hij Teacher Resource Bank GCE Religious Studies Unit A Religion and Ethics 1 Example of Candidate s Work from the January 2009 Examination Candidate C

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1 hij Teacher Resource Bank GCE Religious Studies Unit A Religion and Ethics 1 Example of Candidate s Work from the January 2009 Examination Candidate C 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 ) and a registered charity (registered charity number ). Registered address: AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX. Dr Michael Cresswell, Director General.

2 2009 (January) Unit A Religion and Ethics 1 Example of Candidate s Work from the Examination Candidate C 1 3 (a) Explain religious teachings about the value of human life. You may refer to one or more religion(s). (30 marks) AO1 Candidate Response

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4 3 Commentary AO1 30 marks Approximately 25 minutes can be allocated to answering this question, including thinking time. The command word Explain is the instruction to candidates to show their understanding by expanding on main points with reasons, examples or illustrations. The Specification requires candidates to consider: the quality of life; self-sacrifice and non-human life, including the relative importance of human and non-human life. The candidate does not waste time. The first paragraph states key, relevant ideas: life is a gift from God and is sacred. There is a brief explanation of in the image of God in the second paragraph. All lives are said to be valuable because they are as God intended. This would have been a good point to discuss the differences between people (e.g. race and disability). A biblical passage is used to explore the idea that human life is more valuable than non-human life. The idea of stewardship and dominion from Genesis might have been more effective. The value of human life as reflected in the ten commandments is clear, but the idea that it should not be taken for granted is not developed. This would be a good point to consider the idea that human life is so valuable that religion allows force to be used to defend it, but that it is not so valuable that it should be preserved at all costs this is the theme of self-sacrifice, and it is explored in many religions. The material from C.S Lewis (A poem entitled On Being Human) is effective as an illustration of the unique value of human beings. However, the poem contrasts Angels and humans, but the writer does not make that clear and the conclusion implies something else. The assessment took into account the novelty of the topic and the challenge that centres and candidates would have had in judging the depth of study expected. The answer clearly covers key ideas and develops them, and uses helpful examples. In the context of this first examination it can be considered fairly thorough. The answer is of a good length. Information is clearly and coherently organised, and there is appropriate and accurate use of specialist vocabulary. Level 7 (29 marks)

5 4 (b) People should always be treated the same regardless of race or disability. How far may religious believers accept this view? Candidate Response (15 marks) AO2

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7 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. This issue arises out of the Specification content and the Issue arising how far can religion support the idea of equality? The statement for discussion was carefully worded because treating people the same may not equate to treating them equally. There was an opportunity here to debate the need for positive discrimination as well as ensuring justice. The statement also excluded gender. The candidate started with a good biblical reference for race discrimination and stated the basic idea of equality. In the next paragraph, gender differences were considered. This was credited as a response to the first clause in the statement that people should always be treated the same. The image of God is used to argue the equality of all people and the idea that Jesus healed the sick is used to argue that he treated everyone equally, even the disabled, and taught people to do the same. Answers to How far questions can be completely and this is what the candidate has offered. The answer has explored different views within that, but has not responded precisely to the statement given. There is very little about disability here, although it could easily have been discussed in the section on created in the image of God. The assessment took into account the novelty of the topic and the challenge that centres and candidates, would have had in judging the depth of study expected. This is more than a partially successful attempt to sustain an argument, and in the context of the first examination was awarded 12 out of 15 marks. Level 6 (13 marks)