Practice Flashcards
Flip to reveal answersHow many paper 2 markbands are there, and what is each essay worth?
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All 7 Flashcards — The Paper 2 markbands
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Question
How many paper 2 markbands are there, and what is each essay worth?
Answer
Five levels, A–E, evenly spread over 15 marks per essay, from May 2017. Before that: six levels A–F over 20 marks.
Question
Name the four levers the paper 2 markbands turn on.
Answer
Accurate terminology; an argument supported by the analysis; connections between beliefs, concepts, practices and teachings that are developed rather than identified; a developed evaluation.
Question
Distinguish connections identified from connections developed.
Answer
Identified: you notice two things are related and say so. Developed: you show how the connection works and what follows from it. That is the 7–9 / 10–12 boundary.
Question
What does only the 13–15 band require?
Answer
A developed evaluation — weighing the argument itself, its limits and assumptions, as part of the argument. The 10–12 band has a partially developed evaluation.
Question
What is best-fit marking?
Answer
The examiner finds the band the response most closely matches overall, compensating where it falls between two, rather than requiring every descriptor.
Question
What did May 2017 change, and what did it not?
Answer
Changed: paper 1 part (b) 7→6 marks and total 50→45; paper 2 essays 20→15 and total 40→30; markbands A–F→A–E. Unchanged: the weightings (30/45/25), the IA, and the curriculum.
Question
What does a 1–3 band conclusion look like?
Answer
Superficial, anecdotal or common-sense — following a descriptive response with minimal knowledge and little relevant terminology.
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Full study notes for The Paper 2 markbands
Topic 8.2 hub
Paper 2 technique
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World Religions exam skills
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