QCE Study of Religion past exams 2020–2025, by year and topic

The rest of the syllabus

Question-level mapping for these areas is still being verified. Every official paper covering them is in the year table above.

• Unit 3 Topic 1 — Social ethics (internal assessment) — Distinguishing features and frameworks of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism that inform ethical positions · Characteristics of social–ethical teachings within religious traditions and how they are expressed, lived and governed by individuals, groups and society · The ways social–ethical teachings inform decision-making processes in the lives of individuals, groups and society · Information drawn from sacred texts and other authoritative sources on social–ethical questions · Distinct beliefs and practices within and across traditions — their characteristics, similarities and differences in approaching social–ethical issues · Viewpoints evident in religious expressions and the influence of religious ethics on one prescribed social–ethical issue: asylum seekers, capital punishment, employment and work, environment, animal testing, refugees, slavery, privacy, food security or war
• Unit 3 Topic 2 — Personal ethics (internal assessment) — The way/s in which religious traditions inform personal ethics · Key teachings of religious traditions informing personal ethics and how these are expressed, supported and enforced within traditions · The variety of responses from adherents within religious traditions to contemporary ethical issues · Information from sacred texts and authoritative sources about the influence of religious beliefs and teachings on personal ethics · One contemporary personal ethical issue examined through one of the five major world religions: beginning and end of life; pivotal life events or situations; body image; interpersonal conflict; medical technologies; substance abuse · The role of religion for adherents when making personal ethical decisions
• Unit 4 Topic 1 — Religion and the nation–state (internal assessment) — Compare separation, religious, multi-religious, pluralist, secular, state-religion and predominantly religion-less relationships through a prescribed context. · Characteristics of these religion–state relationships and the variety of ways they manifest · One prescribed nation–state context studied in detail, e.g. Judaism in a European context before 1945 or in Israel post-1948; Roman Catholicism in Poland; Christianity in a Latin American country; Islam in Israel, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran or Turkey; Hinduism in India pre- or post-independence; Buddhism in Myanmar, Thailand, Tibet or Vietnam; Australian Aboriginal spiritualities through legislation and institutions; Torres Strait Islander peoples' practice of Kupai Omasker and the Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa Act 2020 · Similarities and differences within a religious tradition in its interaction with the nation–state · The significance of religion in its relationship with the nation–state for individuals, groups and society
• Unit 4 Topic 2 — Human existence and rights (external assessment scope) — Teachings about the nature of humanity in Judaism (Revelation; sin, repentance, free will; Divine and human justice; sanctity of life) · Teachings about the nature of humanity in Christianity (Revelation, Incarnation, Resurrection, free will, Salvation, human dignity) · Teachings about the nature of humanity in Islam (revelation to the Prophet, predestination, the Greater Jihad) · Teachings about the nature of humanity in Hinduism (karma, samsara, moksha, reincarnation) and Buddhism (rebirth, karma, dharma, samsara, nirvana) · Concepts of rights, religious rights and human rights framed by religious teachings: sacredness of human life (Judaism and Christianity), submission to the will of Allah (Islam), karmic consequences (Hinduism and Buddhism) · Key principles: Judaism (B'tselem Elohim, Covenant, chesed, tikkun olam, pikuach nefesh, tzedakah); Christianity (sanctity of life, Imago Dei, Judgment, grace, forgiveness); Islam (Adalat, Yawm ad-Din, Five Pillars, Sharia); Hinduism (atman, dharma); Buddhism (anatta, five aggregates, Four Noble Truths, Five Precepts) · Human rights documents: Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam (1990) · Linear world view (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) and cyclical world view (Buddhism, Hinduism), and responses to ultimate questions such as the purpose of life and the role of a deity · Religious organisations promoting human rights and social justice: B'nai B'rith, Stand Up (Judaism); World Vision, Mission Australia, Wesley Mission, Caritas (Christianity); Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights, Islamic Relief Australia (Islam); Hindus for Human Rights, Australian Hindu Humanitarian Fund (Hinduism); Bodhi Australia, Buddhist Global Relief (Buddhism) · The extent of religion's influence on responses to ultimate questions and human rights issues, e.g. poverty, homelessness, human trafficking, genocide, destiny, responsibility to self and community