9484 · June 2024
Biblical Studies
Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level 9484 Biblical Studies June 2024 Principal Examiner Report for Teachers BIBLICAL STUDIES Paper 9484/12 The Four Gospels
Source: Cambridge International
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
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Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The set texts are taken from all four gospels.
There is no requirement to read texts other than those set for study, though candidates benefit from having read all four gospels and then understand the distinctive characteristics of the gospels.
Candidates are encouraged to work across topics where appropriate and to understand the influence of the Old Testament on the material.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
Report
Examiner report
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
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Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
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Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
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Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
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Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
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Grade & admission context
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Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level 9484 Biblical Studies June…
Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level 9484 Biblical Studies June 2024 Principal Examiner Report for Teachers © 2024 BIBLICAL STUDIES Paper 9484/12 The Four Gospels Key messages The set texts are taken from all four gospels. There is no requirement to read texts other than those set for study, though candidates benefit from having read all four gospels and then understand the distinctive characteristics of the gospels. Candidates are encouraged to work across topics where appropriate and to understand the influence of the Old Testament on the material. General comments To do well when answering these questions candidates must stick closely to the content of the question and identify what the main thrust of it is. Answers to questions should not just retell stories, there will always be a need to either assess, analyse, evaluate, or compare. Candidates need to identify this and then arrange their answer around this task, so that the question is clearly addressed. Whilst access to further reading material may vary, it is necessary for candidates to show that they have a good grasp of the set texts. Comments on specific questions Section A Question 1 This was a popular question with the passage taken from the Matthean account of Jesus’ baptism. Some candidates chose to answer this and the majority scored highly. The baptism stories are ones which candidates are familiar with as they are a key part of the story of Jesus. Here the focus was on John’s reluctance to baptise Jesus and comment was around this point. Question 2 This was another popular question about the disciples plucking the ears of corn from the field on the sabbath. Candidates commented on the reaction of the Pharisees and the question they asked. A few candidates retold the event with little comment on the challenge which was being made. Jesus was brought up with the knowledge of the sabbath laws therefore this aspect of the situation should be commented on in detail. Most candidates achieved a higher level for their answer. Question 3 This question dealt with the purification service which followed Jesus’ birth. For those who correctly identified the passage their answers were well written. Comment was made on the time lapse between birth and the need to present in the Temple and mention was made of the significance of the sacrifice needed. All candidates stuck to relevant comments around this excerpt. Question 4 This was the least popular question within the first section. For those who chose it they correctly wrote about Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem at the start of the last few days of his life. Answers included mention of around the event but not much about the detail. More could have been mentioned about the central nature of Jerusalem and how the crowd’s opinion of Jesus changed as events went on. The event was full of messianic symbolism which needed unpacking. However, those who chose to comment on this provided sound answers.
Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level 9484 Biblical Studies June…
Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level 9484 Biblical Studies June 2024 Principal Examiner Report for Teachers © 2024 Section B Question 5 All candidates answered this question which is designed to allow them to demonstrate their analytical and evaluative skills as well as their knowledge and understanding. Good candidates balanced their answers with reference to the passage and additional material which they brought to their answers. Most candidates selected relevant passages to comment on. The better answers were not dependent on lots of other examples but on one or two other relevant passages they had studied, and the quality of response showed they understood the evaluative nature of the question. All candidates correctly identified and wrote about the transfiguration and compared it to the baptism story. Those answers which achieved a high level also included less obvious comparisons of stories. This question was well answered by most. Section C Question 6 There were too few candidates for a meaningful report to be produced for this question. Question 7 (a) This was the most popular question in Section C. Candidates showed they were aware of the miracles of Jesus and were able to refer to many examples. Those who achieved the high levels referred to the part played by miracles and did not just tell the miracle story. Some mentioned them as fulfilment of prophesy and messianic indicators as well as explaining their role as demonstrating the divinity of Jesus. They were also referred to as being vehicles of faith and bringing glory to God. (b) This question was very well answered by those who attempted it. Candidates referred to the miracles which recorded mention of the faith of those present. To get a high level of marks there needed to be a balance between those who thought the miracles showed the importance of faith and those miracles which highlighted another aspect other than faith, e.g. compassion or defeat of evil forces. Some referred to the signs in John’s Gospel when the miracle is there to illustrate an ‘I am’ characteristic of Jesus. If answers did not demonstrate the evaluative element of the question, they could not achieve the highest level of marks.
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
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Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
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Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
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MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
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Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
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Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
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Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
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Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
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Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Self-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The set texts are taken from all four gospels.
- 2Message
There is no requirement to read texts other than those set for study, though candidates benefit from having read all four gospels and then understand the distinctive characteristics of the gospels.
- 3Message
Candidates are encouraged to work across topics where appropriate and to understand the influence of the Old Testament on the material.
- 4Strength
Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level 9484 Biblical Studies June…: Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level 9484 Biblical Studies June 2024 Princ
- 5Strength
Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level 9484 Biblical Studies June…: Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level 9484 Biblical Studies June 2024 Princ
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2024 2024
Biblical Studies
Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level 9484 Biblical Studies June 2024 Principal Examiner Report for Teachers © 2024 BIBLICAL STUDIES Paper 9484/12 The Four Gospels Key messages The set texts are taken from all four gospels. There is no requirement to read
The set texts are taken from all four gospels.
There is no requirement to read texts other than those set for study, though candidates benefit from having read all four gospels and then understand the distinctive characteristics of the gospels.
Candidates are encouraged to work across topics where appropriate and to understand the influence of the Old Testament on the material.
Examiner insights
General comments
- •Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level 9484 Biblical Studies June 2024 Principal Examiner Report for Teachers BIBLICAL STUDIES Paper 9484/12 The Four Gospels