GCSE RS at STM

Owing to popular demand, I have managed to complete another couple of revision slideshows, and if I manage to complete the fifth one, then I will add it here too. Then there will be a complete set of overview slideshows, one for each topic, showing four key points about each subheading in the syllabus, as well as a wide range of exam questions for you to practice. I know it’s short notice, but you never know, if even one of you finds something here that then helps you get a few extra marks in the exam, or reassures you that you know what you are talking about, then it will have been worth it.

Please leave a comment to let me know how you got on with these.

J1 Beliefs and Values

J2 Community and Tradition

J3 Worship and Celebration

J4 Living the Christian Life

J5 A Place of Christian Worship

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.

Very basic revision notes.

Until the first exam …

We have the dates for your exams!

The Year 11 (Unit J) paper is on 12 May. The Year 10 (Unit C) paper is on the 18 May. As you can see, the first paper is on the very first day of the exams, and you will not have a lot of time to revise in between the two papers if you are having to resit the paper from last year! So do the very best you can now, to make it easier later on!

Another reminder that the Unit C (Year 11) exam is on 14 May, and the Unit J (Year 10) exam is on 19 May.

Until then, every one of you should have the Year 10 and/or Year 11 revision guides, as well as the Revision Booklets which will help you go through the Revision Guides.

I am going to try and make some podcasts for you that can be downloaded onto mp3 players so that the audio learners amongst you can learn on the move by listening rather than just reading. Watch this space!

Click on the links below to listen to some revision notes. Drop me a comment to let me know if they are useful or not!

C1 Religious Upbringing

I have just started a new podbean account for podcasts. Click on the link to download GCSE revision podcasts. So far, these include:

C1.1 Believing in God: Catholic Upbringing
J1.1 Beliefs and Values: The Nature of God: Unity and Trinity
J1.2 Christian Beliefs about the Nature of God: the Father
J1.3 Christian Beliefs about the Nature of God: the Creator
J1.4 Christian beliefs about Jesus
J1.5 Christian beliefs about the Holy Spirit
J1.6 Symbols of the Holy Spirit
J1.7 Christian beliefs about Sin
J1.8 Christian beliefs about Salvation
J1.9 Christian values: Love of God
J1.10 Christian values: Love of Others
J1: Beliefs and Values – An Overview of the Key Facts