Cambridge IGCSE ™: Religious Studies 0490/13 October/November 2022
Cambridge IGCSE ™: Religious Studies 0490/13 October/November 2022
Cambridge IGCSE ™: Religious Studies 0490/13 October/November 2022
Published
This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
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considered the acceptability of alternative answers.
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Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the October/November 2022 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE™, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some Cambridge O Level
components.
These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers.
They should be applied alongside the specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptors
for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these marking principles.
• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
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is given for valid answers which go beyond the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme,
referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
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features are specifically assessed by the question as indicated by the mark scheme. The
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(however; the use of the full mark range may be limited according to the quality of the candidate
responses seen).
Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should
not be awarded with grade thresholds or grade descriptors in mind.
C Evaluation (30%)
3 4–5 Good attempt, demonstrates the ability to see the significance of specific issues
and express a personal opinion supported by some evidence and argument and
to explain the argument for one or more other views.
Bishop and archbishop are the names of ranks in the hierarchy of ordained
clergy within Christianity. Bishops are considered the successor to the
apostles; it is the culmination of holy orders. Bishops are the overseers of the
church in specific localities, working with the priests of individual parishes.
Archbishops are at the same level of ordination (they are not ‘more holy’) but
are ranked higher in the organisational hierarchy of the church. They may be
the bishop of a particularly important diocese and have some supervisory
authority over other bishops.
The priest, or minister, is the leader of communal worship, ensuring that all
the necessary elements are present and carried out correctly; this would
include choosing hymns and readings. It is the priest who consecrates the
bread and wine for communion and usually the priest who distributes it to the
congregants. In some cases, the priest might celebrate communion even if
there are no congregants present to receive it.
They might also give a sermon or deliver Bible readings and, if the
congregation recites prayers (such as the Lord's Prayer) or other things
together the priest will lead that recitation. They may also offer prayers on
behalf of the congregation.
The pulpit is the place where the priest or minister stands to deliver a sermon
to the congregation. They are usually raised up so that everyone can see
and hear clearly. It may also be the largest and/or most prominent furniture
in the church. This is because it is the place from which the word of God is
proclaimed and (if need be) explained or interpreted and for many churches
that is the most important element of communal services.
Within some church traditions the pulpit is considered reserved for use by
ordained clergy, although it is not considered holy in the same way an altar
and its surrounding sanctuary might be. Within other traditions, where anyone
may be invited to preach, the pulpit would be used to do so. Some churches
have no pulpit at all.
Discuss this statement. Give your own opinion and show that you have
thought about other points of view. You must refer to Christianity in
your answer.
Some candidates might agree with the statement because the most important
thing is personal faith and connection with God. This can be achieved in many
ways and for many Christians those do not require the presence of a
congregation, although some things (such as the sacraments) might require
the presence of a priest.
They might also take the view that it is important to feel and see oneself to
be part of something, and public worship allows for this. A single Christian,
worshipping in isolation and a group of Christians worshipping together will have a
different experience of both their religion and of the presence of. For this
reason, many Christians consider both forms of worship of equal
importance.
2(a)(ii) Briefly describe how Mary learned she would be the mother of Jesus. 4
Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel who told her she had found favour with
God and would bear a child. This is called the Annunciation. Mary protested
that she was a virgin and was told that the Holy Spirit would come to her, so
that her child would be called the son of God. She was also told that her
cousin was pregnant, even though she had been thought to be barren, which
was a sign that all things are possible for God. Mary accepted God’s will for
her, saying she was God’s servant.
As well as its importance as a public profession of faith the Creed can form
part of liturgy and private prayer, or a focus for meditation and reflection. The
terms used in the Apostles' Creed may also reflect how Christians think about
God, for example ‘Father’ has a particular set of associations that guide
Christian understandings of God as the Father and how that aspect of the
Trinity is different to others.
Discuss this statement. Give your own opinion and show that you have
thought about other points of view. You must refer to Christianity in
your answer.
Some candidates might agree with the statement on the basis that the Holy
Spirit is invisible and works in subtle or mysterious ways rather than directly.
The presence of the Spirit is often inferred from particular events, or
interpretations post-event so knowing what is happening at the time it is
happening may not be possible.
People ‘taken by the Spirit’ during charismatic worship may be unaware while
they are in the ecstasy of the moment; other people watching them may have
no doubt about what they are seeing but some of those witnesses may have
no doubt they see the work of the Spirit while others may have no doubt that
they see insanity or demonic possession. It could be argued that such
interpretations are a matter of context rather than faith, or that belief is not
the same as knowledge.
Some candidates might disagree with the statement, arguing that someone
with faith knows that the Holy Spirit is always present in the world, even if
they do not personally feel that presence directly in any given moment.
3(a)(i) What is the relationship between the qiblah (direction) and the mihrab 3
(niche)?
The qiblah is the direction Muslims should face to pray; that is towards the
Ka’aba in Makkah of Makkah as revealed in Al-Baqarah (verses 144, 149,
and 150). The mihrab is a niche in a mosque's qiblah-facing wall, which marks
that direction for Muslims. Knowing quiblah is essential for salah prayers
and the presence of the mihrab in the mosque ensures that it is clear to all
worshippers.
Many mosques also have a dome, although this is not required. It is said to
symbolise the heavens.
Salah is the five daily formal prayers prescribed for Muslims. It is one of the
Five Pillars of Islam, meaning it is one of the things all Muslims are expected
to do regardless of regional or sectarian differences in traditions.
The pillars are the core requirements or obligations for living a good Muslim
life and following them demonstrates obedience to God. All the pillars, but
perhaps especially salah, are ways to weave expressions of devotion to God
into everyday life so that there is no division between the religious and secular
parts of life for a Muslim. God is everywhere, all the time and Muslim beliefs
and practices reflect that.
Salah are formal prayers with set times, content and forms laid out for Muslims
by Muhammad (pbuh). As a whole these formal prayers demonstrate
complete surrender to God and each part has its own meaning for Muslims
– for example the prostration shows their humility in the presence of God.
3(c) ‘It is more important that a mosque has a muezzin than an Imam.’ 6
Discuss this statement. Give your own opinion and show that you have
thought about other points of view. You must refer to Islam in your
answer.
Some candidates might agree with the statement on the basis that the muezzin
is the person who makes the call to prayer (adhan) from the minaret. This is
done five times a day, to remind Muslims of the five required daily prayers
(salah) which are one of the pillars of Islam. Although Muslims are not required
to attend a mosque to pray the reminder of the adhan is still useful to recall
the obligations of faith for people living busy lives. Muhammad (pbuh)
appointed the first muezzin, emphasizing the importance of the role.
It could also be argued that the separation of men and women in mosques
makes it necessary to have more than one person who can fulfil the role of
an imam while the role of a muezzin is to serve all Muslims.
4(a)(ii) Briefly describe how Muhammad (pbuh) received the first revelation in 4
cave Hira.
The first revelation took place in a cave where Muhammad (pbuh) had gone
to meditate. The angel Jibra’il appeared to him and told him to read. When
Muhammad (pbuh) said he could not read the angel squeezed him tightly
and issued the command again. After the third time Muhammad (pbuh) read
what is now the first verses of surah al-Alaq.
The two largest branches of Islam are divided because of the issue of who
succeeded Muhammad (pbuh) as leader of the Muslim community after the
death of the Prophet (pbuh). Sunni Muslims believe that Abu Bakr was the
rightful successor, and the first Rightly Guided Caliph; Shi'ah Muslims
believe that Ali, the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law, should have had this
position.
These different views are preserved in the modern names given to the two
forms of Islam: Sunni comes from the Arabic term ahl al-Sunnah, meaning
followers of the sunnah or tradition; Shi'ah comes from the term Shiat Ali, or
followers of Ali.
Ali was assassinated and his son Hussein killed in the battle of Karbala. With
the death of any remaining male heir from the Prophet's family Shi'ah Islam
no longer had a potential Caliph to fight for, but Islam remained too divided
by the issue to unite under another single leader.
Discuss this statement. Give your own opinion and show that you have
thought about other points of view. You must refer to Islam in your
answer.
Some candidates might agree with the statement on the basis that the Qur’an
is the direct, revealed words of God which have been preserved unchanged
since they were given to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). That means that a
Muslim always has access to the foundation of their entire religion.
However, candidates might also disagree with the statement because the
original Qur’an was written in Arabic; translations are not considered to have
the same status as they are different words to those of the original revelation
so a Muslim who cannot read Arabic might receive better guidance from a
fellow Muslim who can than from a translation of the Qur’anic text.
It could also be argued that the Qur’an does not contain everything a Muslim
needs to know about practising their religion. Fundamental things like the
form and content of salah prayer are not found in the Qur’an but come from
tradition and the consensus that the rak'ahs performed by Muslims today are
those performed by the Prophet (pbuh).
5(a)(ii) Briefly describe the tallit (prayer shawl) and tefillin (phylacteries). 4
The prayer shawl is rectangular and usually striped in blue and white. It has
fringes and a special tassel called tzitzit at each corner. It is worn over the
head and shoulders during certain prayers.
The tefillin or phylacteries are small black leather boxes with long straps.
They have parchment scrolls inside. They are fastened, one to the forearm
and one to the forehead, during prayer.
2 marks available for each of 2 responses given. 1 mark for a simple statement
plus 1 mark for amplification.
The aron ha-kodesh, also called the ark, is the place in the synagogue where
the Torah scrolls are kept when they are not being read. It is named for the
Ark of the Covenant, kept in the Temple in Jerusalem and this demonstrates
the connection between the writings contained in the Torah and the Covenant
between G-d and the Jewish people. The Ark was also carried during the
time the Jews wandered in the desert, on their way to the promised land,
signifying that G-d was always with them.
The doors of the ark are only opened to remove or replace the Torah scrolls,
but they are also left open during prayers on occasions of particular
importance, such as Yom Kippur.
5(c) ‘The Ner Tamid is the most important symbol that can be seen in a 6
synagogue.’
Discuss this statement. Give your own opinion and show that you have
thought about other points of view. You must refer to Judaism in your
answer.
The Ner Tamid is the eternal light which is kept in front or above the aron ha-
kodesh in a synagogue. Some candidates might agree with the statement
because it is the presence of the light which reminds Jews that G-d is always
present. It also represents the light which burned in the Temple and so reminds
Jews not only of their history but of the hope that the Temple will one day be
rebuilt.
Keeping a constantly burning lamp before the ark which holds Jewish laws
is a mitzvot, set out in the book of Exodus 27:21. This could also be used to
argue for its importance as most other features of the synagogue are present
as a result of tradition and/or practicality rather than divine command.
Some candidates might disagree with the statement, taking the view that the
aron ha-kodesh contains the Torah and the commandments of G-d for the
chosen people. This must therefore be the most important thing within the
synagogue as without it, Judaism itself would not exist.
6(a)(i) Name three books which are included in the Ketuvim (Writings). 3
• Psalms
• Proverbs
• Job
• Ruth
• Esther
• Any other correctly named book of the Ketuvim
The books contained in this section of the Tenakh are the writings of people
who are believed to have been inspired by G-d rather than containing words
of prophecy or direct revelation.
The different books include three books of poetry (known as Sifrei Emet) and
some books of historical narratives as well as the five books of the Hamesh
Megillot - Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Esther. These
are the latest texts given canonical status in Judaism.
6(b) Explain the significance of the Ketuvim (Writings) for Jews today. 7
The Ketuvim are arguably less authoritative than the Torah, since these texts
are not generally considered to be the revealed word of G-d. However, its
books are still part of the Tenakh and therefore they remain significant to the
religion.
The Ketuvim are probably the most varied of the collections which make up
the Tenakh but in general its books deal with Jewish history and offer accounts
of how the Jewish people have enacted their relationship with G-d.
The Psalms are also part of the Ketuvim, and they are commonly used in
Jewish prayer books or recited by individuals as part of personal expressions
of devotion to G-d.
Discuss this statement. Give your own opinion and show that you have
thought about other points of view. You must refer to Judaism in your
answer.
Some candidates might agree with the statement by arguing that Torah is
not only used as another name for the Pentateuch but also as a collective
term for all Jewish writings which contribute to Jewish law. It can even be
expanded beyond that to include the Oral Torah (the entire body of Jewish
tradition and practice).