GCSE
RELIGIOUS STUDIES (SHORT COURSE)
8061/5
Section 5 Themes
Mark scheme
June 2025
Version: 1.0 Final
AQA GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES (SHORT COURSE) 8061/5 Section 5 Themes Mark scheme June 2025
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES (SHORT COURSE) – 8061/5 – JUNE
2025
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with
the relevant questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any
amendments made at the standardisation events which all associates participate in and is
the scheme which was used by them in this examination. The standardisation process
ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’ responses to questions and that every
associate understands and applies it in the same correct way.
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts.
Alternative answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated
for. If, after the standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have
not been raised they are required to refer these to the Lead Examiner.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further
developed and expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper.
Assumptions about future mark schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be
avoided; whilst the guiding principles of assessment remain constant, details will change,
depending on the content of a particular examination paper.
No student should be disadvantaged on the basis of their gender identity and/or how they
refer to the gender identity of others in their exam responses.
A consistent use of ‘they/them’ as a singular and pronouns beyond ‘she/her’ or ‘he/him’ will
be credited in exam responses in line with existing mark scheme criteria.
Further copies of this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk
Copyright information
AQA retains the copyright on all its publications. However, registered schools/colleges for AQA are permitted to copy material from this
booklet for their own internal use, with the following important exception: AQA cannot give permission to schools/colleges to photocopy any
material that is acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within the centre.
2
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES (SHORT COURSE) – 8061/5 – JUNE
2025
Copyright © 2025 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
3
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES (SHORT COURSE) – 8061/5 – JUNE
2025
Mark Schemes for GCSE Religious Studies
This paper requires expert markers who have wide knowledge and understanding of the
particular subject content of the Specification. With the exception of the multiple-choice
question, many of the questions asked have many different creditable answers and
students are able to bring to their answers their own knowledge, understanding and
background. They will offer details, arguments and evidence which the examiner, with the
help of the mark scheme, will need to judge as creditable or not. It is therefore important
that the examiner has a good understanding of the principles and spirit of the mark
scheme in order to be fair and consistent when marking students’ answers. The Content
included is designed to be as helpful as possible but in many cases is not exhaustive. So
Content sections are introduced by the sentence:
Students may include some of the following points, but all other relevant points must be credited:
this is to remind examiners that there may well be additional correct answers which, with
their expertise, they will be able to allow. With all questions if an examiner has any doubt
about answers being creditworthy they should consult their team leader.
Structure
The mark scheme for each question shows:
the question; Each question is printed in full before its target and mark scheme. It is
always important that examiners remind themselves of the exact question being asked.
In particular, they will need to do this in instances where the answer appears to be
‘straying’ from the question set or perhaps offers a valid alternative not included in the
mark scheme
target; The target provides the specific assessment objective which the question is
testing. It reminds examiners of the skills the question is designed to test, eg knowledge
and understanding, evaluation
the total marks available for the question and if Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar is
assessed
the typical answer(s) or content which are expected
generic instructions related to the question target of how to award marks (ie levels of
response grid).
Themes papers guidance (Specification A and Short Course)
In questions where students may choose religions from which to illustrate their answer,
there may be some general Content, ie credible comments which students will make which
could be applied to any religion or perhaps to a secular viewpoint as well. Where these are
appropriate they are usually given first. The mark scheme will also include, under separate
headings, Content sections for each of the six religions allowed within the Specifications.
General Guidance
.../.. means that these are acceptable alternative answers in the mark scheme, eg Guru Har
Krishan / Guru Tegh Bahadur / Guru Gobind Singh.
Answers may include specialist terms, in Hebrew or Arabic for example. If this is the case,
the mark scheme will usually indicate this by providing in brackets the English as well, eg
‘Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement)’. In such questions, answers will be credited whether
provided in the original language or in English.
4
RELIGIOUS STUDIES (SHORT COURSE)
8061/5
Section 5 Themes
Mark scheme
June 2025
Version: 1.0 Final
AQA GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES (SHORT COURSE) 8061/5 Section 5 Themes Mark scheme June 2025
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES (SHORT COURSE) – 8061/5 – JUNE
2025
Mark schemes are prepared by the Lead Assessment Writer and considered, together with
the relevant questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any
amendments made at the standardisation events which all associates participate in and is
the scheme which was used by them in this examination. The standardisation process
ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’ responses to questions and that every
associate understands and applies it in the same correct way.
As preparation for standardisation each associate analyses a number of students’ scripts.
Alternative answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed and legislated
for. If, after the standardisation process, associates encounter unusual answers which have
not been raised they are required to refer these to the Lead Examiner.
It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further
developed and expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper.
Assumptions about future mark schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be
avoided; whilst the guiding principles of assessment remain constant, details will change,
depending on the content of a particular examination paper.
No student should be disadvantaged on the basis of their gender identity and/or how they
refer to the gender identity of others in their exam responses.
A consistent use of ‘they/them’ as a singular and pronouns beyond ‘she/her’ or ‘he/him’ will
be credited in exam responses in line with existing mark scheme criteria.
Further copies of this mark scheme are available from aqa.org.uk
Copyright information
AQA retains the copyright on all its publications. However, registered schools/colleges for AQA are permitted to copy material from this
booklet for their own internal use, with the following important exception: AQA cannot give permission to schools/colleges to photocopy any
material that is acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within the centre.
2
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES (SHORT COURSE) – 8061/5 – JUNE
2025
Copyright © 2025 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.
3
, MARK SCHEME – GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES (SHORT COURSE) – 8061/5 – JUNE
2025
Mark Schemes for GCSE Religious Studies
This paper requires expert markers who have wide knowledge and understanding of the
particular subject content of the Specification. With the exception of the multiple-choice
question, many of the questions asked have many different creditable answers and
students are able to bring to their answers their own knowledge, understanding and
background. They will offer details, arguments and evidence which the examiner, with the
help of the mark scheme, will need to judge as creditable or not. It is therefore important
that the examiner has a good understanding of the principles and spirit of the mark
scheme in order to be fair and consistent when marking students’ answers. The Content
included is designed to be as helpful as possible but in many cases is not exhaustive. So
Content sections are introduced by the sentence:
Students may include some of the following points, but all other relevant points must be credited:
this is to remind examiners that there may well be additional correct answers which, with
their expertise, they will be able to allow. With all questions if an examiner has any doubt
about answers being creditworthy they should consult their team leader.
Structure
The mark scheme for each question shows:
the question; Each question is printed in full before its target and mark scheme. It is
always important that examiners remind themselves of the exact question being asked.
In particular, they will need to do this in instances where the answer appears to be
‘straying’ from the question set or perhaps offers a valid alternative not included in the
mark scheme
target; The target provides the specific assessment objective which the question is
testing. It reminds examiners of the skills the question is designed to test, eg knowledge
and understanding, evaluation
the total marks available for the question and if Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar is
assessed
the typical answer(s) or content which are expected
generic instructions related to the question target of how to award marks (ie levels of
response grid).
Themes papers guidance (Specification A and Short Course)
In questions where students may choose religions from which to illustrate their answer,
there may be some general Content, ie credible comments which students will make which
could be applied to any religion or perhaps to a secular viewpoint as well. Where these are
appropriate they are usually given first. The mark scheme will also include, under separate
headings, Content sections for each of the six religions allowed within the Specifications.
General Guidance
.../.. means that these are acceptable alternative answers in the mark scheme, eg Guru Har
Krishan / Guru Tegh Bahadur / Guru Gobind Singh.
Answers may include specialist terms, in Hebrew or Arabic for example. If this is the case,
the mark scheme will usually indicate this by providing in brackets the English as well, eg
‘Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement)’. In such questions, answers will be credited whether
provided in the original language or in English.
4
