GCSE RS at STM

Here are the exam questions from last year’s exam paper. I suggest that you look at the 2006 paper first, though, since I would not expect as much repetition from last year’s paper.

1.
a) What is the incarnation? (2)
b) Outline Christian beliefs about God as creator. (6)
c) Explain why the resurrection of Jesus is important for Christians. (8)
d) “All Christians should believe in the Virgin Birth of Jesus.” Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing that you have considered another point of view. (4)

2.
a) What is reconciliation? (2)
b) Outline the parable of the Good Samaritan. (6)
c) Explain why the belief in God as Father is important for Christians. (8)
d) “It doesn’t matter if you sin, as long as you say sorry to God.” Do you agree? (4)

3.
a) What is celibacy? (2)
b) Outline Catholic beliefs about the Bible. (6)
c) Explain why Christians describe the Church as the Body of Christ. (8)
d) “The Church needs women priests.” (4)

4.
a) What is dogma? (2)
b) Outline the role of the laity. (6)
c) Explain why the Pope is important for Catholics. (8)
d) “The Church shouldn’t be called ‘One’ because there are so many different Christian Churches.” Do you agree? (4)

5.
a) What are vows? (2)
b) Outline the main features of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. (6)
c) Explain why celebrating Holy Week is important for Catholics. (8)
d) “All Christians should celebrate the Eucharist in the same way.” Do you agree? (4)

6.
a) What is chrism? (2)
b) Outline the main features of the Sacrament of Confirmation. (6)
c) Explain why Catholics celebrate Christmas. (8)
d) “Only adults should be baptised.” Do you agree? (4)

7.
a) Who are the oppressed? (2)
b) Outline what the Sermon on the Mount teaches about displaying religion. (6)
c) Explain how keeping the Ten Commandments shows respect for God. (8)
d) “Serving others is too difficult.” (4)

8.
a) What is compassion? (2)
b) Outline how one twentieth century Christian has shown service to others. (6)
c) Explain why the Golden Rule is important for Christians. (8)
d) “The Ten Commandments are out of date.” (4)

9.
a) Describe the main features of a Catholic Church or cathedral. (4)
b) Explain why there are differences in Christian places of worship. (8)
c) “The priest has no role to play in the local community today.” (8)

I am copying the questions here for you to use in your revision over the next couple of days. All the best!

2006 Exam Paper

1.
a) What is forgiveness? (2)
b) Outline Christian beliefs about Jesus. (6)
c) Explain why salvation is important for Christians. (8)
d) “It is impossible to believe in the Trinity today.” Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing that you have considered another point of view. (4)

2.
a) What is the Trinity? (2)
b) Outline Christian beliefs about God as Father. (6)
c) Explain why the love of others is important for Christians. (8)
d)”The crucifixion of Jesus was a waste of his life.”

3.
a) What is apostolic succession? (2)
b) Outline the role of a bishop. (6)
c) Explain why Christians say that the Church is catholic. (8)
d) “Catholics pay too much attention to the Virgin Mary.” Do you agree?

4.
a) What is the communion of saints? (2)
b) Outline Catholic beliefs about the Church. (6)
c) Explain why the celibacy of the clergy is important for Catholics. (8)
d) “The Church is the only way to God.”

5.
a) What is Easter? (2)
b) Outline how Catholics celebrate Holy Week. (6)
c) Explain why the Mass is important for Catholics. (8)
d) “Confirmation is the most important sacrament.” Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing that you have considered another point of view. (4)

6.
a) What is meant by the real presence? (2)
b) Outline what happens during the sacrament of anointing of the sick. (6)
c) Explain why Lent is important for Catholics. (8)
d) “True Catholics go to Mass every Sunday.” Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing that you have considered another point of view. (4)

7.
a) What is the Sermon on the Mount? (2)
b) Outline what the Ten Commandments say about showing respect for God. (6)
c) Explain why Christians should serve others. (8)
d) “Jesus is the only example Christians should follow.” (4)

8.
a) What is service to others? (2)
b) Outline the teachings of The Sermon on the Mount about Christians and money. (6)
c) Explain how keeping the Ten Commandments shows respect for other people. (8)
d) “Catholics should never judge other people.”

9.
a) Outline the role and function of the church in the local community, or of the cathedral in the local diocese. (4)
b) Choose a Catholic church or cathedral, and explain why it has certain architectural and other features. (8)
c) “All Christians should worship in the same way.” Do you agree? (4)

I have uploaded a number of slideshows/presentations to the excellent slide sharing site, www.slideshare.net. Other students who are sitting your exams have left messages to say that they have found some of them helpful (and some not so!). Here they all are in one post. Remember, they are all intended just to support your other revision, and do not simply “play” them, but click through each slide at your own paste. Feel free to leave a comment to say whether or not you have found them useful!

Unit J Overview

J1: Beliefs and Values

J2: Community and Tradition

J2: C&T Revision Tasks

J4.1 10 Commandments

J4.2 10 Commandments

J4.3 Law of Moses

J4.4 Displaying Religion

J4.6 Judgement

J4.7 Golden Rule

J4.9 Helping those in need

Unit C Revision Slide

C3 Marriage and Family Life

To practice your KEY WORDS (for both Year 10s and Year 11s) - Click here.

To purchase Revision Podcasts, click here.

To download free Revision Podcasts that I have recorded - click here.

To download the Year 10 overview Revision Podcast - click here.

Unit J Revision Slideshare - Click here.

J1 Beliefs and Values Revision Slideshare - Click here.

J2 Community and Tradition Revision Slideshare - Click here.

Unit C Revision Slideshare - Click here.

C3 Marriage and Family Life Revision Slideshare - Click here.

C2 Matters of Life and Death GCSE Bitesize - Click here for beliefs in life after death and click here for the sanctity of life.

To view a variety of Year 10 and Year 11 exam questions - click here.

I am slowly uploading all the key words as flash cards on an excellent site that I have found called Quizlet. You can practice your words, then test yourself, and they seem to really work. I now know that the capital of Alaska is Juneau, which I’ll probably never forget after having a go with another set of cards. You can also sign up and create your own flashcards for any subject that you need to learn either key words for, or you could just make them questions and answers.

Click on the link for the set of key words you want to practice:

Year 10/Resits - Unit J

J1 Beliefs and Values

J2 Community and Tradition

J3 Community and Tradition

J4 Living the Christian Life

Year 11 - Unit C

C1 Believing in God - Click here for a variety of games to test these words.

C2 Matters of Life and Death

C3 Marriage and Family Life

C4 Social Harmony

Drop me a line to let me know how you get on!

Homework due for week beginning Monday 16 March.

Revise for your test on J3 Worship and Celebration.

Homework due on Monday 9 March.

Imagine you are Peter. Write the diary entry entries for each day during Holy Week. There are sentence starters below to help you. (If you prefer, you could choose Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus, Caiaphas the High Priest, Pontius Pilate or a Jewish pilgrim to Jerusalem instead.)

Sunday. What an amazing day! We walked into Jerusalem, Jesus riding on a donkey, with people waving palm branches and …

Monday. I’m really nervous. I’ve never seen Jesus like this before. He …

Tuesday. Today Jesus taught us …

Wednesday. It was nice to stay at home today.

Thursday. What a terrible, terrible day. I’ll never be able to look Jesus in the eye again. I’m so, so scared. It had all started off so pleasantly, when we …

You could include some of the following emotions:

Excited
Powerful
Nervous
Worried
Scared
Indignant
Sad
Depressed
Happy
astonished

Homework due on Monday 9 March 2009.

Imagine that you are a Catholic who is against the ordination of women. Write a letter to the editor of The Tablet (Catholic Newspaper) explaining your views.

Remember to comment on alternative points of view, explaining why you disagree with them.

For example, you could start:

Dear Sir,

I am concerned that the recent discussions in the Anglican Communion regarding the role of women in the priesthood might encourage Catholics to want women priests as well. I feel that it is necessary to write to let you know my views.

This homework was due last Monday, 2 March 2009.

“Christmas is the most important Christian festival.” Do you agree? Give reasons for your answer, showing that you have considered another point of view.

(Remember to compare Christmas to Easter - which do you think is more important, and why? Why might people think each is the most important?)