RE Exam Technique
Full course

Rights and Responsibilities
•
(a) What is cloning? (2)
This is a knowledge Q. Short Q needs short answer
•
(b) Do you think everyone is entitled to human rights? Give 2 reasons (4)
This is an understanding Q. Give a personal response with 2 developed reasons.
(c) Explain why Christians would use the Bible to make decisions. (8)
• This is an understanding Q. Give two detailed reasons with examples. Or give 4 less detailed reasons.
(d) “Everyone should vote in elections”
•
(i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion(3)
Give your own opinion with a developed reason OR 3 quick reasons
•
(ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you (3)
Give a reasons religious point that disagrees with a developed reason or 3 quick

(a)
• 0, 1 or 2.
• Cloning is a form of genetic engineering that produces a duplicate of the parent.

(b)
• 1, 2, 3, or 4. 1 for stating opinion. + 1 for reason
• I think that everyone should have human rights as we are all equal and need to be protected by the law in times of crisis such as when someone seeks asylum because of war.
• However, I think that some people should lose their human rights such as when they are sent to prison as this is appropriate punishment for when they have destroyed the human rights of others.

• 1 for stating point + 1 for reason/ explanation. 4 points needed or 2 V detailed.
• Christians would refer to the Bible in times of moral dilemma because it a tried and tested source of authority written with God’s inspiration, therefore with his authority.
In particular they would use the Decalogue which are
God given rules in the Old testament directly sent to tell people how to behave. Further advice was given by
Jesus, through parables, and written in the New
Testament. As he was the Son of God this advice is also very useful in making decisions and does contain guidance on how to deal with other people from the value of respect and compassion. The teachings of St
Paul might also be helpful as he wrote a number of letters to Christian groups giving guidelines on behaviour. Even if Christians don’t see the Bible as literally the word of God it gives them a base to interpret for today’s society.

• I disagree with the statement because one person voting can’t make a difference. Often who we vote for are corrupt and do not fulfil their promises anyway and therefore our votes are wasted. It is too confusing to vote and many people do not understand the manifestos of political parties anyway.
• A Christian would disagree with me because their religion teaches them about moral responsibilities and a way to take action peacefully is to vote democratically. If we have a democracy it is our responsibility to use it and take part. The Bible states that love shouldn’t be just words but real love in the form of action. Christians believe that each person is important and therefore we can all make a difference, if everyone did something the effect would be enormous. The Bible teaches to take care of our brothers, but if we are all created by God then in some way we are all brothers and sisters so we have the responsibility for the welfare of all people sharing the earth.

Rights and Responsibilities
(a) What is fairtrade? (2)
(b) Do you think the conscience is a good guide for moral decision making? Give 2 reasons (4)
(c) Explain why Christians would be against Cloning (8)
(d) “Everyone can contribute to social change”
(i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion(3)
(ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you
(3)

(a) What is surrogacy? (2)
(b) Do you think that fertility treatment should be free for all? Give 2 reasons (4)
(c) Explain why one religion would be concerned with transplant surgery. (8)
(d) “Everyone should take part in conservation”
(i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion (3)
(ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you
(3)

(a)
• Surrogacy is when a woman bears a child on behalf of another woman.

(b)
• I do not think that fertility treatment should be free for all as some people are too old to have children, and could leave their child without parents at a young age and this would not be fair.
• I also think it should not be given to just anybody because if nature has decided that you can’t have children it is just not meant to be and you should accept that.

(c )
• Muslims are concerned with transplant surgery because the Qur’an teaches that at the end of the world people will be raised from the grave in bodily form and therefore nothing should be taken from the body. They believe in the Sanctity of life and noone has the right to harm the body that is a gift from Allah. This concept also includes the idea that Allah creates all humans with a plan and we should not mess with this plan. However, more modern Muslims may find justification in the Qur’an for transplants as it can be considered an act of charity.

• I think that only people with a lot of time and money can get involved in conservation. Most people are too busy to get involved in campaigns and need the convenience of ready meals and their cars. Buying sustainable fish or recycled paper is expensive and some households could not afford this in their weekly shop. It is unrealistic an unfair to expect everyone to fit solar panels to their homes or reduce their heating in the winter.
• A Christian would disagree with me because they believe that the earth was entrusted to us by God and we are therefore stewards of the earth with a moral responsibility to take care of it and protect it for future generations (which comes from Jesus’ parable of the
Gold coins). They interpret the Sermon on the Mount to mean that we should share resources fairly. Stewardship means they should work in harmony with the earth.
Charities such as Christian Aid puts this into practice by giving developing countries sustainable ways to live and progress.

(a) What is in vitro fertilisation? (2)
(b) Do you think surrogacy should be permitted Give 2 reasons (4)
(c) Explain why one religion believes we should protect the environment. (8)
(d) “Transplant surgery is morally good”
(i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion (3)
(ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you
(3)

(b)
• I think that surrogacy

Peace and Conflict
(a) What is pacifism? (2)
(b) Do you think war can be justified? Give 2 reasons (4)
(c) Explain what one religion other than Christianity thinks about war. (8)
(d) “Religion causes conflicts, even within families”
(i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion (3)
(ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you
(3)

(a)
• Pacifism means the belief that all disputes should be settled by peaceful means not fighting.

(b)
• I think that war can be justified as the government has to protect its citizens against global threats such as terrorism.
• I also think that war can be justified because if we are acting on the side of right for a greater good and the war could be won it is acceptable means to an end.

(c )
• Many Christians believe that war can be a necessary evil but they would prefer to live in peace. This stems from the belief that St Paul reinforced the idea of a Just war by saying that authority was given by God. Jesus did not condemn soldiers in his time and stated that a just war could overcome evil and reinstate good. However,
Christians are concerned with the nature of modern warfare because there continues to be civilian deaths.
Therefore some Christians are Pacifists and think we should have conflict resolution through peaceful means because the Bible teaches them to turn the other cheek
Jesus also taught principles of peace and forgiveness.
Quakers believe that fighting is always destructive. Hey have even joined blockades as a protest against war and the use of nuclear weapons.

• I think that religion does cause conflicts within families because in
Asian families children are expected to have an arranged marriage yet being brought up in Britain they would see friends choosing their own partner and wouldn’t want to follow this tradition anymore. They might also be encouraged to take on traditional gender roles such as a housewife by their parents but want to go to university and have a career instead. In a multi faith family there could be disagreements over the head of the family which is the man in Islam and could be both parents in a modern Christian home.
• However, Muslims would disagree with me as they do many things as a family to bring them together as a unit such as father and son going to Mosque on Friday and all praying together at home. They would follow the Qur’an that teaches them to respect their parents and this would therefore be the norm in their household. It is unlikely that parents would be from different backgrounds so they would agree with how to bring the children up

Peace and Conflict
(a) What is meant by world peace? (2)
(b) “The UN has not been successful” Do you agree? Give
2 reasons (4)
(c) Explain what one religion teaches about forgiveness.
(8)
(d) “No religious person should fight in a war”
(i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion (3)
(ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you
(3)

Crime and Punishment
(a) What is meant by retribution? (2)
(b) “Capital Punishment is a good deterrent” Do you agree?
Give 2 reasons (4)
(c) Explain what one religion other than Christianity believes about Justice.
(8)
(d) “Alcohol is the worst drug in society”
(i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion (3)
(ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you
(3)

Crime and Punishment
(a) What is meant by Shari’ah law? (2)
(b) “Justice means an eye for an eye” Do you agree? Give
2 reasons (4)
(c) Explain what one religion teaches about punishment.
(8)
(d) “No religious person should drink alcohol”
(i) Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion (3)
(ii) Give reasons why some people may disagree with you
(3)