Religious Studies

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GCSE 2009- Delivering the new specification in
September 2009Unit 11

• Religious Studies

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Aim of Event

• During the course of this inset delegates will
• understand the assessment implications of the new
  specification
• be taken through the impact of the changes to the
  new specification
• have the opportunity to think about delivery
  strategies applicable to the new specification
• learn about the total package and how it will
  help you achieve better results

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• First some general information about the way the
  exam paper works.
• How it is laid out
• Which skills/objectives the different questions
  assess

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Unit 11New specification

• No coursework all topics are now examined
• Assessed by one examination of 1 hour 30mins.
• Content
• Mosque and Sufism become part of section 2
• Influence of Muslims sects in British mosques in
  section 2
• AND
• Emphasis on how religious beliefs affect the
  lives of believers.

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The assessment implications of the new
specificationThe specification which can be
examined for the first time in 2010 has new
assessment objectives. GCSE RS now has to assess
50 of AO1 and 50 of AO2.This means AO1
Describe, explain and analyse using knowledge and
understandingAO2 Use evidence and reasoned
argument to express and evaluate personal
responses, informed insights and differing
viewpoints
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Which questions are aimed at the different
assessment objectives?

• AO1 Will be assessed in the a) and c) questions
• AO2 Will be assessed in the b and d) questions

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Changes to the ways marks are awarded

• a) Questions (these have not changed from the old
  specification)
• e.g. What is creativity?
• These questions are based on the Keywords
• Glossary which is Appendix 4 in the specification
• The keywords themselves have changed make sure
  you are teaching
• the new words

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• Usually they take one of two forms
• Either asking for a definition of the word
• OR asking for an example of the word
• 2 marks are available.
• 1 mark is awarded for a partially
• correct answer
• 2 for a fully correct answer

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• The keyword definition is
• The action of creating the universe by Allah
• A similar answer which would gain two marks would
  be
• Allah making the world
• A partially correct answer which would gain 1
  mark
• would be
• Making the world.

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Things to think about

• Have you any questions about the (a) questions?
• Have you thought about the best way to teach
  these?

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b) Questions (changed from the old specification)

• These questions now assess AO2 not AO1 so they
  are asking
• for evaluation of issues, beliefs and teachings
• Candidates must ensure that they indicate that
  their
• personal view and to gain maximum marks they
  must
• develop two reasons for holding this view

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• The b questions ask candidates to provide 2
  reasons
• for their own point of view.
• e.g.
• Do you think mosques are important for the
• Muslim community?
• Give two reasons for your opinion.
• This view can be
• two reasons agreeing with the statement
• two reasons disagreeing with the statement
• or if the candidate states they are unsure they
  can
• give two opposing reasons.

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b) Marking

• 1 mark awarded for
• a personal response with
  a brief reason
• 2 marks awarded for
• EITHER a personal response with two
  brief reasons
• OR a personal response with one
  developed reason
• 3 marks awarded for
• a personal response with two
  reasons one of which is
• developed
• 4 marks awarded for
• personal response with two
  developed reasons

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• 1 mark would be awarded for
• a personal response with a brief reason
• I think they are as they are a centre for prayer

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• 2 marks would be awarded for
• EITHER a personal response with two brief
  reasons
• I think they are as they are where Muslims can
  meet to
• learn about Islam as well as a centre for prayer
• OR a personal response with one developed
  reason
• I think they as they are a centre for prayer
  where all
• Muslims can unite as brothers and sisters to
  worship Allah
• which strengthens the ummah.

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• 3 marks awarded for
• a personal response with two reasons one of
  which is
• developed
• I think they are as they are a centre for prayer
  where all
• Muslims can unite as brothers and sisters and
  mosques are
• also a centre for the teaching of Islam

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• 4 marks awarded for a personal response with two
• developed reasons
• I think they are as they are a centre for prayer
  where all
• Muslims can unite as brothers and sisters which
  strengthens
• the ummah
• and
• Mosques are also a centre for the teaching of
  Islam
• where all Muslims can go to learn Arabic and read
  the
• Quran

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• Have you any questions about the (b) questions?
• Were you aware that if candidates did not give a
  personal indication of response they would get no
  marks?
• Have you thought about the best way to teach
  these?

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c) Questions - mostly unchanged from the old
specification

• The format of these questions as far as students
  are
• concerned is, on the whole, unchanged, however
  the way
• that marks are awarded has changed. Marks will
  be
• awarded singly
• i.e. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 (rather than in pairs
  2,4,6,8)

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• In this sub-question marks will be awarded for
• Quality of Written Communication (QWC)
• This means students must try to answer the c)
  questions in clear English
• spelling words correctly,
• using sentences and paragraphs
• making use of specialist vocabulary

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c) Levels and marking

• In c sub-questions the level will be awarded
  according to the Religious
• Studies content, the mark within the level will
  then be decided by the
• QWC
• The levels are essentially
• Level 1 Little understanding of the issue
• Level 2 - Basic understanding of the issue
• Level 3 A more developed understanding of the
  issue
• Level 4 A clear understanding of the issue

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• e.g.
• Explain why the ummah is important for Muslims
• Level 1 little understanding of the issue shown
• Umah is good its about being togeter
• This would get Level 1 because it is one brief
  reason and
• because the spelling is not good it would get 1
  out the 2
• available marks

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• Level 2 basic understanding of the issue shown
• Umah is good its about being togeter
• its good because makes muslims feel safe and
  close to each other
• This would get Level 2 because it is one
  developed reason
• which means it can be given either 3 or 4 marks
  because
• the spelling and punctuation is not good it would
  get 3
• rather than 4 marks

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• Level 3 A more developed understanding of the
  issue
• The ummah is important because it includes people
  from all
• races and cultures It reminds Muslims of the
  needs of other
• Muslims so they can help them. The ummah reflects
  the
• idea of the oneness and unity of Allah which is
  important in
• Islam
• This would get Level 3 because it is three brief
  reasons
• which means it can be given either 5 or 6 marks.
  The
• spelling and punctuation is good so it would get
  6
• rather than 5 marks

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• Level 4 A clear understanding of the issue
• The ummah is one of the most important ideas in
  Islam
• because it reflects the oneness of Allah. The
  ummah is the
• worldwide brotherhood of Islam and is made up of
  all races
• and cultures. It reminds Muslims of the needs of
  other
• Muslims so they can help them because Muhammad
  said the
• ummah is like a building all joined together and
  supporting
• each other
• This would get Level 4 because it is three
  reasons with one
• explained which means it can be given either 7 or
  8 marks.
• Spelling and punctuation is good so 8 rather than
  7 marks

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• Have you any questions about the (c) questions?
• Were you aware that quality of written
  communication would be marked in this question?
• Have you thought about the best way to teach
  these?

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d) Questions some minor changes

• These sub-questions start with a stimulus quote
  which is
• intended to be controversial and elicit arguments
  in favour
• and against the point of view stated in the
  quote,
• it does not matter which view the candidate holds
  about
• The quote.
• The sub-questions are now out of 6 marks, rather
  then 4
• as in the old specification
• This reflects the increased weighting on AO2

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• The d) sub-question is now divided into two parts
  to help
• candidates focus on the stimulus.
• AND to ensure that the candidates are guided so
  that they
• fully answer the question.
• After each stimulus candidates are asked
• i) Do you agree give reasons for your answer
• ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree
  with you.
• These are answered separately and have their own
  space
• in the answer booklet

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d) Marking

• In d questions each sub-question will be marked
  completely
• separately.
• Each part (i and ii) will have 3 marks and will
• be marked
• 1 mark a simple reason
• 2 marks a developed reason OR two simple
  reasons
• 3 marks a fully developed reason OR two
  developed
• reasons OR three simple reasons

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• e.g.
• The visit to Arafat is the most important part of
  hajj
• In your answer you should refer to Islam
• Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion
• Explain why some people may disagree with you

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• Answer
• It is the time when Allah forgives
• 1 mark - a simple reason

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• It reminds Muslims of the Day of Judgement and is
  when
• Muslims pray for forgiveness
• 2 marks 2 reasons

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• It is when Muslims confess their sins to Allah
  and believe
• that Allah forgives them of all their sins
• 2 marks This answer takes a basic reason and
  develops it into a developed reason which gets 2
  marks

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• I think standing at Arafat is most important
  because Muslims
• confess their sins and are forgiven by Allah,
• Muslims can go home feeling spiritually clean
• Muslims are then prepared for the Day of
  Judgement
• 3 marks This answer clearly gives three simple
  reasons so is awarded 3 marks

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• In ii) Candidates must give an alternative view
  to the one
• argued in i)
• In the example given the i) half of the answer
  did not
• include a religious view the opposite view must
  include at
• least one religious reason or the whole answer
  will be
• limited to a maximum of 3 out of 6 marks.
• In the d parts it is not possible for candidates
  to give a
• not sure response they must give alternative
  reasons

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• Any questions???

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