The document provides guidance for a student preparing for an ethics exam. It outlines the exam structure, suggesting focusing on two of three sections: Religion, Peace and Justice; Religion and Equality; Religion and the Media. For the first section, the student should choose between discussing Christianity or Islam. The document offers tips on time management, answer style, and types of evidence to use, such as practical examples, religious views, biblical stories and references. It also provides key topics for each exam section and issues to consider if the student gets stuck.

1. LO- To be
PRE-EXAM SESSION prepared for
Ethics exam
YEAR 11 ETHICS this
afternoon.

2. WHAT SHOULD I ANSWER?
 There are 3 sections:
 Religion, Peace and Justice
 Islam or Christianity
 Religion and Equality
 Religion and the Media
 Choose one question from 2 sections
 (answer 2 full questions in total )

3. WHICH RELIGIONS?
Chose Islam or Christianity
for Religion, Peace and
Justice
Which religion did you
study?
Chose Christianity for the

4. HOW LONG SHOULD I TAKE?
 Feedback in exam reports shows that
candidates take too long over the first few
questions
 You have 1 hour. 30 mins per question.
 Take no more than 5 mins to complete (a), (b) &
(c)
 Question (e) is worth half the marks , so take
15 mins over each one.

5. STYLE OF ANSWER
 (a), (b) & (c) are worth less, so give short answers.
 Question (d) should be longer and question (e) longer
still.
 Exam reports say that they are looking for a DISCUSSION
in question (e). They want to see:
 VARIETY of views – all supported with EXAMPLES/ EVIDENCE
 YOUR PERSONAL viewpoint
 And a DISCUSSION of why some people disagree with others,
why some viewpoints are more persuasive than others. Like a
CONVERSATION, written down.

6. WHAT CAN I USE AS EVIDENCE?
Example: ‘Men and women should always be treated equally.’
 PRACTICAL EXAMPLES
Eg Many modern Christians believe that men and women were created
equally in the image of God and should be treated as equals. This means
that this should also apply to roles in worship and the priesthood.
 CHURCH VIEWS
Eg Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians do not allow women to be
priests or ministers as Jesus did not have any female disciples whereas
most Protestant Churches do allow women to be priests (The CofE allowed
this in 1994)
 BIBLE STORIES
Eg When Jesus rose from the dead the first people he appeared to were
women. Mary Magdalene first. (The disciples didn’t believe her).
Paul reports that women were important to the establishment of the early
church,
 BIBLICAL REFERENCES
Eg In Genesis it says that we were made in imago dei (in the image of God)
Paul (in 1 Corinthians) says that ‘women should remain silent in church….
If they want to find out about something they should ask their husbands.’

7. I’M STUCK !!!
 You have learnt the 10 commandments (Exodus 20)
 Luke 10:27 – Jesus’ summary of the Commandments
 ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your
strength, and with all your mind; and Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’
 These can usually be used as evidence for a view covering most topics
 Eg Pacifism???? Do not Kill – Love thy Neighbour
 War/ Racism/ Violence in the media???? Do not Kill – Love thy Neighbour
 Think back to discussions you had in your lessons
 What sort of debate would we have. Why would people be for or against
a certain issue?
 Use Common sense
 How do Christians support fight against racism? Prayer groups, youth
clubs, charities, writing to MP/PM, marches/rallies, personal actions

8. SOME KEY WORDS TO REMEMBER
Pacifism
Prejudice
Discrimination
Equality
Media
Censorship
Moral

9. PEACE AND JUSTICE - CHRISTIANITY
 Holy War or Just War (Jus ad bellum, Jus in bello,
Jus post bellum)
 Christian attitudes towards war
 Violence and Pacifism
 Justice
 Punishment
 Treatment of prisoners
 Capital punishment
 Social Justice
 Liberation Theology

10. PEACE AND JUSTICE - ISLAM
 Greater and Lesser Jihad
 Muslim attitudes towards war
 Violence and Pacifism in Islam
 Justice
 Punishment
 Treatment of prisoners
 Capital punishment
 Social Justice
 Liberation Theology

11. RELIGION AND EQUALITY
Equality
Prejudice and Discrimination
Racism
Sexism
Attitudes towards Religion
Ecumenism
Forgiveness and reconciliation

12. RELIGION AND THE MEDIA
 Different types of media
 Influence on family life
 Alcohol, role models, music
 The portrayal of Jesus
 The portrayal of Christianity
 Censorship and free speech
 Sex, Violence and Pornography
 Blasphemy