hij Teacher Resource Bank GCE Religious Studies Unit J World Religions 1 Sikhism Example of Candidate s Work from the January 2009 Examination Candidate B Copyright 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and a registered charity (registered charity number 1073334). Registered address: AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX. Dr Michael Cresswell, Director General.
1 2009 (January) Unit 9 World Religions 1 Sikhism Example of Candidate s Work from the Examination Candidate B 9 (a) Examine the life and work of Guru Gobind Singh. (30 marks) AO1 Candidate Response
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4 Commentary AO1 30 marks Approximately 25 minutes can be allocated to answering this question, including thinking time. The candidate clearly knows about the Guru s life and work and is direct and descriptive from the outset. There is sometimes the danger of story telling with this sort of question and possible responses to it but the candidate keeps a good, straightforward focus with plenty of depth and detail. There is some good use of technical vocabulary alongside some good use of exemplification from the life of Guru Gobind Singh. This is a full and quite balanced response. It clearly covers plenty of ground on both the political and religious side of his life and accurately acknowledges that there are two distinct parts to the question i.e. Guru Gobind Singh s life and work. Plenty of depth on the importance of Guru Gobind Singh in forming the Khalsa has earned some credit for the candidate but could perhaps given a little bit more on the proclamation that Guru Gobind Singh would be the last living Guru. Level 5 (23 marks)
5 (b) Guru Gobind Singh s main achievement was to transform Sikhism into a military movement. Assess the truth of this claim. (15 marks) AO2 Candidate Response
6 Commentary AO2 15 marks Approximately 12½ minutes, including thinking time, can be allocated to answering this question. Answers to part (b) questions are not expected to be long. There was some good balance in this evaluative response by the candidate and, as such, some consideration of differing points of view. The candidate rightly acknowledges Guru Gobind Singh s other achievements that are not necessarily military based. The candidate understands the issues the question is trying to raise. Perhaps there could have been more discussion of how Guru Gobind Singh only resorted to a military stand at the end of his life and the spiritual poetry that influenced him. The conclusion is a little bit weak and appears rushed somewhat. Level 6 (12 marks)
7 12 (a) Examine the main features of worship (diwan) in the gurdwara. (30 marks) AO1 Candidate Response
8 Commentary AO1 30 marks Approximately 25 minutes can be allocated to answering this question, including thinking time. The candidate covers the main features of worship in the Gurdwara well. There were some aspects of the response that were not as relevant as others and the focus became a little lost towards the conclusion. That said, the response is fairly full and the candidate is clearly aware of what they need to do in the answer. The answer goes someway to dealing with the inevitable breadth that comes with this sort of question. Occasionally, the topic was responded to rather than the actual question set special prayers of petition and what happens during the ardas could have been explored in greater detail as well as the significance of the langar as part of the worship in the Gurdwara. Level 5 (23 marks)
9 (b) 'Sewa is more important than worship in Sikhism. Assess this view. (15 marks) AO2 Candidate Response
10 Commentary AO2 15 marks Approximately 12½ minutes, including thinking time, can be allocated to answering this question. Answers to part (b) questions are not expected to be long. Clearly the candidate offers a reasonably balanced approach and understands the technical terminology well. The style of response matches the descriptor for Level 5 and perhaps the candidate could have explored the good effect sewa has on the individual as well as the community a little more. The emphasis in Sikhism is always on the practical actions in the world and at this point, the response seemed a little too generalised. Level 5 (11 marks)