolute

Answer: C

23. Let justice be done though the heavens may fall refers to

A. Fiat justitia ruat caelum 

B. Ad hoc justice

C. Equity rule

D. Mens rea doctrine

Answer: A

24. Salus populi suprema lex esto means

A. Freedom is absolute

B. Parliament is supreme

C. No state above citizen

D. People’s welfare is the supreme law

Answer: D

25. The maxim De minimis non curat lex expresses the idea that

A. All injuries lead to compensation

B. The law does not notice trifles

C. Even petty loss invites punishment

D. Nothing escapes legal scrutiny

Answer: B

26. Pacta sunt servanda means

A. Contracts must be followed

B. Contracts are optional

C. Contract ends on hardship

D. Consent invalidates agreement

Answer: A

27. Consensus ad idem means

A. No contract without signature

B. Meeting of minds

C. Voidable only

D. Silence equals acceptance

Answer: B

28. Noscitur a sociis means

A. Word known by the company it keeps 

B. New act overrides old

C. Law ignores context

D. Wide interpretation

Answer: A

29. Lex specialis derogat legi generali

A. General law defeats special law

B. Special law defeats general law

C. Equity overrides both

D. No conflict exists

Answer: B

30. Nemo dat quod non habet means

A. No one can give what he does not have

B. Buyer is always protected

C. Title passes without ownership

D. Contract is conclusive

Answer: A

31. Ab initio means

A. From the end

B. Void later

C. From the beginning

D. No legal effect

Answer: C

32. The correct interpretation of Mutatis mutandis is

A. No change in circumstances

B. Necessary adjustments being made 

C. Clause ceases to operate

D. The rule stands unaltered

Answer: B

33. Res gestae refers to

A. Actions forming part of the same transaction 

B. Hearsay evidence

C. Burden of proof

D. Statements after trial

Answer: A

34. Lex loci delicti means

A. Law of forum court

B. Law of appeal

C. Law of place where tort occurred 

D. Law of contract

Answer: C

35. Cui bono asks

A. Why the victim suffered

B. Who benefited from the act 

C. Who witnessed the act

D. Who reported the act

Answer: B

36. Inter vivos refers to a transfer made

A. Between living persons

B. After death

C. By will only

D. In court proceeding

Answer: A

37. Lex fori signifies

A. Law of a foreign state

B. Law of the victim

C. Judge-made law

D. Law of the forum/court where the case is filed 

Answer: D

38. Fait accompli means

A. Pending action

B. A completed act that cannot be undone 

C. Voidable transaction

D. Contract under mistake

Answer: B

39. Locus standi refers to

A. Power to enact statute

B. Right to appeal only

C. Legal right to bring proceedings

D. Judicial immunity

Answer: C

40. Corpus delicti means

A. Body of the crime

B. Confession of guilt

C. Arrest warrant

D. Judicial custody

Answer: A

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