AQA_2024: AS Religious Studies - Paper 2A Buddhism. (Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme)

AQA_2024: AS Religious Studies - Paper 2A Buddhism. (Merged Question Paper and Marking Scheme) AS RELIGIOUS STUDIES Paper 2A Buddhism Thursday 23 May 2024 Materials For this paper you must have:  an AQA 8-page answer book. Instructions  Use black ink or black ball-point pen. Morning Time allowed: 1 hour  Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7061/2A.  Answer all questions.  Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked. Information  The marks for questions are shown in brackets.  The maximum mark for this paper is 60.  In each question the first part tests your knowledge and understanding, while the second part tests your skills of analysis and evaluation.  You will be marked on your ability to: – use good English – organise information clearly – use specialist vocabulary where appropriate. For AS Religious Studies Paper 2A on Buddhism, focus on the following key areas: 1. The Life of the Buddha:  Early Life: Understand Siddhartha Gautama’s life as a prince, his search for enlightenment, and key events such as the Four Sights and the Great Departure.  Enlightenment: Study his meditation under the Bodhi tree, his temptation by Mara, and his attainment of Nirvana.  Teachings: Focus on the Buddha's first sermon (Dhamma-cakka-ppavattana Sutta) and the setting in motion of the Wheel of Dharma. 2. Core Teachings of Buddhism:  The Four Noble Truths: o Dukkha: The nature of suffering. o Samudaya: The cause of suffering (craving or tanha). o Nirodha: The cessation of suffering (Nirvana). o Magga: The path to the cessation of suffering (the Noble Eightfold Path).  The Noble Eightfold Path: Study its eight components: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration. 3. The Three Marks of Existence:  Anicca: Impermanence – everything is in a state of constant change.  Dukkha: Suffering – the dissatisfaction inherent in life.  Anatta: Non-self – the concept that there is no permanent, unchanging self. 4. The Three Jewels (Triratna):  Buddha: The enlightened one.  Dhamma: The teachings of the Buddha.  Sangha: The community of practitioners (monastic and lay). 5. Different Schools of Buddhism:  Theravada Buddhism: Focus on the earliest teachings, the Pali Canon, and the ideal of becoming an Arhat (one who has attained enlightenment). 6. Buddhist Practices:  Meditation: Study the types of meditation (e.g., Samatha, Vipassana) and their role in attaining insight and mindfulness.  Rituals and Festivals: Focus on key Buddhist festivals like Wesak (celebrating the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death). 7. Ethics in Buddhism:  Five Precepts: Understand the ethical guidelines for lay Buddhists (abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, and intoxicants).  The Role of Compassion and Wisdom: Study the development of qualities like Metta (loving kindness) and Karuna (compassion).This summary covers the essential aspects of Buddhism for Paper 2A, focusing on key teachings, practices, and schools of thought. 7061/2A IB/M/Jun24/G4002/V2 2 Buddhism Answer both questions. Each question has two parts. Question 1 0 1 . 1 Explain different Buddhist perspectives about the significance of Gautama Buddha. [15 marks] and 0 1 . 2 ‘The principle of ahimsa means that Buddhists cannot support abortion or embryo research.’ Assess this view. [15 marks] Question 2 0 2 . 1 Explain why Buddhists have different attitudes about the purpose of acts of devotion. [15 marks] and 0 2 . 2 ‘The realms of becoming can only be interpreted literally.’ Assess this view. [15 marks] END OF QUESTIONS Copyright information For confidentiality purposes, all acknowledgements of third-party copyright material are published in a separate booklet. This booklet is published after each live examination series and is available for free download from . Permission to reproduce all copyright material has been applied for. In some cases, efforts to contact copyright-holders may have been unsuccessful and AQA will be happy to rectify any omissions of acknowledgements. If you have any queries please contact the Copyright Team. Copyright © 2024 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. IB/M/Jun24/7061/2A AS RELIGIOUS STUDIES 7061/2A Paper 2A Buddhism Mark scheme June 2024 Version: 1.0 Final MARK SCHEME – AS RELIGIOUS STUDIES – 7061/2A – JUNE 2024 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 th