GCSE Religious Studies A - Paper 1: Buddhism - Additional Specimen Materials - Set 2

Sep 5, 2026

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Additional specimen materials set 2 for GCSE Religious Studies A, focusing on Paper 1: Buddhism. Morning section lasts 1 hour 45 minutes and requires clear block-capital responses in the provided spaces. Tasks assess beliefs and practices through multiple-choice ticks, short answer questions, and extended evaluation questions that require reference to Buddhist teaching and sacred writings where appropriate. Mark allocation up to 51 is given, with SPaG assessed for the 12-mark Beliefs evaluation item.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

BELIEFS

Three Marks of Existence and signs

Buddha’s ascetic life and teachings on suffering

Evaluating Bodhisattva versus Arhat

PRACTICES

Buddhist festivals and meditation types

Contrasting aims of meditation

Death ceremonies in Tibet

Evaluating the five precepts

ADDITIONAL SPECIMEN MATERIALS: SET 2 Please write clearly, in block capitals. Centre number Candidate number Surname Forename(s) Candidate signature GCSE RELIGIOUS STUDIES A Paper 1: Buddhism Additional specimen Morning Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes Materials Before you open this booklet, you must ensure you have the question paper/answer booklet for the other religion option you are entered for (Christianity, Catholic Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism or Sikhism) . Instructions 􀁸 Use black ink or black ball-point pen. 􀁸 Fill in the boxes at both the top of this page and the top of the question paper/answer booklet for the other religion option. 􀁸 Answer all questions. 􀁸 Do all rough work in the answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked. 􀁸 You must answer the questions in the spaces provided. Do not write outside the box around each page or on blank pages. Information 􀁸 The maximum mark for this option is 51. 􀁸 The marks for the questions are shown in brackets. 􀁸 Spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG) will be assessed in the 12-mark question in the Beliefs section. Advice You will have 1 hour 45 minutes to complete both question paper/answer booklets. You are advised to spend 50 minutes on this paper and 50 minutes on your other religion option. | For Examiner’s Use | | | --- | --- | | Question | Mark | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TOTAL | | 8062/1/11/v1.0 8062/11 2 Do not write outside the box 0 1 BELIEFS 0 1 . 1 Which one of the following is one of the Three Marks of Existence? | 0 | 1 | . | 2 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | Put a tick ( 􀀹 ) in the box next to the correct answer. A Anatta. B Dhamma (dharma) . C Nibbana (nirvana) . D Sunyata. Give two of the four signs that the Buddha saw. [1 mark] [2 marks] 1 2 3 Do not write outside the box 0 1 . 3 Explain two ways in which the Buddha’s ascetic life influenced his later teaching. [4 marks] | | | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 1 . 4 Explain two Buddhist teachings about the causes of suffering. Refer to sacred writings or another source of Buddhist belief and teaching in your answer. [5 marks] | | | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Turn over ► 4 Do not write outside the box 0 1 . 5 ‘It is better to be a Bodhisattva than an Arhat (a perfected person) .’ Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should: 􀁸 refer to Buddhist teaching 􀁸 give reasoned arguments to support this statement 􀁸 give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view 􀁸 reach a justified conclusion. [12 marks] [+ 3 SPaG marks] | | | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 Do not write outside the box Turn over ► 8062/1/11/v1.0 6 Do not write outside the box Extra space | | | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | --- | | 27 | 8062/1/11/v1.0 7 Do not write outside the box Turn over for the next question DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PAGE ANSWER IN THE SPACES PROVIDED Turn over ► 8 Do not write outside the box | 0 | 2 | | --- | --- | | 0 | 2 | . | 1 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 0 | 2 | . | 2 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | PRACTICES Which one of the following is a Buddhist festival? Put a tick ( 􀀹 ) in the box next to the correct answer. A B C D Samatha. Theravada. Vipassana. Wesak. Give two types of Buddhist meditation. 1 2 [1 mark] [2 marks] 9 Do not write outside the box 0 2 . 3 Explain two contrasting aims of Buddhist meditation. [4 marks] | | | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 2 . 4 Explain two ways in which death ceremonies are important to Buddhists in Tibet. Refer to sacred writing or another source of Buddhist belief and teaching in

FAQs

What is the structure and time for this Buddhism additional specimen paper?

The document is for GCSE Religious Studies A, Paper 1: Buddhism, Additional specimen materials set 2. The morning time allowed is 1 hour 45 minutes, with guidance to spend about 50 minutes on this paper.

What types of questions are included in the Beliefs and Practices sections?

Beliefs includes a tick-box question, short answers, and an extended evaluation question. Practices includes tick-box items and explanation questions about meditation and ceremonies, plus another evaluation question.

Which evaluation topics must be argued in this paper?

The Beliefs section evaluates the statement that it is better to be a Bodhisattva than an Arhat. The Practices section evaluates the statement that the five precepts are impossible to live by.

Sep 5, 2026

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