OCR A-Level Religious Studies Past Papers & Mark Schemes

OCR Religious Studies rewards philosophical and theological precision. In Philosophy of Religion, do not simply state 'the ontological argument proves God exists' — engage with the specific formulation (Anselm's Proslogion 2 vs Proslogion 3, or Descartes' version, or Plantinga's modal version) and address specific criticisms (Gaunilo's island, Kant's existence-is-not-a-predicate objection). The mark scheme differentiates between candidates who engage with the actual arguments and those who offer vague summaries. The Religion and Ethics paper requires you to apply ethical theories to contemporary issues, not merely describe the theories in abstract. For a question on euthanasia, a strong response would apply natural moral law (the primary precept of preservation of life, the principle of double effect, the distinction between active and passive euthanasia), evaluate its strengths and limitations in this context, and compare it with how situation ethics or utilitarianism would approach the same dilemma. Application and evaluation are where the marks cluster. Scholar engagement is essential for Levels 5 and 6 (the highest mark bands). Name and reference specific scholars: Peter Vardy on the problem of evil, Richard Swinburne on religious experience, John Hick's soul-making theodicy, D.Z. Phillips on the grammar of religious language. Using scholarly references demonstrates engagement with the academic debate rather than repeating textbook summaries. Developments in Religious Thought (Component 3) is the paper where students most commonly write descriptively rather than analytically. The questions ask you to evaluate theological developments — 'To what extent has liberation theology successfully challenged traditional Christian approaches to poverty?' — which requires you to argue, not describe. Present a thesis, support it with theological evidence, consider counter-arguments, and reach a conclusion.