Speaker

Welcome to the HSC Hub presentation for Studies of Religion II. Please note that there is a separate presentation for students studying Studies of Religion I. This presentation will run for approximately 25 minutes. A supporting document containing the key information from this presentation has been developed and is available for download or print. Before we begin, I would like to pay my respect and acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which this meeting takes place. And also pay respect to elders both past and present.

Welcome to the HSIE HSC hub video for Studies of Religion II This recording is designed to introduce the exam layout and structure and to provide some tips on how to best prepare for the exam. Each section of the examination will be explained with reference to the 2019 exam paper using questions and feedback provided from the marking centre. In Studies of Religion II, the exam consists of four sections. Section one contains multiple choice and short answer questions. It has two parts and each part will consist of 10 multiple choice and one short answer question. Section two contains two questions on a depth study that you have covered in your class. Section three is an extended response on one of your depth studies. It is important to note that the question chosen in section three must not be from the same depth study covered in section two. Section four is an extended response on Religion and Peace. Three hours and five minutes are provided for students to complete the examination. The first five minutes is allocated to reading time. Reading time is provided at the commencement of the exam period and during this time you will be unable to write. Use the time to ensure that you have each of the sections and that no pages are missing from your examination paper. You should also ensure that you have several writing booklets that you will use for your extended responses. At the end of reading time, you will have three hours writing time. During this time, you are to complete the paper to the best of your ability. Once you leave the exam room, you will not be permitted to re-enter. It is strongly advised that you remain for the entire duration of the examination period.

Materials. What can I bring to the exam? You are required to attend your examination in full school uniform. NESA allows the following items to be brought into all HSC examinations. A black pen required for completion of your exam. Black is important as exam papers are scanned to allow for on-screen marking. Lighter coloured pens may make reading your response difficult. A ruler, allowed in all exams and may be necessary for measurement, or construction of drawings. Highlighters, may be helpful in identifying directive verbs or key terms in the question. 2B pencils, for completing diagrams, but also to allow you to easily correct mistakes when completing your multiple choice answer sheet. A sharpener, in case the pencil breaks. A bottle of water in a clear bottle is also permitted. All of these items can be found relatively cheaply at stationery stores or newsagents.

Before the exam day, download the HSC timetable and highlight all of your exams. The 2020 examination timetable has already been released and can be found on the NESA website. In 2020, the Studies of Religion II examination will be on Tuesday, the third of November, and commences at 9:25am. Plan your revision schedule to match up with your exams. You should have a regular study routine that you are following to keep up with coursework. Continue to study and revise each of your subjects. However, in the days before your exam, you may need to give a little more emphasis to the exams you will complete first. As you complete each exam, the time you would have spent on those subjects can then be allocated for exams yet to come. Get a good night's sleep before each exam. Late nights will harm your performance. Last minute cramming is okay but not at the expense of sleep. Your brain needs time to rest and you will be able to engage better with the questions if you are not physically and mentally exhausted. Eat your breakfast. Studies have shown that eating a healthy, high protein breakfast and remaining hydrated will help improve examination results. On days where you may have an afternoon exam, a healthy lunch will also help with concentration. Make sure you have all of your equipment ready. Pack it up in a clear pencil case or plastic sleeve the night before so you aren't rushing and forget something on the morning of the exam. You should arrive at the exam venue a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the commencement time.

Section one, multiple choice and short answer. Instructions are given at the start of the section and include an indicative time. Allow about 50 minutes for this section. It is not advisable to go beyond this timing. You can always come back if you have time after completing the rest of the paper. Section one contains two parts. Part A, Religion and Belief Systems in Australia Post-1945 and Part B, Religion and Non-Religion. Each part is made up of 10 multiple choice followed by a five mark short answer question. Your answers for the multiple choice questions are not marked on the question paper but on a multiple choice answer sheet attached to the examination. Multiple choice and short answer questions from past HSC papers can be tested in online quizzes on the NESA website. The link to these quizzes are found at the end of the presentation, or ask your teacher to direct you.

Let's take a look at an example. In the 2019 HSC paper, question four asked, "which of the following was significantly affected by post-1945 migration to Australia from England?" A, the number of Hindus in Australia. B, the number of Catholics in Australia. C, the number of Buddhists in Australia, or D, the number of Anglicans in Australia. The United Kingdom including England is ruled by a monarchy and are historically a Christian society. The majority of the population who would have been migrating would have followed Christian religions. This makes an increase in the number of Hindus and Buddhists migrating to Australia from England unlikely and these answers can be eliminated. The two remaining answers are both branches of Christianity. England had followed the Protestant Reformation in the 19th, in the 1500s under King Henry the Eighth, with the monarch as head of the Church of England. Many people followed the monarch and converted from the Catholic faith identifying as Anglican. And so the number of Anglicans in Australia was affected by the post-1945 migration.

Section two covers the religious tradition depth study. Instructions are given at the start of the section and include an indicative time. Allow about one hour for this section and read the instructions carefully. Two depth studies are required in section two, and one in section three. The same depth study cannot be used in both sections. It is very important to use the reading time to determine which depth studies you wish to address in each section of the exam. The case study you feel the most confident in should be the one you address in the third section of the exam, as this is an extended response requiring more detail. However, this may depend on the question being asked. Each question has multiple parts and care should be taken to read the entire question carefully before attempting your response, as one part of the question may impact another. In section two, better responses will use their knowledge and understanding of the three pillars of religious traditions to support their writing. The three pillars are beliefs, sacred texts, and practice. Now let's take a look at an example.

In the 2019 HSC exam, a small part of question 27 asked students to outline one contribution to Judaism of one significant person or school of thought, other than Abraham or Moses. This part of the question was worth three marks. The sample response from the marking centre reads as follows; "Moses Maimonides was a Jewish scholar who contributed to Judaism through his many writings. These include the ‘Mishnah Torah’, ‘Commentary on the Mishnah’ and the ‘Guide for the Perplexed’. They highlighted and continue to make clear right Jewish expression for adherents." The answer given clearly identifies one significant person, Moses Maimonides, a Jewish scholar and philosopher born in 1138, and one of his contributions, his many writings. This response also includes the impact of the contribution which demonstrates a depth of understanding by the respondent.

Section three is the depth study extended response. Instructions are given at the start of the section and include an indicative time. Allow about 35 minutes for this section. A clear statement outlining how answers are assessed is given at the start of the section. Please read this carefully as it forms part of the marking criteria for your response. Five questions are given. However, you are asked to attempt only one. The depth study options chosen in this section must be different to the depth studies covered in section two. Your response is written in writing booklets that will be provided at the start of the examination. Please make sure you clearly identify the question number that you are responding to on the front of the writing booklet.

Now let's have a look at an example. In the 2019 HSC exam, question 29 provided a quote from the Bible, Christianity sacred text, which reads, "We truly love God only when we obey Him as we should and then we know we belong to him. If we say we are his we must follow the example of Christ." This reading comes from one John chapter two verses five and six. The question that followed this quote was how does Christianity encouraged adherents to follow the example of Christ? In a response to this question, respondents would first need to examine the example of Christ, and how this is demonstrated in the beliefs, practices and texts of Christianity. The use of significant people and their personal examples, as well as quotations from sacred texts may be used to support the response. Examples of this may include; Christianity strongly supports adherents in their desire to follow the example of Christ in their personal lives. This occurs through Christian teachings, religious practices, and often through the example and teachings of significant Christians, both past and present. Christians are called to love one another, and to love their neighbours as themselves. Christian teachings on ethics support adherents in making decisions that will achieve Christ like relationships. This may be seen in areas such as human dignity, and the right to life decision making. Teaching such as the Parable of the Good Samaritan, demonstrate to adherents that they should be charitable to strangers, and even enemies. Practices such as baptism and communion are reflections of Christ's own example. These teachings continue to be followed and exampled by significant people, including the Pope, Martin Luther King, and Mother Teresa.

Section four is the Religion and Peace extended response. Like in section three, instructions are given at the start of the section and the indicative time is 35 minutes. Another clear statement is provided outlining how answers are assessed. Please read this carefully, as again, it will form part of the marking criteria for your response. Your response is written in writing booklets provided. Please make sure you use separate writing booklets for section three and section four. A clear understanding of the beliefs, sacred texts and practices should be used to inform your arguments. Use evidence from the three pillars to support your writing.

Now, let's look at an example. In the 2019 HSC exam, question 33 presented the following quote from Marvin Gaye, "if you cannot find peace within yourself, you will never find it anywhere else." The question followed asked, "how do two religious traditions guide individuals to find peace?" In order to respond to this question effectively, you will need to examine two different religious traditions, ensuring that the texts, beliefs and practices of each tradition are incorporated into the response. As in Section two, reference may be made to significant persons in order to support your response. Examples for two different religious traditions include; in Islam, the Quran is the foundational sacred text for all Muslims and contains extensive passages that outline how inner peace and outer peace are connected. Living a life that includes meaningful prayer enables adherents to reflect on their actions, relationships with others, and priorities in their own lives. Islamic adherents can look to the life and example of Muhammad and gain a deeper understanding of peace. For Christianity, it is a religious tradition that develops its understanding of peace through the use of scriptures. Inner peace is gained through communication with God, Christian practice and right relationships with self and others. Christians can review the life and example of Jesus to gain a deeper understanding of peace.

Ask your teacher for other resources and webinars for Studies of Religion II. Your teacher should be able to tell you how to access HSC exam timetables, past HSC exam papers and the HSC exam equipment list. For more hints and tips on your exam and how to study effectively, ask your teacher. They are the experts you have access to every day.

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