Exam Guidance & Tips

Advice on Answering Questions

Section A

8 Mark EXPLORE...Questions 10 minutes

These are basic A01 questions where you need to recall facts/views/key features of the philsophy, ethics beliefs in question. You will need to use key words and relate ideas to religious knowledge where necessary.

The format is similiar to the GCSE format of

It is suggested that you have 3-4 points / explainations paragraphs.

12 Mark ACCESS...Questions 20 minutes

here the marks are split up into AO1 and AO2

AO1 - 4 marks

Here you will need to describe what teh question is answering. This will be mere discriptions / responses to the question. Specialist words and structure will be needed too!

AO2 - 8 marks

here you will need to analyse the question - why some would agree / why some would disagree. With this, you will need to gvie some adivce for the claims: e.g. environemenal Kyoto agreement-EU

It is suggested that you have 4 points / explainations / links Paragaphs

One suggested structure:

Intro (short)

1-2 line evluative response

Arguement for

Arguement Against

Counter arguement

Conclusion (short)

Section B

10 Mark CLARIFY...Questions 15 minutes

These questions are ususally asking you for context. They are merely asking you for descriptive knowledge with key words. With the clarify questions, students should not repeat the passage but suggest the meaning and lessons learnt in reference to the question.

You should have 4 paragraphs clearly related to the questions and ensure that there are structured (see below)

One suggested structure:

In the passage it says... this means that...this links to...

20 Mark ANALYSE...Questions 30 minutes

For teh analsyse questions, the examiner is expecting to see specific knoqwledge directly relating to the questions. if the question asks for an analysis - you need to show informed knowledge on strenghts and weakness .

You will gain a max of 5 marks for AO1 knowledge and 15 for AO2 understanding.

For sucess in this type of question, you need to be specific about your points and always have teh question in mind. Application to religion should be considered whether it be a streght and / or a weakness.

It is recommneded that you write 4 paragraphs (see below)

One suggested structure:

Intro (short)

1-2 line evluative response

Arguement for

Arguement Against

Counter arguement

Conclusion (short)

Advice on Answering Anthology

Section C

30 Mark EVALUATE...Questions 40 minutes

You will need to ensure you have read the question fully and you should be aware that the links to other topics are expected, if not the max marks you can get are 24,

5 marks will be for description (AO1), and 25 (AO2) marks will be for AO2 understanding and evaluation. (5 marks then go to synoptic links)

It is suggested that you write 5 Paragraphs using teh following structure . Point, Evidence, Explain, Links, Streghts or weaknesses

With this question you will need to be able to evaluate and repond to the question using key features and how each part could have philsophical, religious or ethical connotations (synoptic links- just focus on one not all 3) You will need to use examples to justify your points too- use academic examples would strenghten this (Survival lottery, prisoners dilema and Saddam Husein) As well as this , you will need to show that you have a variety of knowledge shown - both why it could agree and dsiagree with the question. you wiull need to finsih your answer with a conclusion.

One

One suggested structure:

Intro (short)

with THESIS- your arguement - I will argue that...

1st 'logical chain of reasoning' (with a synoptic link)

Arguement for

Arguement Against

Counter arguement

2nd 'logical chain of reasoning' (with a synoptic link)

Arguement for

Arguement Against

Counter arguement

3rd 'logical chain of reasoning' (maybe think timming- with a synoptic link)

Conclusion

Key arguments to support you view with some further reasons.

Don’t try to question spot I was right in my guesses for Philosophy in 2017, but not for Ethics or Islam

Do explore the legacy papers 6RS01 Unit 1 (Design, Cosmological and Evil & Suffering) and 6RS03 Unit 3 (Ontological & Religious Ex perience). This is not revision, but gives you a feel for the sort of questions they could ask on these topics.

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel a levels/religious studies 2008.coursematerials.html#filterQuery=ca tegory:Pearson UK:Unit%2FUnit 1&filterQuery=category:Pearson-UK:Unit%2FUnit 3&filterQuery=category:Pearson UK:Category%2FExam materials&filterQuery=category:Pearson UK:Document Type%2FQuest ion paper

Don’t expect to get good marks without revision or by cramming the night before  this is not GCSE and examiners will be able to spot lack of revision
Do more than just read (which is really boring). Be active:

Have a revision timetable and stick to it

Test yourself by writing it down/mind mapping, but remember to mark it

- Get a whiteboard from a cheap shop like Poundland or Thing Me Bobs it will save you from drowning in a mountain of paper
- Get someone else to test you orally
- ‘Chunk’ your revision, one element (e.g. AO1) of one topic at a time
- Go back and re test regularly on topics you have ‘nailed’ just to check they have stuck in your mind
- Revise in short spurts not hours at a time
- Try something different:
  - Mr McMillan has a Youtube channel where he has posted revision topics for the old AS Philosophy, but don’t waste your time spending hours trawling the net
  - https://www.youtube.com/user/MrMcMillanREvis
  - Teach your mum or dad (or the dog). If they can understand then you are teaching it clearly. If they look puzzled/confused (th e dog might always look like that) then you are not being clear

Read to yourself out loud and test out loud. Everyone will think you are going doolally, but it works

Don’t expect to be able to write 8 mark questions in 8 minutes, 9 mark questions in 9 minutes and 20 mark questions in 20 minutes w it hout practice, and lots of it
Do timed practice questions as part of your revision process
Do explore the examplars for the philosophy paper (these are very reassuring), but focus in on samples that have been awarded full (or close to full) ma rks. Also the examiners report and mark scheme for 2017.

https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/A%20Level/Religious%20Studies/2016/teaching and learning materials/AS Religio us Studies Exemplars_Paper%201_Philosophy.pdf

https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/A Level/Religious Studies/2016/Exam materials/8RS0_01_pef_20170816.pdf

https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/A Level/Religious Studies/2016/Exam materials/8RS0_01_rms_20170816.pdf

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