Chancellor s School Information pack (Keep safe so you can refer to it) July 2018
Content 1/ Assessment Guidance 2/ Paper 1 units of study 3/ Paper 1 Assessment criteria 4/ Paper 2 units of study 5/ Paper 2 Assessment criteria 6/ Textbooks
AQA GCSE Religious Studies Assessment Guidance There are multiple choice questions worth 1 mark. Short-answer questions worth 2 marks. Longer questions worth 4 and 5 marks that test your ability to retell and explain facts. Finally, there are longer evaluation questions worth 12 marks that test your ability to analyse and evaluate different viewpoints. Examination questions will test two assessment objectives, each representing 50 per cent of the total marks: AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of religion and beliefs including: beliefs, practices and sources of authority influence on individuals, communities and societies similarities and differences within and/or between religions and beliefs. AO2: Analyse and evaluate aspects of religion and belief, including their significance and influence. Examination grades will be awarded on a scale of 1-9.
GCSE Religious Studies Paper 1 (1A) Study of two religions units of study Christianity Beliefs and Teachings: Key Beliefs The nature of God:- God as omnipotent, loving and just, and the problem of evil and suffering the oneness of God and the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Different Christian beliefs about creation including the role of Word and Spirit (John 1:1 3 and Genesis 1:1 3). Different Christian beliefs about the afterlife and their importance, including: resurrection and life after death; judgement, heaven and hell. Jesus Christ and salvation Beliefs and teachings about:- the incarnation and Jesus as the Son of God the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension sin, including original sin the means of salvation, including law, grace and Spirit the role of Christ in salvation including the idea of atonement. Practices: Worship and festivals Different forms of worship and their significance:- liturgical, non-liturgical and informal, including the use of the Bible Private worship. Prayer and its significance, including the Lord s Prayer, set prayers and informal prayer. The role and meaning of the sacraments:- the meaning of sacrament the sacrament of baptism and its significance for Christians; infant and believers baptism; different beliefs about infant baptism the sacrament of Eucharist (Holy Communion) and its significance for Christians, including different ways in which it is celebrated and different interpretations of its meaning. The role and importance of pilgrimage and celebrations including:- two contrasting examples of Christian pilgrimage: Lourdes and Iona the celebrations of Christmas and Easter, including their importance for Christians in Great Britain today. The role of the church in the local and worldwide community The role of the Church in the local community, including food banks and street pastors. The place of mission, evangelism and Church growth. The importance of the worldwide Church including:- working for reconciliation how Christian churches respond to persecution the work of one of the following: Catholic Agency For Overseas Development (CAFOD), Christian Aid, Tearfund.
Judaism Beliefs and Teachings: Key Beliefs The nature of God:- God as one God as Creator God as Law-Giver and Judge, loving and merciful. The divine presence (Shekhinah). Beliefs about life after death, including judgement and resurrection. The nature and role of the Messiah, including different views on the role and importance of the Messiah. The Covenant and the mitzvot The promised land and the Covenant with Abraham, Genesis 12:1 3. The Covenant at Sinai and its importance including the role of Moses and the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:1 17. Key moral principles including justice, healing the world, charity and kindness to others. The importance of the sanctity of human life, including the concept of saving a life (Pikuach Nefesh). The relationship between free will and the 613 mitzvot. Mitzvot between man and God and mitzvot between man and man, including the difference between them and their importance. Practices: The synagogue and worship The synagogue and its importance. The design and religious features of synagogues including reading platform (bimah), ark (aron hakodesh), ever burning light (ner tamid) and associated practices; differences between Orthodox and Reform synagogues. Public acts of worship including:- synagogue services in both Orthodox and Reform synagogues the significance of prayer, including the Amidah, the standing prayer. Shabbat in the home and synagogue and its significance. Worship in the home and private prayer. The written law (Tenakh) and the oral law (Talmud), and their study, use and significance in daily life. Family life and festivals Rituals and their significance:- ceremonies associated with birth including Brit Milah. Bar and Bat Mitzvah the marriage ceremony mourning rituals. Dietary laws and their significance, including different Jewish views about their importance:- kosher and trefah separation of milk and meat. Festivals and their importance for Jews in Great Britain today, including the origins and meaning of:- Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Pesach.
GCSE Religious Studies Assessment criteria Paper 1A Study of two religions Five parts to the question on both beliefs and practices. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 12 marks 1, 2, 4, 5 = AO1 12 = AO2 5 marks SPaG to be assessed on the 12 mark question 1 mark for threshold performance, 2-3 marks for intermediate performance and 4-5 marks for high performance Grades will be awarded on a scale of 9-1. Grade 9 will be the equivalent of a new grade for high performing students above the current A*. Grade 4 will be same as a grade C pass. Beliefs: 1 mark - multi choice 2 marks Give/List/Explain briefly 4 marks - Explain 2 ways Influences First way simple explanation 1 mark detailed explanation 2 marks (X2) 5 marks - Explain 2 teachings about Refer to religious teachings in your answer Simple explanation 1 mark Detailed explanation 2 marks (x2) Reference to religious teaching 1 mark
12 marks - Extended Writing A statement.. Evaluate the statement by: Referring to (religious) teaching Give developed reasons to agree with statement Give developed reasons to disagree with statement (different point of view) Reach a reasoned and justified conclusion What is expected of students? Level 4 Well argued, reasoned, linked ideas, reasoned consideration of different points of view Conclusion comes from logical chains of reasoning leading to judgement(s) supported by knowledge and understanding of relevant evidence and information 10-12 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Reasoned consideration of different viewpoints a two sided / another point on the same side/ reasoned arguments linked ideas Logical chains of reasoning that draw on knowledge and understanding of relevant evidence and information A viewpoint developed chain of idea of relevant evidence/information one sided OR several ideas supported by relevant evidence/reasons Point of view with reason(s) stated in support 0 Nothing worthy of credit 0 7-9 4-6 1-3
Practices 1 mark - multi choice 2 marks Give/List/Explain briefly 4 marks - Explain 2 contrasting ways Diversity First contrasting way simple explanation 1 mark detailed explanation 2 marks (X2) 5 marks - Explain 2 ways in which. is important Refer to religious teachings in your answer First way Simple explanation 1 mark Detailed explanation 2 marks (X2) Reference to religious teaching 1m 12 marks - Extended Writing A statement eg. The best way for Christians to reach an understanding of God is by practising prayer Evaluate the statement by: Referring to (religious) teaching Give developed reasons to agree with statement Give developed reasons to disagree with statement (different point of view) Reach a reasoned and justified conclusion
What is expected of students? Level 4 Well argued, reasoned, linked ideas, reasoned consideration of different points of view Conclusion comes from logical chains of reasoning leading to judgement(s) supported by knowledge and understanding of relevant evidence and information 10-12 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Reasoned consideration of different viewpoints a two sided / another point on the same side/ reasoned arguments linked ideas Logical chains of reasoning that draw on knowledge and understanding of relevant evidence and information A viewpoint developed chain of idea of relevant evidence/information one sided OR several ideas supported by relevant evidence/reasons Point of view with reason(s) stated in support 0 Nothing worthy of credit 0 7-9 4-6 1-3
GCSE Religious Studies Paper 2 (2A) Study of four themes units of study You will study religious teachings, and religious, philosophical and ethical arguments, relating to the issues that follow, and their impact and influence in the modern world. You should be aware of contrasting perspectives in contemporary British society on all of these issues. In each theme, you must be able to explain contrasting beliefs on three specified issues with reference to the main religious tradition in Britain (Christianity) and one or more other religious traditions. 1/ Relationships and families Specified contrasting issues:- Contraception Sexual relationships before marriage Homosexual relationships Sex, marriage and divorce Human sexuality including: heterosexual and homosexual relationships Sexual relationships before and outside of marriage Contraception and family planning The nature and purpose of marriage Same-sex marriage and cohabitation Divorce, including reasons for divorce, and remarrying Ethical arguments related to divorce, including those based on the sanctity of marriage vows and compassion Families and gender equality The nature of families, including:- the role of parents and children extended families and the nuclear family The purpose of families, including:- procreation stability and the protection of children educating children in a faith Contemporary family issues including:- same-sex parents polygamy The roles of men and women. Gender equality Gender prejudice and discrimination, including examples
2/ Religion, Peace and conflict Specified contrasting issues:- Violence Weapons of mass destruction Pacifism Religion, violence, terrorism and war The meaning and significance of:- peace justice forgiveness reconciliation Violence, including violent protest Terrorism Reasons for war, including greed, self-defence and retaliation The just war theory, including the criteria for a just war Holy war Pacifism Religion and belief in 21st century conflict Religion and belief as a cause of war and violence in the contemporary world Nuclear weapons, including nuclear deterrence The use of weapons of mass destruction Religion and peace-making in the contemporary world including the work of individuals influenced by religious teaching Religious responses to the victims of war including the work of one present day religious organisation 3/ Religion, crime and punishment Specified contrasting issues:- Corporal punishment Death Penalty Forgiveness Religion, crime and the causes of crime Good and evil intentions and actions, including whether it can ever be good to cause suffering Reasons for crime, including:- poverty and upbringing mental illness and addiction greed and hate opposition to an unjust law Views about people who break the law for these reasons Views about different types of crime, including hate crimes, theft and murder
Religion and punishment The aims of punishment, including:- retribution deterrence reformation The treatment of criminals, including:- prison corporal punishment community service Forgiveness The death penalty Ethical arguments related to the death penalty, including those based on the principle of utility and sanctity of life 4/ Religion, human rights and social justice Specified contrasting issues:- Status of women in religion The uses of wealth Freedom of religious expression Human rights Prejudice and discrimination in religion and belief, including the status and treatment within religion of women and homosexuals Issues of equality, freedom of religion and belief including freedom of religious expression. Human rights and the responsibilities that come with rights, including the responsibility to respect the rights of others Social justice Racial prejudice and discrimination Ethical arguments related to racial discrimination (including positive discrimination), including those based on the ideals of equality and justice Wealth and poverty Wealth, including:- the right attitude to wealth the uses of wealth The responsibilities of wealth, including the duty to tackle poverty and its causes. Exploitation of the poor including issues relating to:- fair pay excessive interest on loans people-trafficking The responsibilities of those living in poverty to help themselves overcome the difficulties they face. Charity, including issues related to giving money to the poor
GCSE Religious Studies Assessment criteria Paper 2A Study of four themes Five parts to the question AGAIN 1, 2, 4, 5 and 12 marks 1, 2, 4, 5 = AO1 12 = AO2 5 marks SPaG to be assessed on the 12 mark question 1 mark for threshold performance, 2-3 marks for intermediate performance and 4-5 marks for high performance Grades will be awarded on a scale of 9-1. Grade 9 will be the equivalent of a new grade for high performing students above the current A*. Grade 4 will be same as a grade C pass. 1 mark - multi choice 2 marks Give/List/Explain briefly 4 marks - Explain 2 contrasting beliefs focusing on Diversity There are three highlighted topics at the start of each theme. These appear to be the designated topics for the diversity question. Christianity must be used in this answer and contrasted with either a different denomination or different religion. First contrasting way simple explanation 1 mark detailed explanation 2 marks (X2) 5 marks Explain 2 religious beliefs about. Refer to religious teaching in answer First belief simple explanation of teaching 1 mark detailed explanation of teaching 2 marks (X2) Relevant reference to teaching/sacred writing 1 mark Answers could come from the same religion or more than one
12 marks Extended writing A statement eg. Divorce is never right Evaluate this statement by: Giving reasoned arguments to agree Giving reasoned arguments to disagree (show a different point of view) Referring to religious teachings/arguments May refer to non-religious ideas** Reach/include a reasoned/justified conclusion What is expected of students? Level 4 Well argued, reasoned, linked ideas, reasoned consideration of different points of view Conclusion comes from logical chains of reasoning leading to judgement(s) supported by knowledge and understanding of relevant evidence and information 10-12 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Reasoned consideration of different viewpoints a two sided / another point on the same side/ reasoned arguments linked ideas Logical chains of reasoning that draw on knowledge and understanding of relevant evidence and information A viewpoint developed chain of idea of relevant evidence/information one sided OR several ideas supported by relevant evidence/reasons Point of view with reason(s) stated in support 0 Nothing worthy of credit 0 7-9 4-6 1-3
Remember there are general religious teachings There are general religious principles There are topic specific teachings Students need to be able to apply these show how they influence the topic/religious believers views on the topic They are the Ts & Cs - Teachings and Connections So avoid just sticking teachings in an answer unconnected to the focus of the question 12 mark structure: Agree/Disagree Reason Explain by expanding the point/giving reasons/examples or giving further information (X2) Agree/Disagree (a different point of view) Reason Explain by expanding the point/giving reasons/examples or giving further information (X2) Religious teachings linked to the question (X3) Conclusion Do not reiterate the same point made previously
Textbooks/Revision guide: ISBN 978-1-471-86685-2 ISBN 978-0-19-837036-9
ISBN 978-0-19-837033-8 ISBN 978-1-78294 641 0