1. My answer Mark scheme
Critically examine the relationship between different social groups and their religious
beliefs and practice. (33 marks. January 2010)
AO1 My mark What I need to do to improve, and why
Knowledge
Understanding /15
AO2 My mark What I need to do to improve, and why
Interpretation
Application /18
Analysis
Evaluation

2. Critically examine the relationship between different social groups and their religious
beliefs and practice. (33 marks. January 2010)
AO1 – Knowledge & Understanding
A top band answer is likely to include at least 6 of the following: Have I included
them?
Gender – patterns among different religious organisations
Gender: Miller & Hoffman say women are more religious due to
their socialisation, and because they have more time on their
hands. Davie – women are closer to birth & death. New Age –
Heelas found 80% in holistic milieu were female. Bruce makes
connection between child-rearing and healing/nurturing side of
New Age. Glock & Stark – religion as compensation.
Ethnicity – patterns among different ethnic groups and
organisations
Ethnicity: Bruce – religion as cultural defence & community
solidarity. Also high levels of religiosity in first generation
immigrants – cultural transition. Weber – Theodicies of
disprivilege. Stark & Bainbridge – compensation. Davie –
community identity. Mirza - ‘Muslim’ as a stigmatised identity in
UK.
Age – patterns among different age groups and religious
organisations
Age: older groups higher religiosity explained by disengagement,
religious socialisation and ill-health/death.
Age: young people – Roof ‘expanded spiritual marketplace; Davie
‘believing without belonging; Lynch ‘secular spirituality’; Lyotard
decline of metanarratives; Bruce declining religious education;
pragmatic reasons (time, leisure activities, peer group’s
perceptions)
Class: m/c seem more religious – respectability, conservative
political views, time, socialisation. W/c exceptions e.g. Methodism,
Catholicism, world-rejecting and accommodating NRMs.
Secularisation & Postmodernism – how do these relate to
(possibly changing) patterns of religiosity?
Statistics – problems with accurate figures on religious belief and
practice for any group, and especially the variations between
groups. ‘Invisibility’ of many NRMS, the New Age and privatised
form of spirituality.

3. Critically examine the relationship between different social groups and their religious
beliefs and practice. (33 marks. January 2010)
AO2 – Interpretation, Application, Analysis & Evaluation
Skill How my essay could be improved:
Interpretation & Application:
question is clearly
understood, and the material
used is accurately explained
and its relevance made clear.
Arguments are applied to
evidence or real-life
examples.
Analysis: is explicit & clear.
The answer is well-structured,
no points are left hanging. All
parts are linked together (no
‘scattergun approach’).
Comes to a distinct and
logical conclusion.
Evaluation: ideas are
contrasted clearly, and valid
criticisms made. Evidence is
weighed up before a logical
conclusion is drawn.
Methodological issues, where
relevant, are highlighted.