How to Answer a 4 mark 'Explain' Question (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Revision Note
Exam code: 8062
How to answer 4-mark 'Explain' questions
In AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), every topic includes a 4-mark "Explain two..." question
It appears in three forms depending on what's being tested:
"Explain two ways in which... influence..." (Beliefs sections, AO1.2),
"Explain two different ways/views..." (Practices and Themes sections, AO1.3)
"Explain two similar..." (Themes only, AO1.3)
Whichever form it takes, it does not ask you to refer to a source of authority — that's the 6-mark version.
How the marks are awarded
2 marks per point, for two points
A simple explanation earns 1 mark
A detailed explanation earns 2 marks
To reach "detailed," your explanation needs real substance
This should not just be a fact, but why it matters or how it works
For influence questions specifically the detailed mark requires you to state the actual influence, not just the belief itself
How to structure a 4 mark answer
Make two clearly separated points
Don't blend them together
Develop each point: name the belief/practice/view, then explain it properly
If the question says "different" or "contrasting," make sure your two points genuinely differ from each other
Giving two similar views by mistake caps you at 2 marks total, not 4
Worked Example
Explain two different ways in which the Eucharist (Holy Communion) is celebrated in Christianity.
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Answer:
In the Roman Catholic Church, a priest leads the Eucharist and gives communion to the congregation, using a wafer of unleavened bread and wine from a single chalice, reflecting the belief that the bread and wine truly become the body and blood of Christ.
In Non-conformist churches, communion is often led by a lay person at an open table that anyone present can join, including children, with wine served in small individual cups rather than a shared chalice, reflecting a more symbolic and inclusive view of the sacrament.
Mark Scheme and Guidance
First way: simple explanation of a relevant and accurate difference [1 mark], detailed explanation [2 marks]
Second way: simple explanation of a relevant and accurate difference [1 mark], detailed explanation [2 marks]
Accept any two genuinely different ways communion is celebrated across Christian denominations or traditions
If two similar views are given instead of two different ones, only one can be credited, up to a 2-mark maximum
Examiner Tips and Tricks
At roughly a minute per mark, you have about 4–5 minutes for this question — enough for two properly developed points, not four rushed ones. The most common way to lose marks here isn't inaccuracy, it's under-development: naming a practice without explaining it loses the second mark for that point every time.
Always ask yourself "have I explained why or how, not just what?"
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