RELIGIOUS STUDIES. Christianity Beliefs and teachings and Practices. GCSE (9 1) Candidate Style Answers.

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1 Qualification Accredited GCSE (9 1) RELIGIOUS STUDIES J625; J125 For first teaching in 2016 Christianity Beliefs and teachings and Practices Version 1

2 Contents Introduction 3 Candidate 1 Question 2(a) answer 4 Commentary 4 Question 2(b) answer 5 Commentary 5 Question 2(c) answer 6 Commentary 6 Question 2(d) answer 7 Commentary 7 Question 2(e) answer 9 Commentary 11 Candidate 2 Question 2(a) answer 12 Commentary 12 Question 2(b) answer 13 Commentary 13 Question 2(d) answer 14 Commentary 14 Question 2(e) answer 15 Commentary 16 2

3 Introduction We asked students to answer questions from the Sample Question Paper for J625: Images/ unit-j christianity-beliefs-andteachings-practices-sample-assessment-material.pdf The sample answers in this resource have been extracted from original candidate work to maintain their authenticity. They are supported by examiner commentary. Please note that this resource is provided for advice and guidance only and does not in any way constitute an indication of grade boundaries or endorsed answers. Whilst a senior examiner has provided a possible level for each Assessment Objective when marking these answers, in a live series the mark a response would get depends on the whole process of standardisation, which considers the big picture of the year s scripts. Therefore the level awarded here should be considered to be only an estimation of what would be awarded. How levels and marks correspond to grade boundaries depends on the Awarding process that happens after all/ most of the scripts are marked and depends on a number of factors, including candidate performance across the board. Details of this process can be found here: 3

4 Candidate 1 Question 2 (a) Describe what is meant by the term sacrament. [3] Level AO1 2 Commentary Each three mark question is point marked, according to the marking instructions in the Mark Scheme. Short statements are acceptable. This response can be given two marks as two correct points are made. Two of the points match indicative content in the mark scheme. A sacrament is a Christian ritual showing the presence of God. (Bullet point 8) Sacraments reflect God s...grace. (Bullet points 2 and 3) The second point is not completely accurate but positive awarding enables credit to be given for the reference to sacraments reflecting Gods grace. 4

5 (b) Give three reasons why a Christian would want to be baptised. [3] Level AO1 3 Commentary Each three mark question is point marked, according to the marking instructions in the Mark Scheme. Short statements are acceptable. Three relevant points are made. Two of the points match indicative content in the mark scheme. The third point is also relevant and can be credited as the mark scheme is indicative not exhaustive. Baptism enables a person to be accepted into the church community. (MS Bullet Point 3) Baptism cleanse from original sin. (MS Bullet point 4) Credit can be given for the idea that Baptism deepens faith. 5

6 (c) Describe the role of the spirit in Genesis 1-2. [3] Level AO1 3 Commentary Each three mark question is point marked, according to the marking instructions in the Mark Scheme. Short statements are acceptable. The response includes three appropriate points: The Spirit acts as the agent of God in creation. The Spirit hovers over the waters. The Spirit creates order from the chaos. 6

7 (d) Explain why prayer is important to some Christians. [6] Level AO1 3 AO2 1 Commentary With questions which are assessed by levels of response, the response should be considered as a whole. The levels strap lines and the bullet points within the level should be used to make a judgement to assess the appropriate level. For part d), the level and the mark are the same. There are two different assessment objectives which are being assessed in this question. It should be noted that there is no requirement for a response to be awarded the same level for AO2 as has been awarded in AO1. Although there is no instruction on the exam paper, in response to this part of the question, learners should attempt to meet the demands of the level descriptors which require that reference be made (wherever possible), to different viewpoints within Christianity and to influence on individuals, communities and societies. These are key features of the assessment scheme. AO1 Level 3 is the best fit for this response. The response is adequate but underdeveloped. Three points are briefly made: That prayer is a way to cultivate a direct personal relationship with God. That that prayer can deepen faith. 7

8 That faith, which is deepened by prayer, is necessary for salvation in the protestant view. AO2 Level 1 is the best fit for this response. The reference to prayer as a way of deepening faith which is regarded by Protestant as crucial for salvation is evidence of some analysis of the influence of the issue on Christian groups. The reference from Hebrews given as support for this view is not made sufficiently relevant to the idea that prayer deepens faith. 8

9 (e)* All Christians should accept that the story of creation in Genesis is true. Discuss this statement. In your answer, you should: Analyse and evaluate the importance of points of view, referring to common and divergent views within Christianity Refer to sources of wisdom and authority. [15] 9

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11 Level AO1 3 AO2 3 Commentary With questions which are assessed by levels of response, the response should be considered as a whole. The levels strap lines and the bullet points within the level should be used to make a judgement to assess the appropriate level and the mark within the level. For AO1 the level and the mark are the same. There are two different assessment objectives which are being assessed in this question. It should be noted that there is no requirement for a response to be awarded the same level for AO2 as has been awarded in AO1. AO1 Level 3 is the best fit for this response. There is a good demonstration of knowledge and understanding of the creation narratives. Liberal and Fundamentalist points of view are expressed clearly and can be accepted at examples of an attempt to reference to sources of wisdom and authority. AO2 Level 3 is the best fit for this response. This is an adequate but underdeveloped attempt to respond to the stimulus. The introduction, although not referring to the stimulus specifically makes clear that the Learner understands that the issue is one where there are common and divergent views within Christianity and that the topic of Creation by God is fundamental to the faith, no matter the viewpoint which Christians might take on the issue. However there is no reference to sources of wisdom and authority apart from mention of two viewpoints held by different Christians Fundamentalist and Liberal. There are good descriptions of the two viewpoints selected. The evaluation and analysis of the Fundamentalist view is good, using the existence of two accounts of creation in the Biblical narrative to demonstrate the difficulty of holding to this point of view. The evaluation of the Liberal point of view is adequate and its significance as a way of understanding the creation narratives for Christians is well expressed. There is some comparison between these points of view. The first conclusion about the transcendence of God does not seem to connect well to the rest of the discussion and the exact nature of the support from the book of Job is not made clear. The second conclusion in the final four lines however brings the discussion back to the idea that there are different interpretations of the word true. The response would have benefited from this aspect being given greater importance throughout the discussion. Overall the line of reasoning is slightly confused but the discussion has a satisfactory structure. Quality of Extended response There is a line of reasoning presented which is mostly relevant and has some structure. The Levels of Response for AO2 are designed to enable a judgment to be made about the quality of the discussion, which is an extended response. The assessment of the QER therefore will match this level and does not need to be assessed separately. QER for this response is Level 3. 11

12 Candidate 2 Question 2 (a) Describe what is meant by the term sacrament [3] Level AO1 2 Commentary Each three mark question is point marked, according to the marking instructions in the Mark Scheme. Short statements are acceptable. This response can be given two marks. The first point matches indicative content in the mark scheme. A sacrament is a Christian ritual showing the presence of God. (Bullet point 8) The second point is a little confused but it is sufficient to give the idea of Sacraments being instituted by Jesus which is relevant and can be credited as the mark scheme is indicative not exhaustive. The final section of the response goes away from the meaning of the term sacrament and cannot be credited although it is an attempt to demonstrate divergent views, which could be appropriate in parts d) and e) of questions on this paper. 12

13 (b) Give three reasons why a Christian would want to be baptised [3] Level AO1 1 Commentary Each three mark question is point marked, according to the marking instructions in the Mark Scheme. Short statements are acceptable. The first point in the response does not address the question. The second point about cleansing from sin can be credited and matches bullet point 4 in the mark scheme. The third point is not sufficiently accurate to match bullet point 10 of the mark scheme. Baptism represents dying and rising with Jesus, rather than of Jesus. 13

14 (d) Explain why prayer is important to some Christians. [6] Level AO1 3 AO2 1 Commentary With questions which are assessed by levels of response, the response should be considered as a whole. The levels strap lines and the bullet points within the level should be used to make a judgement to assess the appropriate level. For part d), the level and the mark are the same. There are two different assessment objectives which are being assessed in this question. It should be noted that there is no requirement for a response to be awarded the same level for AO2 as has been awarded in AO1. Although there is no instruction on the exam paper, in response to this part of the question, Learners should attempt to meet the demands of the level descriptors which require that reference be made (wherever possible), to different viewpoints within Christianity and to influence on individuals, communities and societies. These are key features of the assessment scheme. AO1 Level 3 is the best fit for this response. The response is adequate but underdeveloped. Three points are made: Prayer is important as it enables communication with God, helps the believer to listen to God and brings them closer to God. The idea that it connects God to his creation is a further development. There is an awareness of differing attitudes towards prayer. AO2 Level 1 is the best fit for this response. There is some evidence of analysis and evaluation in the response as the Learner considers the importance of other ways of recognising (communicating with) God. The final section is not about the view of Christians but secularists and is not relevant to the question of why prayer is important to Christians. 14

15 (e)* All Christians should accept that the story of creation in Genesis is true. Discuss this statement. In your answer, you should: Analyse and evaluate the importance of points of view, referring to common and divergent views within Christianity Refer to sources of wisdom and authority. [15] 15

16 Level AO1 3 AO2 3 Commentary With questions which are assessed by levels of response, the response should be considered as a whole. The levels strap lines and the bullet points within the level should be used to make a judgement to assess the appropriate level and the mark within the level. For AO1 the level and the mark are the same. There are two different assessment objectives which are being assessed in this question. It should be noted that there is no requirement for a response to be awarded the same level for AO2 as has been awarded in AO1. 16

17 AO1 Level 3 is the best fit for this response. There is a good demonstration of knowledge and understanding of the creation narratives. Liberal and Fundamentalist points of view are expressed clearly and can be accepted at examples of an attempt to reference to sources of wisdom and authority. AO2 Level 3 is the best fit for this response. The response shows characteristics of Level 3 and also Level 2. Overall, because of a lack of clarity in the discussion, the lower mark at Level 3 could be appropriate. The conclusion is adequate but lacks balance and detail. Quality of Extended response: There is a line of reasoning presented which is mostly relevant and has some structure The Levels of Response for AO2 are designed to enable a judgment to be made about the quality of the discussion, which is an extended response. The assessment of the QER therefore will match this level and does not need to be assessed separately. QER for this response is Level 3. The introduction focuses on the word all in the stimulus and this is picked up again in the concluding paragraph. There is however a lack of clarity in the introduction about it (Line 4 of the response). It is not clear whether this refers to creation or to the creation narratives which is the focus of the stimulus. This confusion appears in other areas of the response. Hence the response demonstrates some misunderstanding of the issue in the stimulus. There is evidence of comment on Fundamentalist and Liberal views and some evidence of reasoned argument. The analysis and evaluation emphasises the significance of the view of Creation narratives for the Christian Groups. For example, that for Fundamentalists the Genesis narratives highlights God s power to create from nothing, which is associated with the Cosmological argument. On the other hand the Liberal view helps to get over the obvious difficulty presented by a literal acceptance of the narratives as they contradict modern science. 17

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