WJEC GCE AS Religious Studies
Examination Feedback
Summer 2015
WJEC GCE Religious Studies - AS Level
The full GCE Religious Studies report can be found here
Please select a unit from the menu below.
Click on the link to access individual unit feedback.
Unit 1
Religion &
Contemporary
Society
Unit 2
Religion and
Ethics
Unit 3
Philosophy of
Religion
Unit 4
Biblical Studies
Unit 5
Christianity
Unit 6
Eastern
Religions
Unit 7
Western
Religions
General feedback
Resources for Teachers
Contact information for WJEC staff
Feedback on 1341:
AS Religion & Contemporary Society
A
Grade
B
C
D
E
UMS Grade 080 070 060 050 040
Boundary
066 057 048 039 031
Raw Mark
Grade
Boundary
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
U
Religion in
Contemporary
Society
13.5%
26.2%
30.3%
16.9%
7.6%
5.5%
Cumulative
A
A-B
A-C
A-E
13.5%
39.7%
70%
94.5%
Feedback on 1341:
AS Religion & Contemporary Society
30.3%
26.2%
16.9%
13.5%
7.6%
5.5%
U
E
D
C
B
A
Feedback on 1341:
AS Religion & Contemporary Society
Question (a)s
30 marks
Question in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q3a
18.0
60.1
Q1a
17.5
58.2
Q4a
17.3
57.5
Q2a
17.2
57.3
Question (a)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
17.7
16.9
-0.8
Q2a
17.1
17.4
+0.3
Q3a
18.4
17.3
-1.1
Q4a
17.6
16.4
-1.2
AVG difference
-0.7
Feedback on 1341:
AS Religion & Contemporary Society
Question (b)s
15 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q1b
9.2
61.6
Q3b
8.7
58.1
Q4b
8.3
55.1
Q2b
8.0
53.4
Question (b)s
15 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
9.4
8.8
-0.6
Q2b
8.1
7.9
-0.2
Q3b
9.0
8.1
-0.9
Q4b
8.4
8.0
-0.4
AVG difference
-0.5
Click here to return to the Unit menu
Feedback on 1342:
AS Religion and Ethics
A
Grade
B
C
D
E
UMS Grade 080 070 060 050 040
Boundary
064 055 046 038 030
Raw Mark
Grade
Boundary
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
U
Religion and
Ethics
24.8%
25.1%
22.6%
13.1%
7.2%
7.2%
Cumulative
A
A-B
A-C
A-E
24.8%
49.9%
72.5%
92.8%
Feedback on 1342:
AS Religion and Ethics
25.1%
24.8%
B
A
22.6%
13.1%
7.2%
7.2%
U
E
D
C
Feedback on 1342:
AS Religion and Ethics
Question (a)s
30 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q1a
18.7
62.3
Q3a
17.6
58.7
Q4a
17.2
57.2
Q2a
16.4
54.8
Question (a)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
19.1
17.8
-1.3
Q2a
16.7
15.9
-0.8
Q3a
17.7
17.4
-0.3
Q4a
17.8
16.0
-1.8
AVG difference
-1.1
Feedback on 1342:
AS Religion and Ethics
Question (b)s
15 marks
Question in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q1b
9.2
61.2
Q3b
9.1
60.8
Q2b
9.0
60.1
Q4b
7.6
50.7
Question (b)s
15 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
9.3
8.9
-0.4
Q2b
9.2
8.7
-0.5
Q3b
9.1
9.1
0.0
Q4b
7.8
7.2
0.6
AVG difference
-0.1
Click here to return to the Unit menu
Feedback on 1343:
AS Philosophy of Religion
A
Grade
B
C
D
E
UMS Grade 080 070 060 050 040
Boundary
Raw Mark
Grade
Boundary
066 057 048 039 030
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
U
Philosophy of
Religion
25.3%
21.0%
19.2%
15.1%
9.3%
10.1%
Cumulative
A
A-B
A-C
A-E
25.3%
46.3%
65.5%
89.9%
Feedback on 1343:
AS Philosophy of Religion
25.3%
21.0%
19.2%
15.1%
10.1%
9.3%
U
E
D
C
B
A
Feedback on 1343:
AS Philosophy of Religion
Question (a)s
30 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q1a
19.8
66.0
Q2a
18.9
62.9
Q4a
16.2
54.1
Q3a
15.5
51.8
Question (a)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
20.0
19.5
-0.5
Q2a
19.4
17.9
-1.5
Q3a
15.8
14.9
-0.9
Q4a
16.8
14.8
-2.0
AVG difference
-1.2
Feedback on 1343:
AS Philosophy of Religion
Question (b)s
15 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q2b
8.7
57.7
Q1b
8.4
55.7
Q3b
8.3
55.0
Q4b
7.2
48.1
Question (b)s
15 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
8.4
8.3
-0.1
Q2b
8.8
8.3
-0.5
Q3b
8.3
8.1
-0.4
Q4b
7.4
6.7
-0.7
AVG difference
-0.4
Click here to return to the Unit menu
Feedback on 1344:
AS Biblical Studies (all)
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
UMS Grade 080 070 060 050 040
Boundary
Raw Mark
Grade
Boundary
067 057 048 039 030
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
U
Biblical
Studies
8.0%
14.5%
15.9%
18.0%
21.8%
21.8%
Cumulative
A
A-B
A-C
A-E
8.0%
22.5%
38.4%
78.2%
Feedback on 1344:
AS Biblical Studies (all)
21.8%
21.8%
18.0%
15.9%
14.5%
8.0%
U
E
D
C
B
A
Feedback on 1344: AS Biblical Studies (O.T.)
Low candidate numbers mean the statistics should be treated with caution
Question (a)s
30 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q3a
18.6
62.1
Q2a
16.6
55.3
Q4a
16.2
54.1
Q1a
9.2
30.7
Question (a)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
5.3
25.0
+19.7
Q2a
16.7
16.3
-0.4
Q3a
19.2
17.3
-1.9
Q4a
17.4
13.1
4.3
AVG difference
+5.4
Feedback on 1344: AS Biblical Studies (O.T.)
Low candidate numbers mean statistics should be treated with caution
Question (b)s
15 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q4b
8.3
55.5
Q3b
7.3
48.9
Q2b
6.9
46.0
Q1b
5.0
33.3
Question (b)s
15 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
3.0
13.0
+10
Q2b
7.0
6.8
-0.2
Q3b
7.6
6.6
-1.0
Q4b
8.8
7.1
-1.7
AVG difference
+1.8
Feedback on 1344: AS Biblical Studies (N.T.)
Low candidate numbers mean the statistics should be treated with caution
Question (a)s
30 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q1a
16.3
54.3
Q2a
13.0
43.4
Q3a
12.8
42.7
Q4a
9.3
31.0
Question (a)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
16.9
14.6
-2.3
Q2a
13.3
12.2
-1.1
Q3a
12.7
13.1
+0.4
Q4a
9.5
8.8
+0.7
AVG difference
-0.6
Feedback on 1344: AS Biblical Studies (N.T.)
Low candidate numbers mean the statistics should be treated with caution
Question (b)s
15 marks
Questions in
numerical order by
mean
Facility Factor
Q1b
7.8
51.7
Q2b
6.7
45.0
Q4b
6.4
42.8
Q3b
5.5
36.9
Question (b)s
15 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
8.0
7.1
-0.9
Q2b
6.8
6.6
-0.2
Q3b
5.5
5.6
+0.1
Q4b
6.3
6.9
+0.6
AVG difference
-0.1
Click here to return to the Unit menu
Feedback on 1345: AS Christianity
Very low candidate numbers mean the statistics should be treated with caution
A
Grade
B
C
D
E
UMS Grade 080 070 060 050 040
Boundary
Raw Mark
Grade
Boundary
067 056 046 036 026
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
U
Christianity
6.3%
18.8%
18.8%
25.0%
18.8%
12.5%
Cumulative
A
A-B
A-C
A-E
6.3%
25.1%
43.9%
87.5%
Feedback on 1345: AS Christianity
25.0%
18.8%
18.8%
18.8%
12.5%
6.3%
U
E
D
C
B
A
Feedback on 1345: AS Christianity
Very low candidate numbers mean the statistics should be treated with caution
Question (a)s
30 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q2a
20.9
69.7
Q4a
12.7
42.2
Q1a
11.8
39.4
Q3a
11.7
38.9
Question (a)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
15.0
11.5
-3.5
Q2a
22.1
18.0
-3.1
Q3a
12.6
7.0
-5.6
Q4a
15.3
10.0
-5.3
AVG difference
-4.4
Feedback on 1345: AS Christianity
Very low candidate numbers mean the statistics should be treated with caution
Question (b)s
15 marks
Questions in
numerical order by
mean
Facility Factor
Q2b
7.7
51.1
Q4b
6.8
45.6
Q3b
5.3
35.6
Q1b
4.6
30.9
Question (b)s
15 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
7.0
4.4
-2.6
Q2b
8.0
6.8
-2.2
Q3b
5.8
3.0
-2.8
Q4b
7.2
6.5
-0.7
AVG difference
-2.1
Click here to return to the Unit menu
Feedback on 1346:
AS Eastern Religions (all)
A
Grade
B
C
D
E
UMS Grade 080 070 060 050 040
Boundary
Raw Mark
Grade
Boundary
068 058 049 040 031
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
U
Eastern
Religions
24.5%
25.1%
19.2%
15.1%
8.4%
7.6%
Cumulative
A
A-B
A-C
A-E
24.5%
49.6%
68.8%
92.4%
Feedback on 1346: AS Eastern Religions (all)
25.1%
24.5%
19.2%
15.1%
8.4%
7.6%
U
E
D
C
B
A
Feedback on 1346:
AS Eastern Religions (Buddhism)
Question (a)s
30 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q2a
19.5
65.0
Q1a
19.4
64.6
Q4a
19.2
64.0
Q3a
18.0
59.9
Question (a)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
19.4
19.5
-0.1
Q2a
19.7
18.9
-0.8
Q3a
18.5
16.0
-2.5
Q4a
19.4
18.3
-1.1
AVG difference
-1.1
Feedback on 1346:
AS Eastern Religions (Buddhism)
Question (b)s
15 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q2b
9.6
63.9
Q3b
8.8
58.5
Q4b
8.5
56.6
Q1b
8.2
54.7
Question (b)s
15 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
8.2
8.3
+0.1
Q2b
9.7
9.4
-0.3
Q3b
8.9
8.3
-0.6
Q4b
8.5
8.4
-0.1
AVG difference
-0.2
Feedback on 1346:
AS Eastern Religions (Hinduism)
Question (a)s
30 marks
Questions in
numerical order by
mean
Facility Factor
Q2a
19.2
64.2
Q1a
18.7
62.4
Q3a
18.6
61.9
Q4a
16.8
56.1
Question (a)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
18.9
18.4
-0.5
Q2a
19.5
18.6
-0.9
Q3a
19.4
16.2
-3.2
Q4a
17.7
14.0
-3.7
AVG difference
-0.5
Feedback on 1346:
AS Eastern Religions (Hinduism)
Question (b)s
15 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q4b
9.3
62.0
Q1b
9.2
61.6
Q2b
9.0
60.2
Q3b
9.0
60.0
Question (b)s
15 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
9.3
9.1
-0.2
Q2b
9.1
8.9
-0.2
Q3b
9.3
8.2
-1.1
Q4b
9.7
8.1
-1.6
AVG difference
-0.8
Feedback on 1346:
AS Eastern Religions (Sikhism)
Very low candidate numbers mean the statistics should be treated with caution
Question (a)s
30 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q3a
21.9
73.0
Q1a
21.8
72.8
Q2a
18.6
62.0
Q4a
17.3
57.5
Question (a)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
20.9
26.5
+5.6
Q2a
18.8
16.0
-2.8
Q3a
22.4
17.0
-5.4
Q4a
17.3
n/a
n/a
AVG difference
-0.9
Feedback on 1346:
AS Eastern Religions (Sikhism)
Very low candidate numbers mean the statistics should be treated with caution
Question (b)s
15 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q1b
10.8
72.2
Q2b
10.3
68.9
Q3b
8.6
57.6
Q4b
8.5
56.7
Question (b)s
15 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
10.9
10.5
-0.4
Q2b
10.1
13.0
+2.9
Q3b
9.0
5.0
-4.0
Q4b
8.5
n/a
n/a
AVG difference
-1.7
Click here to return to the Unit menu
Feedback on 1347: AS Western Religions (all)
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
UMS Grade 080 070 060 050 040
Boundary
Raw Mark
Grade
Boundary
068 059 050 041 032
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
U
Western
Religions
17.9%
23.1%
19.2%
16.9%
12.1%
10.8%
Cumulative
A
A-B
A-C
A-E
41.0%
60.2%
89.2%
17.9%
Feedback on 1347: AS Western Religions (all)
23.1%
19.2%
17.9%
16.9%
12.1%
10.8%
U
E
D
C
B
A
Feedback on 1347:
AS Western Religions (Islam)
Question (a)s
30 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q3a
18.1
60.3
Q1a
17.1
57.1
Q2a
17.0
56.6
Q4a
16.9
56.4
Question (a)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
17.6
15.8
-1.8
Q2a
17.2
16.4
-0.8
Q3a
18.6
16.5
-2.1
Q4a
17.1
16.3
-0.8
AVG difference
-1.4
Feedback on 1347:
AS Western Religions (Islam)
Question (b)s
15 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q1b
10.8
72.1
Q3b
9.2
61.3
Q2b
8.6
57.4
Q4b
8.0
53.1
Question (b)s
15 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
10.9
10.7
-0.2
Q2b
8.8
8.1
-0.7
Q3b
9.6
7.9
-1.7
Q4b
8.5
5.9
-2.6
AVG difference
-1.3
Feedback on 1347:
AS Western Religions (Judaism)
Question (a)s
30 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q3a
17.7
59.0
Q1a
17.3
57.7
Q2a
16.6
55.5
Q4a
16.0
53.4
Question (a)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
17.3
17.2
-0.1
Q2a
17.3
15.0
-2.3
Q3a
17.9
16.7
-1.2
Q4a
16.4
14.5
-1.9
AVG difference
-1.4
Feedback on 1347:
AS Western Religions (Judaism)
Question (b)s
15 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q1b
10.1
67.1
Q3b
9.8
65.5
Q2b
9.3
62.0
Q4b
8.7
58.2
Question (b)s
15 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
9.9
10.5
+0.6
Q2b
9.4
9.1
-0.3
Q3b
9.9
9.4
-0.5
Q4b
8.8
8.6
-0.2
AVG difference
-0.1
Click here to return to the Unit menu
Common features of
good candidates’ responses to the questions set:
In response to Q(a)s, good candidates:
In response to Q(b)s, good candidates:
• Read the question carefully, planned
their response, focussed on the
question and addressed it.
• Supported the relevant arguments
they gave with reasons and
or/evidence.
• Made good use of religious principles,
different views within a religion,
sacred texts, etc.
• They also gave a critical analysis
and evaluation of the arguments
presented.
• Demonstrated the depth of their
knowledge and understanding by
using a range of examples.
• They provided a reasoned conclusion.
• Made reference to scholarly opinion.
• Made good use of specialist
vocabulary.
Common features of
weaker candidates’ responses to the questions set:
In response to Q(a)s, weaker candidates:
In response to Q(b)s, weaker candidates:
Tended to be pre-prepared generic
answers, which did not address the
specific demands of the question.
Subsequently they included irrelevant
material in their responses.
Responses contained brief lists of
arguments ‘for’ and ‘against’ with no, or
little analysis and evaluation. Arguments
were often unsubstantiated or vague.
When a question asked for two elements
they often only referred to one element.
Repeated information from (a) with little
or no adaptation to the question.
Demonstrated a lack of depth of
understanding and knowledge. Answers
were superficial.
Were unable to offer a reasoned
conclusion.
Included aspects of analysis and
evaluation which were irrelevant in part
(a) answers.
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