OCR A-level Religious Studies Paper 3 Christian thought - 20th June 2025 [Exam Chat]

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How did your OCR A-level Religious Studies Paper 3 Christian thought exam go?

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

20

OCR A-level Religious Studies Paper 3: Developments in Christian thought (H573/03) - Friday 20th June 2025 [Exam Chat]

Welcome to the exam discussion thread for this exam.
Introduce yourself! Let others know what you're aiming for in your exams, what you are struggling with in your revision or anything else.

Wishing you all the best of luck.

General Information
Date/Time: 20th June 2025 AM
Length: 2hrs

Good luck!
Click here to find exam discussions for other A-level subjects

Reply 1

Paul_344

5

Last year's questions:
Critically discuss different Christian interpretations of what heaven is like.
Assess the claim that love (agape) is sufficient as the only source of Christian ethics.
‘Christian communities have successfully responded to the challenge of encounters with other faiths.’ Discuss.
Critically assess liberation theology’s engagement with social issues.

Reply 2

Ladeedadadad

4

what are any predictions for this year?

Reply 3

b.natasharose

7

Anyone else finding this the hardest to construct?
The bible is so ambiguous and subjective and it therefore unless it’s knowledge of god and afterlife situations like liberation theology are so difficult to argue because you can’t really argue against communism in relation to the kingdom of God because that is essentially what it’s about.
Just hoping that I can integrate Marxism into another essay with multiple potential topics I can speak about and not solely liberation

Reply 4

flowersinmyhair

OP

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

20

Original post

by b.natasharose

Anyone else finding this the hardest to construct?
The bible is so ambiguous and subjective and it therefore unless it’s knowledge of god and afterlife situations like liberation theology are so difficult to argue because you can’t really argue against communism in relation to the kingdom of God because that is essentially what it’s about.
Just hoping that I can integrate Marxism into another essay with multiple potential topics I can speak about and not solely liberation

I think the ambiguity will allow you to get more AO2 marks so long as you can explain your opinion well

Reply 5

FranceZO

5

Original post

by Ladeedadadad

what are any predictions for this year?

I'm thinking person of Jesus as they've only included it twice since 2018 and there's so much they can ask. My other predictions are Bonhoeffer, gender and society and death and the afterlife but don't feel so sure about them.

Reply 6

alenaparikh

7

How on earth are we supposed to structure DCT essays? Apparently the style is supposed to be different to Ethics and Philosophy according to the 2024 examiners report?

Reply 7

Joe312

17

Original post

by alenaparikh

How on earth are we supposed to structure DCT essays? Apparently the style is supposed to be different to Ethics and Philosophy according to the 2024 examiners report?

Where does it say that? I'd say they can be structured the same.

Reply 8

FranceZO

5

Trying to do as many essay plans as possible so I can focus on active recall for the next two days but I'm stuck on knowledge of God - is there anyone that argues that faith is not at least somewhat sufficient for belief in God? Could Hume be brought in?

Reply 9

alenaparikh

7

Original post

by Joe312

Where does it say that? I'd say they can be structured the same.

I think therefore i teach did wrote about the examiners report from 2024 and apparently it said it there.... https://ithinkthereforeiteach.com/do-the-exam-markers-for-dct-need-a-reality-check/

Reply 10

alenaparikh

7

Original post

by FranceZO

Trying to do as many essay plans as possible so I can focus on active recall for the next two days but I'm stuck on knowledge of God - is there anyone that argues that faith is not at least somewhat sufficient for belief in God? Could Hume be brought in?

Could argue that 'sufficient for belief' is subjective, dependent on the person, therefore examples of faith from others could be "sufficient for belief"? Can bring in religious experience for synoptic links?

Reply 11

FranceZO

5

Original post

by alenaparikh

Could argue that 'sufficient for belief' is subjective, dependent on the person, therefore examples of faith from others could be "sufficient for belief"? Can bring in religious experience for synoptic links?

Ah cool ty!

Reply 12

Joe312

17

Original post

by alenaparikh

I think therefore i teach did wrote about the examiners report from 2024 and apparently it said it there.... https://ithinkthereforeiteach.com/do-the-exam-markers-for-dct-need-a-reality-check/

Oh yeah the stuff about needing to think like a theologian?

The examiner report recommended a different 'thinking and writing style' - not a different structure.

I don't think that means a new essay structure is needed. I think it means that students can't simply argue there is no God. They have to debate which Christian theology is correct according to the internal logic of Christian theology. They have to show awareness of the diversity of Christian viewpoints and evaluate them using the type of arguments theologians make against each other. Not just from the atheistic perspective, which might work in a philosophy or ethics essay, but not here (except in some limited cases like secularism). I think that's where people are going wrong and what they are referring to.

This 'theologian approach' is what I've tried to model with my revision notes you can find here: https://alevelphilosophyandreligion.com/ocr-religious-studies/ocr-christianity/

(edited 7 months ago)

Reply 13

pinkmangoes

1

any predictions guys?😔

Reply 14

luluLMH2006

6

is anyone worried they wont know all the content. i am struggling the revise the whole of the 12 topics. any tips???

Reply 15

Ladeedadadad

4

Original post

by pinkmangoes

any predictions guys?😔

maybe person of Jesus?? if pluralism and society comes up, what questions do you guys think they could ask?

Reply 16

Ladeedadadad

4

Original post

by luluLMH2006

is anyone worried they wont know all the content. i am struggling the revise the whole of the 12 topics. any tips???

yes, defo hard. I have done very little on liberation theology cos it came up 2 years in a row already (I know we cant afford to sack topics off cos of OCR but I just dont think I have time!)

Reply 17

timtam07

8

dct is too much man, i’m fully giving up trying to revise atp 💔

Reply 18

ilovebagels!!

3

Original post

by timtam07

dct is too much man, i’m fully giving up trying to revise atp 💔

i knoww there's so much content 😭

Reply 19

lucypol

7

Original post

by luluLMH2006

is anyone worried they wont know all the content. i am struggling the revise the whole of the 12 topics. any tips???

https://alevelphilosophyandreligion.com/ocr-religious-studies/ocr-christianity/

this is useful they put the content of each topic into one page so u could skim them if u feel u don't have enough time to look over all of them in detail

idk if it is helpful but having the content in one page makes it feel easier to manage to me lol

OCR A-level Religious Studies Paper 3 Christian thought - 20th June 2025 [Exam Chat]

How did your OCR A-level Religious Studies Paper 3 Christian thought exam go?

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