Studies of Religion

Short Answer Responses

Aim

The

aim of the Stage 6 Studies of Religion

syllabus is to promote an understanding and
critical awareness of the nature and
significance of religion and the influence of
belief systems and religious traditions on
individuals and within society.

SC Exam Specifications
Section

1:
RELIGION AND BELIEF
SYSTEMS IN AUSTRALIA POST
1945
Objective response questions /10
One short answer question /5

Religion and Belief

Systems in Australia post outline the changing
1945.
The religious landscape
patterns of religious
from 1945 to the
present in relation to:
- the changing
patterns of adherence
- the current religious
landscape.

adherence from 1945 to

the present using census
data
account for the present
religious landscape in
Australia in relation to:
- Christianity as the
major religious tradition
- Immigration
- Denominational
switching
- Rise of New Age
Religions
- Secularism

What skills do
YOU need
when writing a
short answer
response?

Short answer questions.

Refer

explicitly to any quote or image

Plan what you are going to write
Use ONLY the lines available
This question is worth 5 marks- dont
write an essay
No Introduction go straight to the
question!
Use explicit examples wherever
possible

Unpacking the
Question

Instruction
Content

- circle

Underline
Limits- box

Unpack the question

Step

1
Step 2

Read

the Question carefully.

Circle the Process or
instructional words- the verbs!

I think its fair to say thatI come from the

Methodist tradition of the Christian church.
Although when I do go to church
now, which is more often than Christmas and
Easter, but certainly not once a week, I tend to go
to an Anglican church.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard in an ABC TV Compass interview,
2004.

Referring to the stimulus above and

your own knowledge, suggest two
influences on the pattern of
religious affiliation in

Unpack the question

Step

1
Step 2

Read

the Question carefully.

Circle the Process or
instructional words- the verbs!

I think its fair to say thatI come from the

Methodist tradition of the Christian church.
Although when I do go to church
now, which is more often than Christmas and
Easter, but certainly not once a week, I tend to
go to an Anglican church.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard in an ABC TV Compass
interview, 2004.

Referring to the stimulus above

and your own knowledge, suggest
two influences on the pattern of

Unpack the question

Step

3
Step 4

Underline

the content words.

Draw a box around the limiting
I think its words.
fair to say thatI come from the

Methodist tradition of the Christian church.

Although when I do go to church
now, which is more often than Christmas and
Easter, but certainly not once a week, I tend to
go to an Anglican church.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard in an ABC TV Compass
interview, 2004.

Referring to the stimulus above

and your own knowledge, suggest
two influences on the pattern of
religious affiliation in

Unpack the question

Step

3
Step 4

Underline

the content words.

Draw a box around the limiting
I think itswords.
fair to say thatI come from the

Methodist tradition of the Christian church.

Although when I do go to church
now, which is more often than Christmas and
Easter, but certainly not once a week, I tend to
go to an Anglican church.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard in an ABC TV Compass
interview, 2004.

Referring to the stimulus above

and your own knowledge, suggest
two influences on the pattern of
religious affiliation in

Making reference to
the stimulus
material.
What

message/concept/idea is
this statement trying to
convey?

Explicit

reference needs to be
made to this statement in a
response.

Marking Guidelines
Suggest
Stimulus
Two

influences
Pattern of Religious
Affiliation in Australia

Unpack the question

Step

1
Step 2

Read

the Question carefully.

Circle the Process or
instructional words- the verbs!

Making reference to the stimulus

material discuss the current
religious landscape of Australia.

Unpack the question

Step

1
Step 2

Read

the Question carefully.

Circle the Process or
instructional words- the verbs!

Making reference to the stimulus

material discuss the current
religious landscape of Australia.

Unpack the question

Step

3
Step 4

Underline

the content words.

Draw a box around the limiting
words.

Making reference to the stimulus

material discuss the current
religious landscape of Australia.

Unpack the question

Step

3
Step 4

Underline

the content words.

Draw a box around the limiting
words.

Making reference to the stimulus

material discuss the current
religious landscape of Australia.

Making reference to
the stimulus
material.
What

is this image trying to

convey?

Reference

needs to be made to
this image explicitly in a
response.

 Cross
Rebuilding from the
old bricks
Contemporary Style
of architecture
Movement of
workers

Cross
Crumbling Building
Traditional/grander
style of buildingbell tower, door
No workers

What does this have to

do with the current
religious landscape of
Australia?

discuss
Identify

issues and provide points for and against.

Issues identified:

Points against

Points for

And / or

http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/glossary_keywords.html

a structure to use
Make

a POINT that links to

the question
Back it up with an EXAMPLE
ELABORATE upon the above
a short answer response
make links to the stimulus
and USE the words in the
question to guide the
answer.

POINT

EXAMPLE

For

ELABORATION

LINK

some hints
You

are not writing an

extended response so you do
not need an introduction
The markers are expecting
you to use the lines available
to answer the question
Concise writing
Links to the questionstimulus
Relevant examples

LINK

POINT

EXAMPLE

ELABORATION

Marking Guidelines:

* stimulus material
* discuss
* religious landscape
Mark
Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge and
understanding of the main features of the current
religious landscape in Australia using specific examples.
Makes explicit links to the stimulus material.

Demonstrates sound knowledge and understanding of

the features of the current religious landscape in
Australia.
Makes some reference to the stimulus material.

3-4

Demonstrates limited knowledge of Australias religious

landscape.
May/may not make reference to the stimulus material.

1-2

a response
The way Australians view their religious
landscape has changed dramatically due to
denominational switching, rise in secularism
and embracing new age religions. As the
stimulus material suggests, adherents have
been reconsidering their views on their chosen
religion and have been switching from one to
another. Most recently, people have been
leaving their traditional religions to move into
something more modern and dynamic, such as
the rise in Pentecostalism. There has been a
rise in secularism due to more people
admitting they are none religions, and instead
an atheist.

1.

a response continued
There has been a rise in secularism because
people are becoming more disillusioned
towards their beliefs, such as the adherents
of Christianity. New Age religions such as
Astrology and Scientology have also altered
the current Australian religious landscape
as they challenge traditional beliefs and
practices. In relation to the stimulus
material, adherents move religious
denominations quite frequently in order to
keep us with the rapid pace of society and
find a group of believer like themselves.

1.

a response
Denominational switching is a feature of the
current religious landscape. It refers to the
movement of adherents between Christian
groups such as between Protestant and Anglican
denominations. This can be visualised in the
diagram by the man with the wheelbarrow
moving between the two buildings. Many young
people are attracted to the charismatic and
inclusive nature of the Pentecostal churches
such as Hillsong. In the current landscape
people are prepared to search for a Christian
church that reflects their own spiritual
fulfilment. The number of people switching in
and out of Pentecostal Churches is

2.

a response
high. Adherents of the Anglican
Churches are seen to be declining,
whilst Pentecostal numbers are rising
which is shown in the stimulus where
one building has been in existence but
is now being reshaped into a more
contemporary style.

2.

a response

3.

Christianity is the largest religious tradition in

Australia- 61.1% (2011 census). The 2011
census figures also show a steady decline in
the number of people identifying as Christians1947-87.3%, 2006-63.9% and 2011-61.1%. The
three largest denominations- Catholic, Anglican
and Uniting Church have dominated the current
landscape. The diagram shows that Christianity
has strong foundations in Australia, however as
the numbers are declining in the 3 largest
Christina denominations, number are rising in
the Pentecostal churches- shown in the
diagram by the new style of Church being built
up.

Question 11
For

this question, it is important to realise

that you do not need to write pages and
pages to achieve the optimum mark.
Try to use the words in the question to
guide your repsonse- eg. Current religious
landscape!
The space allocated in the answer booklet
is all that is required to answer such a
question.
Markers often note that too many
candidates waste time overwriting for this
question.
Concise writing supported by links to the
stimulus (if in the question) and relevant

HSC Papers
Marking guidelines

http://
www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.
au/hsc_exams/hsc2012exams/n
otes/religion-studies1-2-no
tes-12.pdf

HSC Papers
Sample Answers

http://www.boardofstudies.n
sw.edu.au/hsc_exams/hsc2012
exams/pdf_doc/studies-of-re
ligion-hsc-sample-answers-1
2.pdf

SC Exam Specifications
Section

1:
RELIGION AND BELIEF
SYSTEMS IN AUSTRALIA
POST 1945
Objective response questions /
10
One short answer question /5

Studies of Religion I and Studies of Religion II

Section I Religion and Belief Systems in Australia post-1945
Question 11
Answers could include:
Religious traditions in Australia have given strong support to the process of
reconciliation.
The traditions recognised that this process must include an understanding and
valuing of Aboriginal culture as well as ensuring that programs and strategies to
be put in place work towards justice and equity.
The Jewish tradition sees Aboriginal reconciliation as a human rights issue while
the Islamic tradition supports reconciliation on both moral and humanitarian
grounds.
Actions that support the relationship between Aboriginal spiritualities and
religious traditions could include:
Corroboree 2000 Bridge Walk religious leaders and adherents of all major
traditions participated.
Statements of support by religious leaders for Prime Ministers 2008 Apology
to the Stolen Generations and the commitment by the government to the
process of reconciliation.
The Christian and other religious traditions have politically supported the
process of land rights recognition
Hindus and Buddhists have similar views towards the process of Aboriginal
reconciliation.

Question 11 (Studies of Religion I and

II)
In better responses, candidates wrote within the space provided
and produced quality rather than quantity. In these responses,
candidates clearly demonstrated how at least two religious
traditions have contributed to the process of Aboriginal
reconciliation. Candidates also referred to variants of the religious
traditions where appropriate and provided relevant examples. A
comprehensive understanding of the timeline and aspects of
Aboriginal reconciliation were included in these responses.
In mid-range responses, candidates generally referred to one
religious tradition and may have included some examples.
In weaker responses, candidates provided general statements
about the process of Aboriginal reconciliation and/or some aspects
of religion. In these responses, candidates referred only to the
secular or political approach to Aboriginal reconciliation. In some
responses, candidates did not identify a religious tradition and
instead confused the concept with, for example, Aboriginal rituals
such as smoking ceremonies being included in Christian Eucharist.

3 main skills in the SoR exam

Objective

responsequestions/multiple choice- choosing

one correct answer
Short answer questions- concise
writing, using relevant examples,
referring to stimulus where required.
Extended response- essay style,
taking into account any glossary term
included in the question, and referring
to stimulus where required.

To go back to the aim of the course!

Remember

That a range of styles and questions will always be possible!

Students need to use different writing skills for each section of the
exam
Changes to the structure of Section II questions re the marks for each
section and dependent/non dependent parts
That the exam will not be predictable!
Students are encouraged to prepare for all of the syllabus outcomesknow what these are!
Go to the syllabus document and look at page 36 especially!
Remind students to always refer to quotes/stimulus items in a
response
Use the appropriate language and terminology of Studies of Religion
Use relevant examples especially from scripture
Wherever possible indicate variants
Refer to the rubrics for Section III
Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of a religious tradition and
how this is a living religious tradition.

SoR HSC Exam

The primary objective of
the examinations is for
your students to be able to
demonstrate thier
knowledge and
understanding of the
course.