Mark Scheme Patterns & AQA Examiner Insights

Understanding how AQA marks your answers is just as important as knowing the content. This lesson breaks down the level descriptors for every question type, reveals what AQA examiners consistently report as strengths and weaknesses in candidate answers, explains how to move from one level to the next, and shows you exactly what separates a Level 2 answer from a Level 4 answer on the 12-mark evaluation question.

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How AQA Marks Religious Studies Answers

AQA uses a levels-based mark scheme for the higher-mark questions (4-mark, 5-mark, and 12-mark). This means examiners do not award marks for individual points — instead, they read the whole answer and assign it to a level based on the overall quality.

The Principle of "Best Fit"

Examiners use the "best fit" principle: they identify which level descriptor most closely matches the answer overall. An answer does not need to meet every criterion of a level to be placed there — it needs to be the best fit.

Key Point: This means a student who writes three well-developed paragraphs with good AO2 evaluation but makes one factual error will not automatically drop to Level 2. The examiner looks at the overall quality, not individual mistakes.

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Mark Scheme for 1-Mark Multiple Choice (01.1 / 02.1)

This is straightforward — you either get it right or wrong.

Mark	Descriptor
1 mark	Correct answer selected
0 marks	Incorrect answer or no answer

Exam Tip: Never leave a multiple choice question blank. You have a 25% chance of guessing correctly. If you are unsure, eliminate options you know are wrong and make your best guess from the remaining options.

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Mark Scheme for 2-Mark "Give Two" Questions (01.2 / 02.2)

Mark	Descriptor
2 marks	Two correct, relevant points given
1 mark	One correct, relevant point given
0 marks	No correct points given

What AQA Examiners Say About "Give Two" Questions

• Students should write brief, factual answers — there is no need for explanation or development
• Each point should be distinct — do not write the same point in two different ways
• Common mistake: writing lengthy paragraphs when brief answers would be sufficient and would save valuable time

Example Question: "Give two of the Five Pillars of Islam."

Good Answer	Poor Answer
"Salah (prayer)" and "Zakah (almsgiving)"	"Praying" and "Talking to God" (these are the same point expressed differently)

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Mark Scheme for 4-Mark "Explain Two Contrasting" Questions (01.3 / 02.3)

Mark	Descriptor
4 marks	Two contrasting beliefs/practices are explained, each with a developed point
3 marks	Two contrasting beliefs/practices are identified, but only one is developed with explanation
2 marks	Two relevant beliefs/practices are identified but not developed, OR one contrasting belief is explained with development
1 mark	One relevant belief/practice is identified without development
0 marks	Nothing worthy of credit

How to Score Full Marks on 4-Mark Questions

The key is contrast + development:

1. State the first belief or practice clearly
2. Develop it with a brief explanation (why it matters, what it means in practice)
3. State the contrasting belief or practice clearly — make the contrast explicit
4. Develop it with a brief explanation

Example Question: "Explain two contrasting Christian views about the use of statues in worship."

Full-marks answer:

Roman Catholics use statues and icons in worship as aids to devotion. They believe that statues of saints and the Virgin Mary help focus prayer and remind worshippers of the holy figures they represent. This is part of the Catholic tradition of using physical objects to connect with the spiritual.

In contrast, many Protestant denominations, particularly Reformed and Baptist churches, reject the use of statues in worship. They believe this could lead to idolatry, which is forbidden by the Second Commandment ("You shall not make for yourself an idol"). For Protestants, worship should focus on God's word alone, without physical representations.

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Mark Scheme for 5-Mark "Explain Two" Questions with Sources of Wisdom and Authority (01.4 / 02.4)

Mark	Descriptor
5 marks	Two beliefs/teachings are explained with development AND relevant source(s) of wisdom and authority are used to support the explanation
4 marks	Two beliefs/teachings are explained with good development, OR one belief is explained with excellent development and a relevant source of wisdom and authority
3 marks	Two beliefs/teachings are identified and partially explained, with at least one source of wisdom and authority
2 marks	One or two beliefs are identified with limited explanation; sources of wisdom may be absent or generic
1 mark	A single basic point is made with minimal or no development
0 marks	Nothing worthy of credit

The Critical Factor: Sources of Wisdom and Authority

This question type specifically requires you to reference sources of wisdom and authority. These include:

Type	Examples
Sacred texts	Bible verses, Qur'an verses, Hadith
Creeds and doctrines	Nicene Creed, Apostles' Creed, the Six Articles of Faith, the Five Roots of Usul ad-Din
Religious leaders	The Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury, prominent Imams and scholars
Church/religious teachings	Catechism of the Catholic Church, Papal encyclicals (e.g. Humanae Vitae), fatwas
Scholarly/theological authorities	St Augustine, St Thomas Aquinas, Al-Ghazali, Martin Luther

Critical Warning: If you do not include a source of wisdom and authority in your answer, you are unlikely to score more than 3 marks out of 5. This is the single most common reason students underperform on this question type. Many students write excellent explanations but forget to reference a specific source — and this caps their marks.

Worked Example: 5-Mark Answer

Question: "Explain two Christian beliefs about the afterlife. Refer to scripture or another source of Christian belief."

Belief 1: Christians believe in heaven as a state of eternal happiness in the presence of God. Catholics believe that heaven is the reward for those who have lived a good life and accepted God's grace. Jesus promised the criminal on the cross, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43), demonstrating that heaven is real and available to those who have faith.

Belief 2: Many Christians also believe in the concept of judgement after death. The Apostles' Creed states that Jesus "will come again to judge the living and the dead," indicating that all people will face God's judgement. Christians believe this motivates them to live moral lives, as their actions will be assessed. Some denominations, such as Catholics, also believe in purgatory as a place of purification before heaven.

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Mark Scheme for 12-Mark "Evaluate This Statement" Questions (01.5 / 02.5)

This is the most important mark scheme to understand. The 12-mark question is assessed using four levels.

Level Descriptors

Level	Marks	Descriptor
Level 4	10–12 marks	A well-argued response with a clear, justified conclusion. Arguments are fully developed and supported by accurate reference to religious teaching. Different points of view (including contrasting viewpoints) are presented, analysed, and evaluated. The answer demonstrates an excellent understanding of the issue. AO1 and AO2 are both operating at a high level throughout.
Level 3	7–9 marks	Arguments are developed and supported by reference to religious teaching. Different points of view are presented and explained. There is a conclusion, though it may not be fully justified. The answer demonstrates a good understanding of the issue. AO1 and AO2 are both present, though one may be stronger than the other.
Level 2	4–6 marks	Arguments are partially developed. Some reference to religious teaching may be present but may be generic or underdeveloped. One point of view may dominate. There may be a conclusion, but it is unlikely to be supported by the arguments. AO1 or AO2 may be present, but not both working together effectively.
Level 1	1–3 marks	A basic response. Simple statements are made. Arguments are not developed. There is little or no reference to religious teaching. The answer may be largely descriptive or assertive. A conclusion, if present, is simply stated without justification.
Level 0	0 marks	Nothing worthy of credit

What Separates Each Level

Moving From...	To...	What You Need to Do
Level 1 → Level 2	Add some development to your points. Include at least one reference to a religious teaching (even a general one). Attempt to address both sides of the argument, even briefly.
Level 2 → Level 3	Develop your arguments fully using the RS-PEEL framework. Include specific, accurate religious teachings (not vague references). Present genuinely contrasting viewpoints. Write a conclusion that attempts to justify a judgement.
Level 3 → Level 4	Ensure every paragraph integrates both AO1 and AO2. Use precise specialist vocabulary. Present and evaluate (not just present) different viewpoints. Write a conclusion that is directly supported by the arguments in your essay — not a generic "bolt-on" conclusion. Sustain the argument throughout — your thesis should be visible in every paragraph, not just the conclusion.

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SPaG Mark Scheme (3 Marks)

The SPaG marks are awarded in addition to the 12 content marks.

Level	Marks	Descriptor
High	3 marks	Learners spell and punctuate with consistent accuracy. They use rules of grammar with effective control of meaning overall. They use a wide range of specialist terms as appropriate.
Intermediate	2 marks	Learners spell and punctuate with considerable accuracy. They use rules of grammar with general control of meaning overall. They use a good range of specialist terms as appropriate.
Threshold	1 mark	Learners spell and punctuate with reasonable accuracy. They use rules of grammar with some control of meaning. They use a limited range of specialist terms as appropriate.
None	0 marks	The learner writes nothing; the response does not relate to the question; the learner's response is not written in English.

What AQA Means by "Specialist Terms"

In Religious Studies, specialist terms include: