WJEC GCE A Level
Religious Studies
Examination Feedback
Summer 2015
WJEC GCE Religious Studies - A 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
Unit 2
Contemporary Religion and
Society
Ethics
Unit 5
Christianity
General feedback
Unit 6
Eastern
Religions
Unit 3
Philosophy
of Religion
Unit 4
Biblical
Studies (N.T.)
Unit 7
Western
Religions
Unit 9
Human
Experience
Resources for Teachers
Contact information for WJEC staff
Feedback on 1348/01 & 1348/51:
A Level : Religion in Contemporary Society
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
UMS Grade 080 070 060 050 040
Boundary
Raw Mark 073 061 049 037 026
Grade
Boundary
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
U
Religion in
Contemporary
Society
21.5%
32.6%
26.4%
11.1%
5.8%
2.7%
Cumulative
A
A-B
A-C
A-E
21.5%
54.1%
80.5%
97.3%
Feedback on 1348/01 & 1348/51 :
A Level : Religion in Contemporary Society
32.6%
26.4%
21.5%
11.1%
5.8%
2.7%
U
E
D
C
B
A
Feedback on 1348/01 & 1348/51 :
A Level : Religion in Contemporary Society
Question (a)s
30 marks
Question in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q2a
18.6
62.1
Q4a
18.2
60.8
Q3a
18.0
59.9
Q1a
15.7
52.3
Question (a)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
16.5
13.7
-2.8
Q2a
19.3
17.1
-2.2
Q3a
18.1
17.3
-0.8
Q4a
18.2
18.6
+0.4
AVG difference
-1.4
Feedback on 1348/01 & 1348/51 :
A Level : Religion in Contemporary Society
Question (b)s
20 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q4b
13.7
68.6
Q3b
13.0
65.0
Q2b
11.7
58.6
Q1b
11.6
52.3
Question (b)s
20 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
12.3
9.9
-2.4
Q2b
12.1
10.8
-1.3
Q3b
13.3
11.7
-1.6
Q4b
13.9
12.9
-1.0
AVG difference
-1.6
Click here to go to RS 4
Feedback on 1348/02 & 1348/52 :
A Level : Religion and Ethics
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
UMS Grade 080 070 060 050 040
Boundary
Raw Mark 075 063 051 039 027
Grade
Boundary
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
U
Religion and
Ethics
23.9%
29.6%
26.1%
14.2%
4.4%
1.9%
Cumulative
A
A-B
A-C
A-E
23.9%
53.5%
79.6%
98.1%
Feedback on 1348/02 & 1348/52 :
A Level : Religion and Ethics
29.6%
26.1%
23.9%
14.2%
4.4%
1.9%
U
E
D
C
B
A
Feedback on 1348/02 & 1348/52 :
A Level : Religion and Ethics
Question (a)s
30 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q1a
20.2
67.2
Q2a
19.2
64.0
Q4a
18.9
63.2
Q3a
17.1
57.2
Question (a)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
20.1
20.3
+0.2
Q2a
19.2
19.3
+0.1
Q3a
17.1
17.2
+0.1
Q4a
19.1
18.6
-0.5
AVG difference
-0.025
Feedback on 1348/02 & 1348/52 :
A Level : Religion and Ethics
Question (b)s
20 marks
Question in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q2b
12.9
64.3
Q4b
12.9
64.6
Q1b
12.8
63.8
Q3b
11.3
56.6
Question (b)s
20 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
12.8
12.7
-0.1
Q2b
12.9
12.9
/
Q3b
11.5
11.0
-0.5
Q4b
13.0
12.7
-0.3
AVG difference
-0.3
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Click here to go to RS 4
Feedback on 1348/03 & 1348/53 :
A Level : Philosophy of Religion
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
UMS Grade 080 070 060 050 040
Boundary
Raw Mark 077 064 052 040 028
Grade
Boundary
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
U
Philosophy of
Religion
28.1%
30.7%
21.1%
11.7%
5.4%
3.0%
Cumulative
A
A-B
A-C
A-E
28.1%
58.8%
79.9%
97.0%
Feedback on 1348/3 & 1348/53 :
A Level : Philosophy of Religion
30.7%
28.1%
21.1%
11.7%
5.4%
3.0%
U
E
D
C
B
A
Feedback on 1348/03 & 1348/53:
A Level : Philosophy of Religion
Question (a)s
30 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q3a
21.3
70.8
Q4a
20.8
69.2
Q1a
20.6
68.7
Q2a
16.8
55.8
Question (a)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
20.8
20.1
-0.7
Q2a
17.0
16.1
-0.9
Q3a
21.8
20.0
-1.8
Q4a
21.0
20.2
-0.8
AVG difference
-1.1
Feedback on 1348/03 & & 1348/53:
A Level : Philosophy of Religion
Question (b)s
20 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q3b
13.4
66.8
Q1b
13.1
65.6
Q4b
13.1
65.7
Q2b
11.8
58.8
Question (a)s
20 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
13.2
12.8
-0.4
Q2b
11.9
11.4
-0.5
Q3b
13.5
13.0
-0.5
Q4b
13.3
12.8
-0.5
AVG difference
-0.5
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Click here to go to RS 4
Feedback on 1348/04 & 1348/54:
A Level : Biblical Studies (N.T. only)
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
UMS Grade 080 070 060 050 040
Boundary
Raw Mark 072 060 048 037 026
Grade
Boundary
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
U
Biblical
Studies
19.0%
31.0%
17.2%
19.0%
12.1%
1.7%
Cumulative
A
A-B
A-C
A-E
19.0%
50.0%
67.2%
98.3%
Feedback on 1348/04 & 1348/54:
A Level : Biblical Studies (N.T. only)
31.00%
19.00%
19.00%
17.20%
12.10%
1.70%
U
E
D
C
B
A
Feedback on 1348/04 & 1348/54:
A Level : Biblical Studies (N.T. only)
Low candidate numbers mean these statistics should be treated with caution
Question (a)s
30 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q3a
18.2
60.7
Q2a
17.7
59.0
Q1a
17.6
58.6
Q4a
15.3
51.2
Question (a)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
17.3
18.4
+1.1
Q2a
17.6
19.0
+1.4
Q3a
17.8
19.0
+1.2
Q4a
15.5
15.2
-0.3
AVG difference
+0.9
Feedback on 1348/04 & 1348/54:
A Level Biblical Studies (N.T. only)
Low candidate numbers mean these statistics should be treated with caution
Question (b)s
20 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q1b
12.3
58.6
Q2b
10.4
52.2
Q3b
10.2
51.1
Q4b
7.1
35.5
Question (a)s
20 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
12.5
12.0
-0.5
Q2b
10.5
9.5
-1.0
Q3b
9.4
11.6
+2.2
Q4b
7.0
7.2
+0.2
AVG difference
+0.2
Feedback on 1348/05 & 1348/55:
A Level Christianity
Very low candidate numbers mean these statistics should be treated with caution
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
UMS Grade 080 070 060 050 040
Boundary
Raw Mark 072 061 050 039 028
Grade
Boundary
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
U
Christianity
16.7%
16.7%
16.7%
33.3%
16.7%
0%
Cumulative
A
A-B
A-C
A-E
16.7%
33.4%
50.0%
100%
Feedback on 1348/05 & 1348/55 :
A Level Christianity
Very low candidate numbers mean these statistics should be treated with caution
33.30%
16.70%
16.70%
16.70%
16.70%
C
B
A
0%
U
E
D
Feedback on 1348/05 & 1348/55 :
A Level Christianity
Very low candidate numbers mean these statistics should be treated with caution
All the candidates in this option were female.
Question (a)s
30 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q3a
21.7
72.2
Q4a
21.0
70.0
Q2a
5.5
18.3
Q1a
n/a
n/a
Question (b)s
20 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q4b
9.0
45.0
Q3b
8.8
44.2
Q2b
4.0
20.0
Q1b
n/a
n/a
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Click here to go to RS 4
Feedback on 1348/06 & 1348/56:
A Level Eastern Religions (all)
A
Grade
B
C
D
E
UMS Grade 080 070 060 050 040
Boundary
Raw Mark
Grade
Boundary
079 066 053 040 027
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
U
Eastern
Religions
24.4%
25.9%
24.9%
13.2%
7.3%
4.3%
Cumulative
A
A-B
A-C
A-E
24.4%
50.3%
75.2%
95.7%
Feedback on 1348/06 & 1348/56:
A Level : Eastern Religions (all)
25.9%
24.9%
24.4%
13.2%
7.3%
4.3%
U
E
D
C
B
A
Feedback on 1348/06 & 1348/56:
A Level Eastern Religions (Buddhism)
Question (a)s
30 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q3a
21.7
72.5
Q1a
19.1
63.6
Q2a
18.8
62.8
Q4a
17.7
59.0
Question (a)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
19.1
19.1
0.0
Q2a
19.0
18.1
-0.9
Q3a
22.0
21.0
-1.0
Q4a
18.4
15.3
-3.1
AVG difference
-1.3
Feedback on 1348/06 & 1348/56:
A Level : Eastern Religions (Buddhism)
Question (b)s
20 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q3b
12.2
61.2
Q1b
10.9
54.4
Q2b
10.2
51.0
Q4b
10.2
50.9
Question (b)s
20 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
10.9
10.9
0.0
Q2b
10.3
10.0
-0.3
Q3b
12.4
11.7
-0.7
Q4b
10.4
9.4
-1.0
AVG difference
-0.5
Feedback on 1348/06 & 1348/56:
A Level : Eastern Religions (Hinduism)
Question (a)s
30 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q1a
21.8
72.5
Q2a
20.7
69.1
Q3a
20.7
68.9
Q4a
20.4
68.1
Question (a)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
21.9
21.4
-0.5
Q2a
21.1
19.6
-1.5
Q3a
20.3
22.4
+2.1
Q4a
20.6
19.8
-0.8
AVG difference
-0.2
Feedback on 1348/06 & 1348/56:
A Level : Eastern Religions (Hinduism)
Question (b)s
20 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q3b
13.3
66.3
Q4b
13.0
65.1
Q1b
12.8
64.1
Q2b
12.4
61.9
Question (b)s
20 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
13.2
11.7
-1.5
Q2b
12.3
12.6
+0.3
Q3b
13.1
13.9
+0.8
Q4b
13.1
12.6
-0.5
AVG difference
-0.2
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Click here to go to RS 4
Feedback on 1348/07 & 1348/57:
A Level : Western Religions (all)
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
UMS Grade 080 070 060 050 040
Boundary
Raw Mark
Grade
Boundary
079 066 053 040 027
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
U
Western
Religions
14.3%
36.2%
30.5%
15.2%
2.9%
1.0%
Cumulative
A
A-B
A-C
A-E
14.3%
50.5
81.0
99.0%
Feedback on 1348/07 & 1348/57:
A Level : Western Religions (all)
36.2%
30.5%
15.2%
14.3%
2.9%
1.0%
U
E
D
C
B
A
Feedback on 1348/07 & 1348/57:
A Level : Western Religions (Islam)
Low candidate numbers mean these statistics should be treated with caution
Question (a)s
30 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q2a
22.4
74.7
Q3a
22.4
74.7
Q1a
n/a
n/a
Q4a
n/a
n/a
Question (a)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Q2a
22.0
24.0
+2.0
Q3a
21.5
26.0
+4.5
Q4a
n/a
n/a
n/a
AVG difference
+3.3
Feedback on 1348/07 & 1348/57:
A Level : Western Religions (Islam)
Low candidate numbers mean these statistics should be treated with caution
Question (b)s
20 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q3b
12.4
62.0
Q2b
10.2
51.0
Q1b
n/a
n/a
Q4b
n/a
n/a
Question (b)s
20 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
n/a
n/a
n/a
Q2b
9.5
13.0
+3.5
Q3b
12.5
12.0
+0.5
Q4b
n/a
n/a
n/a
AVG difference
+2.0
Feedback on 1348/07 & 1348/57:
A Level : Western Religions (Judaism)
Low candidate numbers mean these statistics should be treated with caution
Question (a)s
30 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q1a
19.6
65.4
Q4a
19.4
64.7
Q2a
19.3
64.4
Q3a
18.9
63.0
Question (a)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
19.6
20.0
+0.4
Q2a
19.5
18.5
+1.0
Q3a
18.6
20.2
+1.6
Q4a
19.3
19.8
+0.5
AVG difference
-0.9
Feedback on 1348/07 & 1348/57:
A Level : Western Religions (Judaism)
Low candidate numbers mean these statistics should be treated with caution
Question (b)s
20 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q2b
13.3
66.6
Q3b
12.5
62.5
Q4b
12.4
61.9
Q1b
12.3
61.7
Question (b)s
20 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
12.4
11.7
-0.7
Q2b
13.4
13.0
-0.4
Q3b
12.5
12.4
-0.1
Q4b
12.3
12.7
+0.4
AVG difference
-0.2
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Click here to go to RS 4
Feedback on 1349/01 & 1349/51:
A Level - Religion and Human Experience
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
UMS Grade 080 070 060 050 040
Boundary
Raw Mark
Grade
Boundary
Grade
Human
Experience
Cumulative
A
057 049 041 033 026
B
20.4% 24.3%
C
D
E
U
24.8%
17.0%
8.1%
5.5%
A
A-B
A-C
A-E
20.4%
44.7%
69.5%
94.5%
Feedback on 1349/01 & 1349/51:
A Level : Religion and Human Experience
24.8%
24.3%
20.4%
17.0%
8.1%
5.5%
U
E
D
C
B
A
Feedback on 1349/01 & 1349/51:
A Level : Religion and Human Experience
Question (a)s
45 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q2a
28.8
63.9
Q1a
27.9
61.9
Q3a
27.9
62.0
Question (a)s
45 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1a
28.8
25.1
-3.7
Q2a
28.9
28.4
-0.5
Q3a
28.4
26.6
-1.8
AVG difference
-2.0
Feedback on 1349/01 & 1349/51:
A Level - Religion and Human Experience
Question (b)s
30 marks
Questions in
numerical order
by mean
Facility Factor
Q2b
19.0
63.4
Q1b
17.4
58.1
Q3b
17.4
58.1
Question (b)s
30 marks
Female mean
per question
Male mean
per question
Difference
Q1b
18.0
15.8
-2.2
Q2b
19.0
19.1
+0.1
Q3b
17.6
17.1
-0.5
AVG difference
-0.9
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Common features of
good candidates’ responses to the questions set:
In response to Q(a)s, good candidates:
•
•
Read the question carefully, planned their
response, focussed on the question and
addressed it.
In response to Q(b)s, good candidates:
•
Supported the relevant arguments they gave
with reasons and or/evidence.
•
Gave mature/critical analysis and evaluation
of the arguments presented, including
reference to scholarly opinion.
•
Provided a reasoned conclusion to their
response.
Made good use of religious principles,
different views within a religion, sacred texts,
etc.
•
Demonstrated the depth of their
knowledge and understanding by using
a range of examples.
•
Provided evidence of independent learning,
including a thorough knowledge and
understanding of scholarly opinion.
•
Made synoptic links with the other areas they
had studied (including at AS level) where
appropriate and relevant to the question.
•
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 write pre-prepared generic answers,
which did not address the specific demands of
the question. Subsequently they included
irrelevant material in their responses
•
gave brief lists of arguments ‘for’ and ‘against’
with no, or little analysis and evaluation.
Arguments were often unsubstantiated or
vague
•
gave disorganised responses
•
•
often made irrelevant references to scholarly
material
repeated information from (a) with little or no
adaptation to the question
•
did not appeared to have learnt relevant
terminology such as “genetic manipulation”
and as a result could not address the
questions set effectively
•
Failed to offer a reasoned conclusion in their
response.
•
•
•
demonstrated a lack of depth of understanding
and knowledge in their responses. Answers were
superficial. Knowledge and understanding was
basic/patchy
only referred to one element of a two element
question
referred to irrelevant aspects of analysis and
evaluation in their part (a) answers.
There were also a number of illegible scripts and
centres would be advised to make use of the
available support for these candidates.
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