Teaching guide

This guide is to be used in conjunction with the specification and Sample Assessment Materials. It includes:

• General guidance
• GCSE Question types: a guide for teaching

General guidance

Key terms that can be used in questions

If a subject specific term is listed in the specification, then it could be used as part of any question in the examination.

The one mark questions could relate to terms from any part of the specification, as well as those in the Subject Specific Vocabulary and other related topic words.

If the term appears in brackets on the specification, a 2, 4, 5, or 12 mark question stem would also include the English translation.

For example in Buddhism, anicca is not in brackets, so no translation would be given; whereas (skandhas) would be referred to as ‘The five aggregates’ in a question.

Teaching religious views for Themes

The Themes can be studied using any combination of religious views. However, for the three specified topics from each Theme, students must know the Christian perspectives. This is to meet the DfE requirement for demonstration of knowledge that ‘the main religious tradition in Great Britain is Christianity.’

For example, within Theme A Relationships and families, the specification states that: They must be able to explain contrasting beliefs on the following three issues with reference to the main religious tradition in Britain (Christianity) and a contrasting belief: Contraception. Sexual relationships before marriage. Homosexual relationships.

Contrasts and similarities questions can be asked on any area of the Themes content; but in these three topics per Theme, knowledge of a Christian view is required.

Therefore, there are 3 main ways to approach the themes

• Teach only Christian views for each topic.
• Teach the views of the two religions you have studied in Component 1 to allow for continuity and familiarity of teachings, whilst ensuring that Christian views are covered for the three topics needed per Theme.
• Teach a variety of perspectives, as desired and/or relevant to each topic. For example, Hinduism for using animals, Quakers for pacifism, Buddhism for abortion, and so on. Again, whilst ensuring that Christian views are covered for the three topics needed per Theme. This also allows flexibility for students who may wish to answer Themes questions from a particular faith background, even if this is not the faith studied by the whole centre for Component 1.

Denominations and schools of thought

The only required knowledge of different denominations or schools of thought within religions are listed in the specification. Aside from these, students should be aware that there are differences in perspective and practice, but would not be asked on these from named denominations.

Scriptural references and other texts

As the specification states, students may refer to any relevant text in their answers. You can find a list of suggested texts in the resource list. However, please note that these additional texts will not be required for study, alternatives may be used, and questions will not be set on them.

Please note, that for each religion option there are two textual references listed on the specification; any other reference to a text or source of authority is optional. The specification was designed in this way to give teachers maximum flexibility to tailor the content to the needs of their students and their own preferences and expertise.

Question types: a guide for teaching

2 mark questions

As the command word here is ‘give / name’, students do not need to write full sentences. One word answers or short phrases are sufficient (eg. In the question ‘Name two angels mentioned in the Qur’an’ the two names would suffice; whereas for ‘Give two reasons why the Buddha gave up his life of wealth’ two short phrases may be more appropriate).

4 mark questions

In Section A Beliefs and teachings: the 4 mark questions will assess AO1.2: influences.

In all 4 mark questions, examiners are looking for ‘2 developed points’. In order to gain the marks for development, students must explain the point they have made.

Section B – 4 mark questions

For all topics within Themes, the 4 mark question will assess AO1.3: similarities, contrasts. These questions can be set on any topic area listed in the specification.

The two views, denominations or schools of thought given in these answers do not need to be named specifically. Therefore, it would be acceptable to write, ‘some Christians…’ and other Christians…’ Of course we would encourage the development of sound subject knowledge, but for students who may struggle to remember the names of denominations, they will not be penalised for using ‘some/other/many’ and so forth.

In these questions, students can refer to two denominations or schools of thought from within a religion, or two different religions.

There is further guidance and suggested examples contained within our Teaching Guide for Component 2: Ethical Studies which is available on the Specification A website page.

For the ‘contrasting’ questions, the two points could be opposing views; however the phrase is used here to mean ‘different’. For example, on the topic of divorce, contrasting views could be 1) 'x always disagree because…' 2) 'Sometimes divorce is acceptable in the opinion of x, because…' The contrast may mean ‘different’ in terms of issue or belief.

Each answer is assessed on its own merits, and in a discipline as subjective as RS, the marks awarded would depend on the actual wording of the question and the students’ exact answer, as well as any considerations made during the standardisation process.

Similarities questions set out to assess the knowledge from AO1.3 that there are differences and similarities between and within religions. For example, many believers from across different faiths may take a similar perspective on issues such as nuclear weapons. For example two religions or denominations may agree with something; or they may both disagree with something. The explanation here should be around why they each hold this view.

In these questions, students can refer to two denominations or schools of thought from within a religion, or two different religions.

4 mark questions – ‘The main religious tradition of Great Britain’

These questions will not appear in every examination series, but when they do it is required that one of the views given must be explicitly Christian. The second viewpoint could be another contrasting Christian view, or a view from another religion.

For each theme, the specification indicates three topics in which students must be prepared to explain contrasting views with ‘the main religious tradition of Great Britain’.

5 mark questions

The question command phrases here are:

Section A:  ‘Refer to sacred writings or another source of Christian/Muslim/Jewish/Hindu/Sikh/Buddhist belief and teaching in your answer’

Section B:  ‘Refer to sacred writings or another source of religious belief and teaching in your answer.’

The ‘reference’ to teachings or writings can either be paraphrased, or can be a direct quotation. Students do not need to cite references in their answer. For example it would be acceptable to say “In the Bible it says that God created us in his image” or “The Bible says ‘let us make mankind in our image’ (Genesis 1:27)” or “The Buddha said that all life is suffering.” Furthermore, other sources of wisdom and authority such as religious leaders, set prayers, hymns and key religious figures (eg Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Dalai Lama etc) are also creditworthy.

One possible approach to answering these questions could be

• Point, Explain, Reference
• Point, Explain.

Students only need to include one reference in their answer in addition to two developed points, but they need to be clear in acknowledging the source in order to fully meet the requirements of the question.

These questions assess AO1.1 and so will never ask for influences, similarities or contrasts. Therefore, in Section B students can explain two beliefs about a topic that come from the same religious tradition, or they could use two religions; and the beliefs they explain do not need to be contrasting.

AO2 Extended writing (12 mark questions)

Student answers should:

• Include two different points of view; a one-sided response will be capped at Level 2 (max 6 marks).
• Include religious teaching and explain how it is relevant to the argument being made; an entirely secular response will be capped at Level 2 (max 6 marks).
• Be detailed. The AO2 questions account for 50% of the total mark for the qualification, therefore up to 15 minutes should be spent developing arguments here.
• Use a minimum of three paragraphs (one giving arguments for the statement, one giving arguments against and a final conclusion). As a guide, this could be around 250 words.
• Ensure that the answer includes evaluation and finishes with a strong, justified conclusion. Judgements on the arguments are essential for the top level, phrases like ‘this argument/evidence is robust/ strong/ weak/ inconclusive/ insubstantial/ convincing because…’ may be useful here. This also helps to address the ‘logical chains of reasoning’ element of the Levels of Response.

Any references to religious teachings can be paraphrased, as in other question types. Students don’t need to cite references in their answer. Furthermore, other sources of wisdom & authority such as religious leaders, set prayers, hymns and key religious figures (eg Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Dalai Lama etc) are also creditworthy.

Answers can draw on the beliefs of different denominations or schools of thought. In Section A answers must remain focused on the religion specified for study (eg Islam); due to the nature of the evaluative statements in Section A non-religious views or contrasts with other religions will not be relevant here. (Note: some religious believers may, of course, hold views which are in line with secular views and these will be credited accordingly).

In Section B Themes non-religious views and/or a variety of religious perspectives could be included where relevant (although not required).