YEAR 10 REVISION GUIDE RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Your exam will be 1 hour 45 minutes in duration (extra time candidates 2

hours and 11 minutes)

There will be two sections:

Section A

Christianity and Islam

You will be tested on this material:

Christianity

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.

Islam

Key Beliefs • The six articles of faith in Sunni Islam and five roots of Usul ad-Din
in Shi’a Islam, including key similarities and differences. • The Oneness of God
(Tawhid), Qur’an Surah 112. • The nature of God: omnipotence, beneficence,
mercy, fairness and justice (Adalat in Shi’a Islam), including different ideas
about God’s relationship with the world: immanence and transcendence. •
Angels, their nature and role, including Jibril and Mika’il. • Predestination and
human freedom and its relationship to the Day of Judgement. • Life after
death (Akhirah), human responsibility and accountability, resurrection, heaven
and hell.

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Authority • Prophethood (Risalah) including the role and importance of Adam,
Ibrahim and Muhammad.

Section B

Themes: Religion, Peace and Conflict and Religion, Crime and Punishment

You will be tested on this material:

Theme D Religion, Peace and Conflict

They must be able to explain contrasting beliefs on the following three issues
with reference to the main religious tradition in Britain (Christianity) and one
or more other religious traditions:
• 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.
• Pacifism.

Religion and belief in 21st century conflict

• Nuclear weapons, including nuclear deterrence.

• The use of weapons of mass destruction.

Theme E Religion, Crime and Punishment

Students should study religious teachings, and religious, philosophical and

ethical arguments, relating to the issues that follow, and their impact and
influence in the modern world. They should be aware of contrasting
perspectives in contemporary British society on all of these issues. They must
be able to explain contrasting beliefs on the following three issues with
reference to the main religious tradition in Britain (Christianity) and one or

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more other religious traditions: • 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.

You must spend 26 minutes on each section (extra time candidates: have an
extra 6 minutes per section (32 minutes in total per section)).

There are 24 marks available per section.

Timing!

You must spend 26 minutes on each section (extra time candidates: have an
extra 6 minutes per section (32 minutes in total per section)).

There are 24 marks available per section.

Advice: try to spend approximately 18 minutes on each of the 12 mark

responses (for students with extra time, 21 minutes). The 1 and 2 mark
questions require brief answers (sometimes a single word) and so you will be
writing faster than a mark a minute – you, therefore, should spend around 18
minutes on the 12 mark question at the end of each section.

Advice for extra time candidates: try to spend approximately 21 minutes for
each of the 12 mark responses.

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Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG)

Spelling, punctuation and grammar will be assessed in 12 mark questions

against the following criteria:

Level Performance descriptor

Marks awarded

High performance • Learners spell and punctuate with consistent accuracy. •

Learners use rules of grammar with effective control of meaning overall. •
Learners use a wide range of specialist terms as appropriate. 3 marks awarded

Intermediate performance • Learners spell and punctuate with considerable

accuracy. • Learners use rules of grammar with general control of meaning
overall. • Learners use a good range of specialist terms as appropriate. 2 marks
awarded

Threshold performance • Learners spell and punctuate with reasonable

accuracy. • Learners use rules of grammar with some control of meaning and
any errors do not significantly hinder meaning overall. • Learners use a limited
range of specialist terms as appropriate. 1 mark awarded

EXAM STRUCTURE

Each of the four sections of the exam will have the following structure (it will
be this structure in your mock and final exams):

1 mark question

2 mark question

4 mark question

5 mark question

12 mark question

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FURTHER EXAM ADVICE

Each section of questions in the exam has this structure:

1 mark question - always multiple choice. E.g. Which one of…? E.g. Religions
paper (Christianity): Which one of the following is the book in the Bible in
which the story of Creation can be found?

A) Exodus B) Genesis C) Proverbs D) Revelation [1 mark]

Themes paper – Relationships and Faily (Theme A):

Which one of the following means a man having more than one wife at the
same time?

A Cohabitation B Procreation C Monogamy D Polygamy [1 mark]

2 mark question - always simple recall. E.g. Give / Name two...

E.g. Religions paper (Christianity): Give two qualities which Christians believe
describe the nature of God. [2 marks]

Themes paper: Identify two ways in which conflict can be resolved peacefully.
[2 marks]

One word / sentence answers required.

4 mark question. ALWAYS WRITE IN FULL SENTENCES. This ALSO means

writing in a Point Example Explain or Point Explain Example structure.
Religions paper (Christianity and Islam) – TRY AND INCLUDE QUOTES
WHENEVER YOU CAN AND WHEN APPROPRIATE

Explain influences on individuals, communities and societies within either

Christianity or Islam. This type of question can only be asked on material in

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the ‘Beliefs Section’. For example (Islam section): Explain two ways in which a
belief in angels could influence Muslims today (4) OR

Religions paper (Christianity): Explain two ways in which belief in the

resurrection of Jesus influences Christians today (4).

Example answer:

[Influence 1] Belief in the resurrection of Jesus gives Christians faith that they
will be raised from the dead. This helps them overcome fear of death and
encourages some to lay down their life for their faith.

[Influence 2] It also creates faith that good can triumph over evil. This helps
Christians face persecution and suffering.

Here two influences are explained in detail. In each instance, the first sentence
offers a ‘basic explanation’; the second sentence turns this into a ‘detailed
explanation’. 4 marks awarded.

The other type of question that will be asked in the Religions paper will be
relating to ‘Practices’ (which means relating to religious worship and action).
This will involve questions relating to similarities and differences, for example:

Christianity section:

Explain two ways in which Iona and Lourdes are different places of
pilgrimage (4)

Explain two similar ways in which Christians pray (4)

OR

Islam section:

Explain two different ways in which Muslims perform Salah (4)

4 mark question. Themes paper - similarities and differences within and

between religions. TRY AND INCLUDE QUOTES WHENEVER YOU CAN AND
WHEN APPROPRIATE.
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There are two main types of question that may be asked, and all 4 mark
questions (apart from one exception in Theme C), involve you including only
different religious beliefs (you do not include atheist / non-religious or
secular views).

TYPE A

1) One simply asks for two similar /contrasting beliefs, e.g.

• Explain two similar religious beliefs about…. • Explain two contrasting

religious beliefs about….

For example (Theme B):

Explain two similar religious beliefs about the use of animals for food.
In your answer you must refer to one or more religious traditions. (4)

Here you could refer to two similar beliefs within Christianity, or similar
beliefs found in Christianity and Islam. You must NOT refer to atheists / non-
religious / secular views in this 4 mark response!

TYPE B

2) The other type of question:

Explain two contrasting beliefs in contemporary British society about… In

your answer you should refer to the main religious tradition of Great Britain
(Christianity) and one or more other religious traditions.

When set, this question will be assessed only on certain topics within each
theme • These are clearly set out within each theme, for example: THEME E
Crime and Punishment (contrasting between Christianity and Islam): • Corporal
punishment. • Death penalty. • Forgiveness.

E.g.

Religion, Crime and Punishment (Theme E)

Explain two contrasting beliefs in contemporary British society about the death
penalty for murder.

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In your answer you should refer to the main religious tradition of Great Britain
and one or more other religious traditions. (4)

Do not include non-religious teaching / atheism / humanist view.

5 mark question. ALWAYS WRITE IN FULL SENTENCES. This ALSO means

writing in a Point Example Explain or Point Explain Example structure. Testing
knowledge and understanding. Detail / development required...Paper 1
Religions Paper (Christianity and Islam) e.g. Explain two Christian teachings
about judgement. Refer to sacred writings or another source of Christian belief
and teaching in your answer. [5 marks] The Themes section will explore beliefs
from Christianity and Islam: Explain two religious beliefs about the death
penalty. Refer to sacred writings or another source of Muslim belief and
teaching in your answer. [5 marks]

YOU MUST INCLUDE AT LEAST TWO QUOTES IN RED BOOK OR TWO QUOTES
AND / OR EXAMPLES IN GREEN BOOK.

Paper 1 Religions

Explain two Muslim teachings about angels. Refer to sacred writings or

another source of Muslim belief and teaching in your answer.

[Teaching 1] Angels were created of light. The Qur’an describes them as

messengers with wings, as in the Qur’an it states, Allah ‘made the
messengers having wings, two, three or four’ (Qur’an 35:1).

[Teaching 2] Angels have various roles linked to human beings. Some are
recording angels, recording the deeds of a person’s life in the book that will
be read at the final judgement. As it states in the Qur’an, “And indeed, there
are over you scribes, generous and recording. They know what you do.” Surah
al-Infitar, verse 10-12

Mark scheme:

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First way: • simple explanation of a relevant and accurate belief/teaching 1
mark

• detailed explanation of a relevant and accurate belief/teaching 2 marks

Second way: • simple explanation of a relevant and accurate belief/teaching 1

mark

• detailed explanation of a relevant and accurate belief/teaching 2 marks

Plus: • one accurate / relevant reference to a writing regarded as holy /

authoritative by the religion concerned 1 mark

12 mark question. Evaluation questions.

This tests AO2 • Each 12 mark question is structured in a similar way

• This question requires an extended answer and so 2-3 sides of the exam
booklet need to be filled (on the Christianity and Islam exam booklets, try to fill
the two pages provided as well as the extra page too (so 3 sides of the booklet)
and for Themes 2-3 sides of your separate exam booklet). This ALSO means
writing in a Point Example Explain or Point Explain Example structure and
having at least 4 or 5 points (following the PEE structure) for EACH side of the
religious arguments you are including (or in the Green book side you can
include non-religious arguments within your answer as well). MAKE SURE YOU
ALSO DEVELOP YOUR OWN IDEAS / VIEW IN YOUR CONCLUSION AT THE END
OF YOUR ESSAY in DETAIL following the PEE structure.

• It is assessed by levels of response (see the mark scheme below) • Students

should assess different viewpoints

• In the study of religion questions, different views within the faith tradition
(Christianity or Islam) should ONLY be used

• In thematic questions students must draw on one or more religions

• In thematic questions non-religious views may be used alongside a religious

view
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• A justified conclusion is required

• A logical chain of reasoning requires that an argument is clearly stated and

supported with evidence. In order to attain higher levels, alternative views are
required to be developed in this way. A supported conclusion will evaluate the
different arguments and arrive at a judgement. YOU CAN ADDRESS
DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS SEPARATELY (so include views for the statement and
then include a different point of view after this) OR ALTERNATE BETWEEN
DIFFERENT VIEWS AS YOU GO. You should MAKE IT KNOWN AND EXPLAIN
which view you agree with BEFORE you reach the conclusion. E.G. Themes
paper: ‘…and for this reason, I believe that the death penalty cannot be
supported because... In addition to this, many Christians would also not
support the death penalty because…’

• As explained at the start of this handout SPAG (spelling, punctuation and

grammar) will be awarded for answers to these questions only; the student’s
best SPaG mark will count on each paper.

EXAMPLES:

E.g. Paper 1 Religions paper:

‘If God were loving, there would be no suffering in the world.’

Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should: • refer to Christian

teaching • give developed arguments to support this statement • give
developed arguments to support a different point of view • reach a justified
conclusion. [12 marks]

Themes paper: ‘Reformation is the best aim of punishment.’

Evaluate this statement.

In your answer you: • should give reasoned arguments in support of this

statement • should give reasoned arguments to support a different point of
view • should refer to religious arguments • may refer to non-religious
arguments. • should reach a justified conclusion. [12 marks]

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This type of question will always end the section. You will be assessed on SPaG
in this section so you must ensure that you take care to be as accurate as
possible when writing your answers. The mark scheme:

4 A well argued response, reasoned consideration of different points of view.

Logical chains of reasoning leading to judgement(s) supported by knowledge
and understanding of relevant evidence and information. 10-12

3 Reasoned consideration of different points of view. Logical chains of

reasoning that draw on knowledge and understanding of relevant evidence
and information. 7-9

______No religious content and no inclusion of another reasoned point of

view. Max. 6 marks_______

2 Reasoned consideration of a point of view. A logical chain of reasoning

drawing on knowledge and understanding of relevant evidence and
information OR a recognition of different points of view, each supported by
relevant reasons / evidence (I would assume that there is no logical chain of
reasoning - so listed information of different views). 4-6

1 Point of view with reason(s) given in support. 1-3

0 Nothing worthy of credit.

See below for further guidance on how to answer these questions.

Command words

Command words are the words and phrases used in exams and other
assessment tasks that tell students how they should answer the question.

Evaluate

Tests evaluation. It requires students to consider different viewpoints and

arrive at a judgement.

Explain

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Tests knowledge and understanding of (eg) teachings or practices. It requires
students to identify at least two relevant points and demonstrate
understanding by some development.

Explain different attitudes to…

Tests knowledge and understanding of different attitudes about an ethical or

philosophical issue or belief.

Explain how X may influence Y

Tests knowledge and understanding of (eg) how a religious belief or practice

influences individuals or groups.

Give

Tests recall of knowledge, eg two examples or two beliefs.

Why

Tests analysis. It requires a reasoned consideration of a single point of view

through a logical chain of reasoning.

It is made clear in the introduction to the mark scheme that:

In questions where credit can be given to a development of a point, those

developments can take the form of,

● Example or evidence

● Reference to different views

● Detailed information

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