GCSE Religious Studies B 40553 June 2014 Exemplars with Commentaries Contents Grade A* Example 1 Page 2 Grade A* Example 2 Page 7 Grade A* Example 3 Page 11 Grade A Example 1 Page 15 Grade A Example 2 Page 18 Grade A Example 3 Page 22 Grade C Example 1 Page 25 Grade C Example 2 Page 29 Grade C Example 2 Page 31 Additionally, whilst using this document you may find it useful to refer to the June 2014 Mark scheme for this unit, which can be found in the Secure Key Materials section on eaqa.
Grade A* - Example 1 2 Religious Attitudes to the Elderly and Death. 06 What is retirement? [1 mark] AO1 Correct answer 1 mark awarded. 07 Religious believers should always respect the elderly. What do you think? Explain your opinion. [3 marks] AO2 Although not all the answer is focussed on respect, the points about providing spiritual growth and their experience, wisdom and sacrifices is sufficient for level 3 as there is some development. 2
08 Explain why many religious believers agree with the use of hospices for the dying. [3 marks] AO1 A full, detailed answer easily enough for level 3. 09 Explain religious beliefs and teachings about death and what happens after death. [5 marks] AO1 3
The account of Islamic beliefs about life after death is excellent. However, according to the markscheme, to qualify for level 5 there has to be some consideration of beliefs about death. The first sentence which states that Allah controls death is just sufficient for level 5 to be awarded. 5 marks awarded. 4
10 Life is too valuable to allow a life support machine to be switched off. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer, showing you have thought about more than one point of view. Refer to religious arguments in your answer. [6 marks] AO2 5
The quote in the question makes reference to life being too valuable to turn off a life support machine. Many students neglected to include any consideration of the value of life. However in this answer, it is clear, especially from the conclusion but also elsewhere in the answer, that the student has taken this into account. Therefore there is no reason why this answer should not be awarded level 6. It is well argued, the religious content is good and has been integrated within the answer rather than just being bolted on, and the reasoning is coherent. An excellent response. 6 marks awarded. SPaG commentary Although not perfect, this is comfortably sufficient for level 4. 4 marks awarded. 6
Grade A* - Example 2 3 Religious Attitudes to Drug Abuse 11 Name one Class B drug. [1 mark] AO1 Correct answer. 1 mark awarded. 12 Religious believers should not use illegal drugs. What do you think? Explain your opinion. [3 marks] AO2 An excellent response with several reasons given, some of which are well developed. 7
13 Explain why many religious believers think that drug users should be rehabilitated. [3 marks] AO1 Forgiveness is not a really a factor in explaining why drug users should be rehabilitated. However, here, the student justifies it by stating that rehabilitation is a good way of fulfilling forgiveness. Put in this way, the point becomes valid and certainly creditable. Taken together with the remainder of the answer, this is easily worthy of level 3. 14 Explain religious attitudes to the use of tobacco. Refer to religious beliefs and teachings in your answer. [5 marks] AO1 8
The Islamic content in this answer is excellent. When put alongside the Christian content, the criteria for level 5 is easily achieved. The only debateable point is whether God put tobacco on the earth because He wanted us to smoke or to give us the opportunity to do so. 5 marks awarded. 15 Alcohol should be an illegal drug. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer, showing that you have thought about more than one point of view. Refer to religious arguments in your answer. [6 marks] AO2 9
A clear level 6 answer. The content is evaluated rather than just being presented and the religious teachings are integrated within the response. Points are valid and well developed in all cases and the conclusion is thoughtful if brief. 6 marks awarded. SPaG commentary There are errors here but no reason to deny the student level 4. There is much that is good. 4 marks awarded. 10
Grade A* - Example 3 6 Religious Attitudes to the Elderly and Death. 26 What is debt? [1 mark] AO1 Correct answer 1 mark awarded. 27 Explain how believing in stewardship encourages religious believers to help the poor in developing countries. [3 marks] AO2 Many students answered this question without mention of stewardship. As this was the focus of the question, these students scored poorly. However, here the student has made stewardship their focus by briefly explaining it and then applying it to the issue of helping the poor in developing countries. This has been done well, especially in the realisation that looking after the earth includes the inhabitants of the earth rather than just the planet. Although there is some lack of relevance towards the end of the answer, there is already enough to fulfil level 3 criteria. 11
28 Explain why many religious believers agree with the use of hospices for the dying. [3 marks] AO1 Excellent ideas with good development 29 Explain religious beliefs and teachings about death and what happens after death. [5 marks] AO1 Although not a long answer, the focus is firmly on the question and what has been written is a good Islamic representation of what world trade should be like. A borderline level 5 but it just meets the criteria 5 marks awarded. 12
30 Life is too valuable to allow a life support machine to be switched off. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer, showing you have thought about more than one point of view. Refer to religious arguments in your answer. [6 marks] AO2 13
A well balanced answer explaining both emergency aid and long term aid as an alternative. Explanations include religious teachings and evidence of a case study. The conclusion ties the answer together and provides extra coherence. 6 marks awarded. SPaG commentary Not perfect but easily good enough for level 4. 4 marks awarded. 14
Grade A - Example 1 1 Religious Attitudes to Matters of Life (Medical Ethics) 01 What do the initials IVF mean? [1 mark] AO1 No mark was awarded because vertro is too far away from vitro. Accuracy was required here. 1 mark awarded. 02 Explain religious attitudes to surrogacy. Refer to religious beliefs and teachings in your answer. [3 marks] AO2 A good answer that displayed clear knowledge and understanding. There was insufficient detail and depth of development for level 5 4 marks awarded. 15
03 Religious believers should not be against transplant surgery. What do you think? Explain your opinion. [3 marks] AO1 Several simple and relevant points, some of which are developed. The paraphrase (presumably from Qu ran 5.32) is relevant and as it is only implied that it is from Christianity, it is worthy of credit. Students should be careful that they do not make quotes/paraphrases interchangeable because although all religions may subscribe to a particular view, specific teachings should be used accurately, There is enough here for level 3 to be awarded anyway. 04 Explain why some religious believers disagree with experiments on humans. [5 marks] AO1 A comfortable level 3 answer. Several points are made and some are developed. 16
05 All types of cloning should be allowed. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer, showing that you have thought about more than one point of view. Refer to religious arguments in your answer. [6 marks] AO2 Lacking coherence and clarity but there is sufficient developed reasoning and references to religion for level 4 to be awarded. 4 marks awarded. SPaG commentary Sufficiently accurate for level 4 to be awarded. 4 marks awarded. 17
Grade A - Example 2 5 Religious Attitudes to Rich and Poor in British Society 21 Give one reason why some people in Britain have a lot of money. [1 mark] AO1 Inheritance is correct. 1 mark awarded. 22 Religious believers should not gamble. What do you think? Explain your opinion. [3 marks] AO2 Simple points: small amounts, entertainment and lottery but insufficient relevant development. Although some religious reference is not essential in 3 mark AO2 answers, it would have provided relevant development here. 2 marks awarded. 23 Describe what religious believers can do to help people to overcome poverty in Britain. [3 marks] AO1 18
Well developed points. 24 Explain religious attitudes towards being rich. Refer to religious beliefs and teachings in your answer. [5 marks] AO1 19
The first half of this answer, is a bit repetitious and the Islamic reference to Zakah whilst correct in principle (but 2.5% not 2%) applies not just to the rich. Mention of Sadaqah would have been more relevant. The second half is better and pushes this answer into level 4 Clear knowledge and understanding 4 marks awarded. 25 People who are poor because they are lazy should not be helped. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer, showing you have thought about more than one point of view. Refer to religious arguments in your answer. [6 marks] AO2 20
In the middle portion of the answer, the emphasis is more towards being unemployed rather than lazy as the quote requires. However, there are some good points but some lack of focus and coherence limit the level awarded to level 4. 4 marks awarded. SPaG commentary SPaG is accurate but not perfect. Sufficiently good for level 4 though. 4 marks awarded. 21
Grade A - Example 3 4 Religious Attitudes to Crime and Punishment 16 Give one example of a religious offence. [1 mark] AO1 Answers such as this are correct because the example given is considered to be sacrilege. 1 mark awarded. 17 Explain religious attitudes to how young offenders should be punished. Refer to religious beliefs and teachings in your answer. [3 marks] AO2 There are developed points here related to the aims of punishment supported with Biblical teaching. However, the answer is too generalised towards offenders rather than young offenders for level 5 to be awarded. Level 4 is appropriate. 4 marks awarded. 22
18 Religion teaches people the difference between right and wrong. What do you think? Explain your opinion. [3 marks] AO1 There are developed points here related to the aims of punishment supported with Biblical teaching. However, the answer is too generalised towards offenders rather than young offenders for level 5 to be awarded. Level 4 is appropriate. 2 marks awarded. 19 Explain why many religious believers think people have a duty to obey the law. [5 marks] AO1 Although the answer gives good reasons why someone should obey the law, there is insufficient focus on the concept of duty for level 3 to be awarded. In addition, the answer is a little vague and repetitive. 2 marks awarded. 23
20 The death penalty (capital punishment) should never be used. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer, showing that you have thought about more than one point of view. Refer to religious arguments in your answer. [6 marks] AO2 This is a good example of a level 4 answer. The student has provided reasons to support different points of view including some religious content. Further explanation and/or other reasoned points would be necessary to increase the level. The final point about forgiveness is not made relevant because it is presented as an alternative to punishment which is not the view of any religion. 4 marks awarded. SPaG commentary Although this is not perfect, it is sufficiently good to achieve level 4. 4 marks awarded. 24
Grade C - Example 1 1 Religious Attitudes to the Elderly and Death. 01 What do the initials IVF mean? [1 mark] AO1 This is correct. The attempt to explain IVF is not necessary so it does not matter that it is vague. 1 mark awarded. 02 Explain religious attitudes to surrogacy. Refer to religious beliefs and teachings in your answer. [3 marks] AO2 This is a vague answer to which the Islamic content adds little as it merely repeats the information already given. It is seen as elementary knowledge and understanding (level 2) rather than sound (level 3). 2 marks awarded. 25
03 Religious believers should not be against transplant surgery. What do you think? Explain your opinion. [3 marks] AO1 Although this is quite a long answer, it contains a limited amount of correct, relevant information. It makes that point that transplant surgery should be used because it helps people who are terminally ill which is good because life is precious. The point against is poorly expressed and contradicted in the final line to make it invalid. It is worth level 2. 2 marks awarded. 26
04 Explain why some religious believers disagree with experiments on humans. [5 marks] AO1 This is repetitious and does not move far from the ideas that these experiments are harmful and could be fatal. There is a lack of clarity in what has been written (as in some previous answers). 2 marks awarded. 05 All types of cloning should be allowed. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer, showing that you have thought about more than one point of view. Refer to religious arguments in your answer. [6 marks] AO2 27
There is little clarity or coherence in this answer. Points are made and there is some attempt to develop some of them. However, it is vague and repetitious. It is a solid level 3 simple points with some development of one but it certainly could not be seen as Opinion supported by two developed reasons with reference to religion (level 4). SPaG commentary This is reasonably accurate and meaning is not hindered. 2 marks awarded. 28
Grade C - Example 2 5 Religious Attitudes to Rich and Poor in British Society 21 Give one reason why some people in Britain have a lot of money. [1 mark] AO1 This contains more than required for the mark available. 1 mark awarded. 22 Religious believers should not gamble. What do you think? Explain your opinion. [3 marks] AO2 The first sentence contains a developed point about losing everything and getting into debt with dangerous people. However, gambling is not illegal but it is seen as sinful in Islam. Level 2 is appropriate here for a point with development and a correct simple one. 2 marks awarded. 23 Describe what religious believers can do to help people to overcome poverty in Britain. [3 marks] AO1 There are several simple points (give jobs, temporary home, guide to improve their lives) with some development of the second. Give them some religious treatment is too vague to add to the creditworthy material used to justify the level awarded but there is sufficient for level 3 anyway. 29
24 Explain religious attitudes towards being rich. Refer to religious beliefs and teachings in your answer. [5 marks] AO1 There are two simple points here: working hard is a good deed and wealth could be the result of karma in previous life. The attempts to develop the points are not successful. 25 People who are poor because they are lazy should not be helped. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer, showing you have thought about more than one point of view. Refer to religious arguments in your answer. [6 marks] AO2 This answer has several simple points, some of which have some development. The Buddhist content does not represent mainstream Buddhism although poverty could be seen as the result of bad karma. However, many points are more opinion than reasoning and it certainly could not be seen as Opinion supported by two developed reasons with reference to religion (level 4). This is a solid level 3. SPaG commentary This is a weak level 3. It is not written fluently and there are a few spelling errors. However, there is some technical language and the meaning is clear. 30
Grade C - Example 3 3 Religious Attitudes to the Elderly and Death. 11 Name one Class B drug. [1 mark] AO1 The answer is correct. 1 mark awarded. 12 Religious believers should not use illegal drugs. What do you think? Explain your opinion. [3 marks] AO2 This is difficult to assess because there is a key word missing from the end of sentence 2. Presumably it should be harm but this cannot be assumed. What is left is a developed reason in the first sentence with the point repeated at the end so it is level 2. 2 marks awarded. 13 Explain why many religious believers think that drug users should be rehabilitated. [3 marks] AO1 Much of this is irrelevant but there is a valid point (expressed poorly) that rehabilitation cures addiction. 31
14 Explain religious attitudes to the use of tobacco. Refer to religious beliefs and teachings in your answer. [5 marks] AO1 This answer contains simple points about harm and addiction with some development. This falls into the category of sound knowledge and understanding so it is level 3 albeit quite a weak level 3. It is better than elementary (level 2). 15 Alcohol should be an illegal drug. Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer, showing that you have thought about more than one point of view. Refer to religious arguments in your answer. [6 marks] AO2 This answer has several simple points, some of which have some development. However, many points are more opinion than reasoning and it certainly could not be seen as Opinion supported by two developed reasons with reference to religion (level 4). This is a solid level 3. SPaG commentary This is a level 3 answer. Although it is not written fluently, spelling and punctuation are good. There is some use of simple technical terms. 32