Studies of Religion isn’t actually a ridiculously difficult course.
It also scales pretty well. That’s a win in our books.
Particularly if you are studying one unit Studies of Religion, it is easy to sweep the subject to the side and focus on the others. We’ve collaborated with a HSC Studies of Religion teacher about what the most common mistakes are, that are also very easy to fix. In fact, most of these aren’t things you need to do consistently throughout the year as part of your studying, simply, turn up and make sure you’re implementing these in an exam.
Mistake Number One:
Not referencing the principal beliefs. You studied them in the preliminary course but they don’t feature the same way in the HSC syllabus. In order to achieve the higher bands for very little effort, you should be linking the ethics, traditions and significant persons to the principal beliefs of the religious tradition.
Eg. The Khutbah is where the other beliefs of Islam tie in to Friday Prayer. The Khutbah not only shows gratitude and praise to God, but also testifies Rusul, recites Qur’anic verses (Kutubullah), gives advice to the congregation regarding Akhira and Al-Qadr and reminds Muslim to be aware of the Mala’ika (Angels and Jin) that always watch their actions and praise those of Allah.
If you’re not sure about how to link these, feel free to ask us some questions about it over here.
Mistake Number Two:
Not providing Sacred Text References. This course is Studies of Religion, and part of studying a religion is knowing their core Sacred Texts and Writings. It isn’t enough to say “blah blah blah, as the Bible commands.” If you can remember quotes for English – you can remember a short quote or at least a reference from the Sacred Texts. There are two ways to do this. A mixture of both of the following gives you great variety in your response but also shows the marker that you are dedicated to understanding how the Sacred Texts inform the religious tradition (hello, band 6!)
Example One: Reference to idea or event without a quotation:
Christians are often torn between the respect for natural law and God as the creator (Genesis 2:7)
Example Two: Reference to a direct quotation:
The Love Commandments of Jesus were revitalised in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians where he wrote that “love is patient and kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4).
Mistake Number Three:
Inadequately referencing the stimulus. There has been a recent trend that characterises BOSTES Studies of Religion exams with stimuli. You could be given an image, a phrase, or a quote from an authority of some kind. If you are given a long quote, feel free to chop it up and use little bits and pieces throughout your response (particularly if this is an essay) as it suits you. The stimulus will always give you a source to cite it to, whether it be a person or a throwing in a reference once at the beginning and a second time at the conclusion. You want to OWN the stimulus the entire way through.
Mistake Number Four:
Cringing at the thought of census data. It makes you want to stick pins in your eyeballs but you’ve got to know it. I suggest committing the 2011 census data to memory. From there, you only need to remember ideas like the impact of immigration. Obviously, the more you remember the better. But if you’re cutting it down, make sure you know the 2011 census data as well as you can, and commit ideas rather than exact numbers to memory from the earlier dates.
Mistake Number Five:
Failing to link the Aboriginal Spirituality components of the syllabus. It is easy to remember this: The land is inextricably linked to the Dreaming and identity of an Indigenous person. These are three key components of the syllabus. Now, link them to the Land Rights Movement. Link them to dispossession. Link them to the CONTINUING effect of dispossession. Link to kinship and ceremonies. Link, link, link. It isn’t enough to talk about dispossession being devastating for the Stolen Generations. Link this notion to the land, the Dreaming, Land Rights and kinship!
If you’ve got an SOR essay or response that you’d like some feedback on – then I’ve got good news. We offer FREE SOR MARKING!
FAQs
Is Studies of Religion a difficult course?
No, Studies of Religion isn’t excessively difficult, and it scales well. With a focused approach, especially if you’re studying one unit, you can manage it effectively alongside your other subjects.
What is the first common mistake students make?
Many students forget to reference the principal beliefs of the religious traditions. To score higher marks, link ethics, traditions, and significant figures back to these core beliefs during your responses.
How important are Sacred Text references?
They are crucial! You should incorporate references to Sacred Texts in your answers. This could be a specific quote or a general idea, which demonstrates your understanding of how these texts inform the religious tradition.
What should I do with stimulus material in my exam?
Always reference the stimulus throughout your response. Whether it’s an image, quote, or phrase, integrate pieces of it into your essay to show you understand its relevance and can apply it effectively.
Why should I memorize census data?
Knowing census data, especially from 2011, is essential. It helps you contextualize discussions around demographics, particularly the impacts of immigration. Aim to understand key concepts rather than exact numbers.
What are the key components I should focus on in my studies?
Focus on understanding principal beliefs, Sacred Texts, relevant stimulus material, census data, and Aboriginal Spirituality. These areas are critical for achieving higher marks in your assessments.
