AS 90821 Annotated exemplars

This annotated exemplar is intended for teacher use only. Annotated exemplars are extracts of student evidence, with commentary, that explain key parts of a standard. These help teachers make assessment judgements at the grade boundaries.

Download all exemplars and commentary [PDF, 870 KB]

TKI Religious Studies assessment resources (external link)

For Excellence, the student needs to comprehensively explain the changes in an expression(s) of a religious tradition.

This involves explaining the wider implications of the changes.

The student has outlined and explained some of the changes in the Rite of Marriage from 1914 to the present day, in breadth and depth (1). 

Some changes to the Rite of Marriage are outlined within the Catholic Church as it was in the 1914 Rite and then after Vatican II 1962-1965 (2). The student has explained the changes in the planning a couple can now participate in with regard to language, prayers used and the role of the congregation in a marriage.

The student has explained the reasons for and the impacts of the changes (3), and has explained the wider implications of the changes (4).

For a more secure Excellence, the student could comprehensively explain the Rite of Marriage within Catholicism by providing evidence from authoritative sources and within the teaching of the Church.

The student could, for example provide excerpts of the actual text of both the 1914 Rite of Marriage and that of one used in the vernacular because of Vatican II.

In addition, the student could provide evidence of more than just two changes in the Rite of Marriage from the 1914 Rite and the present day. Including changes like how marriages between Catholics and non-Catholic are performed or the wording used for the vows that are agreed by the couple.  

For Merit, the student needs to explain in detail the changes in an expression(s) of a religious tradition.

This involves:

• outlining the details of the changes
• explaining the significance of the changes within the religious tradition.

The student has outlined and explained some of the changes in detail (1). The student has explained in detail the changes in language used and the readings chosen by the couple. 

The student has explained the reasons for (2) and the impacts of the changes (3).

The student has explained the wider social implication of the changes in the Rite of Marriage within the Catholic Church (4).

To reach Excellence the student could comprehensively explain the changes in the Rite of Marriage within Catholicism by providing evidence from authoritative sources and within the teaching of the Church. The student could use evidence from Lumen gentium and the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 1601 – 1658.

Additionally, the student could provide evidence of historical, geographical, personal or political implications of the changes in the Rite of Marriage within Catholicism.

This evidence could include examples of the actual text of both the 1914 Rite of Marriage in Latin and that of one used in the vernacular as a result of Vatican II.

Additionally, the student could provide evidence of the historical implication of how the Church understood the family to reflect the Domestic Church in 1914 and in today’s society, (Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 1655 -1658).

For Merit, the student needs to explain in detail the changes in an expression(s) of a religious tradition.

This involves:

• outlining the details of the changes
• explaining the significance of the changes within the religious tradition.

The student has outlined and explained some of the changes in depth (1). 

The student has explained the significance of the changes for Catholics (2). The student has explained how by choosing their own readings they can be more relevant to them and their feelings and beliefs expressed in the writing of their own prayers.

For a more secure Merit, the student could explain in detail the changes in the Rite of Marriage within Catholicism by providing evidence from authoritative sources and within the teaching of the Church. The student could use Marriage: Love and Live in the Divine Plan (USCCB 2009) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 1601 – 1658.

Additionally, the student could provide further evidence of the significance of the changes of the Rite of Marriage within Catholicism.

The student could, for example provide excerpts on the changes in the Catholic understanding of marriage as found in the address Vegliare Con Sollecitudine: Pius XII to Members of the Congress of the Italian Association of Catholic Midwives on the 29th October 1951, on marriage and the moral law and Promote, Preserve, Protect Marriage released by the USCCB Administrative Committee from 2003.  

For Achieved, the student needs to explain the changes in an expression(s) of a religious tradition.

This involves:

• outlining the changes in an expression(s) of a religious tradition
• explaining the reasons for and the impacts of the changes.

The student has outlined and explained some of the changes in detail (1). The student explains the change in language used and the role of the congregation during the marriage ceremony.

The student has explained the reasons for (2) and the impacts of the changes (3).

To reach Merit, the student could explain in detail the changes in the Rite of Marriage within Catholicism by providing evidence from authoritative sources and within the teaching of the Church. The student could use Follow the Way of Love: A Pastoral Message of the US Catholic Bishops to families (1994).

Additionally, the student could provide further evidence of the reasons for the changes and understanding which has had an impact upon of the Rite of Marriage within Catholicism.

This evidence could include some examples of the teaching of the Catholic Church regarding marriage found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1933 and 1994 versions.

Additionally, the student could provide further evidence of the reasons and the impact on the couple choosing their own readings for the ceremony, due to the growing understanding of the laity with regard to marriage.

For Achieved, the student needs to explain the changes in an expression(s) of a religious tradition.

This involves:

• outlining the changes in an expression(s) of a religious tradition
• explaining the reasons for and the impacts of the changes.

The student has outlined and explaining some of the changes in the Rite of Marriage within Catholicism (1). The student has explained briefly the change in the understanding of the role of women in the ceremony and the change in language.    

The student has explained the reasons for (2) and the impact of one of the changes (3).

For a more secure Achieved, the student could explain the changes in the Rite of Marriage within Catholicism by providing evidence from authoritative sources and within the teaching of the Church. The student could use A Family Perspective in Church and Society, 10^th Anniversary Edition from USCCB Committee on Marriage and Family (1998).

Additionally, the student could provide further evidence of the reasons for the changes and the impact upon of the Rite of Marriage within Catholicism, as explained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 306 – 312 (1933 version) and 1601 – 1658 (1994 version)..

Additionally, the student could provide further evidence of the reasons and the impact on the couple of the understanding of the role of women in society as found in Mulieris dignitatem St John Paul II 1988 and the change in language to the vernacular for the ceremony.  

For Achieved, the student needs to explain the changes in an expression(s) of a religious tradition.

This involves:

• outlining the changes in an expression(s) of a religious tradition
• explaining the reasons for and the impacts of the changes.

The student has outlined and explaining some of the changes (1). The student has explained briefly the use of language, how a couple can personalise a marriage.

The student has explained a reason for a change (2).

To reach Achieved, the student could explain the changes in the Rite of Marriage within Catholicism by providing evidence from authoritative sources and within the teaching of the Church. The student could use Humanae Vitae: Paul VI 1968 and the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 1601 – 1658.

Additionally, the student could provide evidence of the reasons for the changes and the impact upon the Rite of Marriage within Catholicism as explained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 306 – 312 (1933 version) and 1601 – 1658 (1994 version).

This evidence could include some examples of the Catholic Church’s teaching on marriage from Familiaris consortium St John Paul II 1981.

Additionally, the student could provide further evidence of the reasons and the impact on the couple being able to use the vernacular in the ceremony, and explain the impact of the changes to the Rite of Marriage.