AQA GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES A 8062/2A Paper 2A: Thematic
studies Mark scheme June 2020
GCSE
RELIGIOUS STUDIES A
8062/2A
Paper 2A: Thematic Studies
Mark scheme
June 2020
Version: 1.0 Final
*206G8062/2A/MS*
, MARK SCHEME – RELIGIOUS STUDIES A – 8062/2A – JUNE 2020
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant
questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the
standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in
this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’
responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way.
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative
answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the
standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they are
required to refer these to the Lead Examiner.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and
expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of
assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination
paper.
Further copies of this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk
Copyright information
AQA retains the copyright on all its publications. However, registered schools/colleges for AQA are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own
internal use, with the following important exception: AQA cannot give permission to schools/colleges to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a third
party even for internal use within the centre.
Copyright © 2020 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved..
2
, MARK SCHEME – RELIGIOUS STUDIES A – 8062/2A – JUNE 2020
Mark Schemes for GCSE Religious Studies
This paper requires expert markers who have wide knowledge and understanding of the particular
subject content of the Specification. With the exception of the multiple-choice question, many of the
questions asked have many different creditable answers and students are able to bring to their answers
their own knowledge, understanding and background. They will offer details, arguments and evidence
which the examiner, with the help of the mark scheme, will need to judge as creditable or not. It is
therefore important that the examiner has a good understanding of the principles and spirit of the mark
scheme in order to be fair and consistent when marking students’ answers. The Content included is
designed to be as helpful as possible but in many cases is not exhaustive. So Content sections are
introduced by the sentence:
Students may include some of the following points, but all other relevant points must be credited:
this is to remind examiners that there may well be additional correct answers which, with their expertise,
they will be able to allow. With all questions if an examiner has any doubt about answers being credit
worthy they should consult their team leader.
Structure
The mark scheme for each question shows:
• The question; Each question is printed in full before its target and mark scheme. It is always important
that examiners remind themselves of the exact question being asked. In particular, they will need to
do this in instances where the answer appears to be ‘straying’ from the question set or perhaps offers
a valid alternative not included in the mark scheme
• Target; The target provides the specific assessment objective which the question is testing. It reminds
examiners of the skills the question is designed to test, eg knowledge and understanding, evaluation
• The total marks available for the question and if Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar is assessed
• The typical answer(s) or content which are expected
• Generic instructions related to the question target of how to award marks (i.e. levels of response grid).
Themes papers guidance (Specification A & Short Course)
In questions where students may choose religions from which to illustrate their answer, there may be
some general Content, ie credible comments which students will make which could be applied to any
religion or perhaps to a secular viewpoint as well. Where these are appropriate they are usually given
first. The Mark Scheme will also include, under separate headings, Content sections for each of the six
religions allowed within the Specifications.
General Guidance
.../.. means that these are acceptable alternative answers in the mark scheme, eg Guru Har Krishan /
Guru Tegh Bahadur / Guru Gobind Singh.
Answers may include specialist terms, in Hebrew or Arabic for example. If this is the case, the mark
scheme will usually indicate this by providing in brackets the English as well, eg ‘Yom Kippur (the Day of
Atonement)’. In such questions, answers will be credited whether provided in the original language or in
English.
Some mark schemes use bullet points to separate content. Each bullet point refers to a different possible
‘belief’ or ‘teaching’ or ‘way’, depending on the question. Obliques (.../..) used within the bullet point
indicate different ways in which the point may be expressed and points which may be made to give the
further detail or development needed for the second mark.
3
, MARK SCHEME – RELIGIOUS STUDIES A – 8062/2A – JUNE 2020
Where a student has crossed out a complete answer, it should be marked if it remains legible, unless an
alternative is provided in which case only the alternative should be marked. When part of an answer is
crossed out, then only what remains should be considered.
In questions where credit can be given to the development of a point, those developments can take the
form of:
• Example or evidence
• Reference to different views
• Detailed information.
1 mark multiple choice questions
Such questions have four alternatives and the one correct answer will be given together with the correct
letter, eg ‘Answer: D Trinity’.
2 mark short answer questions
The principle here is provided in the mark scheme: ‘One mark for each of two correct points.’ Students
may give more than the two answers required by the question. In such instances,
• Award for the first two answers only, wherever they appear.
• If a student gives more than one answer on the first line and another answer / other answers on the
second line, the ‘first two answers’ will be the first two on the first line and only these two should be
considered for marks. Other answers must be ignored.
• If on the first line the first two answers given are correct, award two marks, regardless of what is
written elsewhere in the answer.
• If the first two answers can only be awarded one mark yet there is a third answer that is correct, this
correct third answer must be ignored and no mark given for it.
• However, if the student gives some elaboration after the first answer, which is clearly developing
their first answer, (which they are not required to do), do not consider this elaboration to be their
second answer (unless the elaboration happens to contain a second correct answer to the question
asked), regardless of whether there are other answers provided. In this case, the second answer
also, if correct, may be credited for the second mark
4 and 5 mark answer questions
Examiners should take care to note the target of the question. Clear information is provided for these
types of question on how to award marking points. Examiners should carefully read the additional
instructions provided for each type of question (eg for influence questions the final sentence in the
general guidance box reminds the examiner that the second mark (detailed explanation) awarded in
each case must show clear ‘influence’).
12 mark answer questions
The 12 mark questions test Evaluation skills (AO2). The mark scheme for these answers is based on
Levels of Response marking in which the examiner is required to make a judgement on the completed
answer taken as a whole.
4
studies Mark scheme June 2020
GCSE
RELIGIOUS STUDIES A
8062/2A
Paper 2A: Thematic Studies
Mark scheme
June 2020
Version: 1.0 Final
*206G8062/2A/MS*
, MARK SCHEME – RELIGIOUS STUDIES A – 8062/2A – JUNE 2020
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with the relevant
questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the
standardisation events which all associates participate in and is the scheme which was used by them in
this examination. The standardisation process ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’
responses to questions and that every associate understands and applies it in the same correct way.
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts. Alternative
answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated for. If, after the
standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have not been raised they are
required to refer these to the Lead Examiner.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and
expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark
schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of
assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination
paper.
Further copies of this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk
Copyright information
AQA retains the copyright on all its publications. However, registered schools/colleges for AQA are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own
internal use, with the following important exception: AQA cannot give permission to schools/colleges to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a third
party even for internal use within the centre.
Copyright © 2020 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved..
2
, MARK SCHEME – RELIGIOUS STUDIES A – 8062/2A – JUNE 2020
Mark Schemes for GCSE Religious Studies
This paper requires expert markers who have wide knowledge and understanding of the particular
subject content of the Specification. With the exception of the multiple-choice question, many of the
questions asked have many different creditable answers and students are able to bring to their answers
their own knowledge, understanding and background. They will offer details, arguments and evidence
which the examiner, with the help of the mark scheme, will need to judge as creditable or not. It is
therefore important that the examiner has a good understanding of the principles and spirit of the mark
scheme in order to be fair and consistent when marking students’ answers. The Content included is
designed to be as helpful as possible but in many cases is not exhaustive. So Content sections are
introduced by the sentence:
Students may include some of the following points, but all other relevant points must be credited:
this is to remind examiners that there may well be additional correct answers which, with their expertise,
they will be able to allow. With all questions if an examiner has any doubt about answers being credit
worthy they should consult their team leader.
Structure
The mark scheme for each question shows:
• The question; Each question is printed in full before its target and mark scheme. It is always important
that examiners remind themselves of the exact question being asked. In particular, they will need to
do this in instances where the answer appears to be ‘straying’ from the question set or perhaps offers
a valid alternative not included in the mark scheme
• Target; The target provides the specific assessment objective which the question is testing. It reminds
examiners of the skills the question is designed to test, eg knowledge and understanding, evaluation
• The total marks available for the question and if Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar is assessed
• The typical answer(s) or content which are expected
• Generic instructions related to the question target of how to award marks (i.e. levels of response grid).
Themes papers guidance (Specification A & Short Course)
In questions where students may choose religions from which to illustrate their answer, there may be
some general Content, ie credible comments which students will make which could be applied to any
religion or perhaps to a secular viewpoint as well. Where these are appropriate they are usually given
first. The Mark Scheme will also include, under separate headings, Content sections for each of the six
religions allowed within the Specifications.
General Guidance
.../.. means that these are acceptable alternative answers in the mark scheme, eg Guru Har Krishan /
Guru Tegh Bahadur / Guru Gobind Singh.
Answers may include specialist terms, in Hebrew or Arabic for example. If this is the case, the mark
scheme will usually indicate this by providing in brackets the English as well, eg ‘Yom Kippur (the Day of
Atonement)’. In such questions, answers will be credited whether provided in the original language or in
English.
Some mark schemes use bullet points to separate content. Each bullet point refers to a different possible
‘belief’ or ‘teaching’ or ‘way’, depending on the question. Obliques (.../..) used within the bullet point
indicate different ways in which the point may be expressed and points which may be made to give the
further detail or development needed for the second mark.
3
, MARK SCHEME – RELIGIOUS STUDIES A – 8062/2A – JUNE 2020
Where a student has crossed out a complete answer, it should be marked if it remains legible, unless an
alternative is provided in which case only the alternative should be marked. When part of an answer is
crossed out, then only what remains should be considered.
In questions where credit can be given to the development of a point, those developments can take the
form of:
• Example or evidence
• Reference to different views
• Detailed information.
1 mark multiple choice questions
Such questions have four alternatives and the one correct answer will be given together with the correct
letter, eg ‘Answer: D Trinity’.
2 mark short answer questions
The principle here is provided in the mark scheme: ‘One mark for each of two correct points.’ Students
may give more than the two answers required by the question. In such instances,
• Award for the first two answers only, wherever they appear.
• If a student gives more than one answer on the first line and another answer / other answers on the
second line, the ‘first two answers’ will be the first two on the first line and only these two should be
considered for marks. Other answers must be ignored.
• If on the first line the first two answers given are correct, award two marks, regardless of what is
written elsewhere in the answer.
• If the first two answers can only be awarded one mark yet there is a third answer that is correct, this
correct third answer must be ignored and no mark given for it.
• However, if the student gives some elaboration after the first answer, which is clearly developing
their first answer, (which they are not required to do), do not consider this elaboration to be their
second answer (unless the elaboration happens to contain a second correct answer to the question
asked), regardless of whether there are other answers provided. In this case, the second answer
also, if correct, may be credited for the second mark
4 and 5 mark answer questions
Examiners should take care to note the target of the question. Clear information is provided for these
types of question on how to award marking points. Examiners should carefully read the additional
instructions provided for each type of question (eg for influence questions the final sentence in the
general guidance box reminds the examiner that the second mark (detailed explanation) awarded in
each case must show clear ‘influence’).
12 mark answer questions
The 12 mark questions test Evaluation skills (AO2). The mark scheme for these answers is based on
Levels of Response marking in which the examiner is required to make a judgement on the completed
answer taken as a whole.
4
