Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies - National 5

SCQF Framework

SCQF Level: 5

SCQF Credit Points: 24

Skills Framework

Delivering Centre

Vale of Leven Academy

Purpose and Aims

The course develops knowledge and understanding of religious, moral and philosophical issues that affect the world. The course explores the questions they raise and the solutions or approaches they offer. It includes both religious and non-religious perspectives.

Candidates have opportunities to reflect on these and on their own experience and views.

Candidates are required to study a world religion, contemporary moral issues and responses, and key aspects of answers to religious and philosophical questions.

Candidates develop a range of skills at a straightforward level, including the ability to:

  • give accurate accounts of factual information relating to aspects of religion, morality and philosophy
  • demonstrate an understanding of aspects of religion, morality and philosophy
  • analyse beliefs and practices related to world religions, moral issues and philosophical questions
  • evaluate beliefs and practices related to world religions, moral issues and philosophical questions

Recommended Entry

Candidates should have achieved the fourth curriculum level or the National 4 Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies course or equivalent qualifications and/or experience prior to starting this course.

Progression

  • Higher Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies course
  • further study, employment or training

Career Options

Further Information

National 5 RMPS Course Specification

Course Content

The course develops a range of cognitive skills. It encourages active learning in the process of investigating religious, moral and philosophical issues. Candidates learn to express viewpoints and have the opportunity for personal reflection. Candidates develop a wide range of important and transferable skills including accurate recording of information, researching resources, analysing and evaluating beliefs and values, and expressing reasoned personal opinions in a variety of contexts.

The National 5 Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies course has three areas of study.

The areas of study are:

World Religion

The world religion explored at National 5 is Sikhism. Candidates study religion and its impact, relevance and significance through studying some key beliefs and practices found in one major world religion, and the contribution these make to the lives of followers. Content includes:

  • Nature of God
  • Atma
  • Maya
  • Haumai
  • The Five Evils
  • Following the Gurus ’ teachings
  • Guru Granth Sahib
  • Jivan Muhkti
  • Karma
  • Free will
  • Sewa and Simran
  • Khalsa
  • Worship

Morality and Belief

The topic in this section of the National 5 course is Religion, Medicine and the Human Body. Candidates study moral issues and their background, implications and responses through studying one major moral issue and responses to it. Content includes:

  • the value of life: right to life, right to die, sanctity of life, personal autonomy
  • use of embryos: reproductive, research, therapeutic
  • end-of-life care: palliative, hospice
  • euthanasia and assisted dying: voluntary euthanasia, non-voluntary euthanasia, assisted dying provided by individuals or organisations

Religious and Philosophical Questions

Candidates study the issues raised by religious and philosophical questions, their implications and responses by studying one question and responses to it. Content includes:

  • role of a Creator
  • origins of the universe - The Big Bang, God or both?
  • origins of life - Evolution, God or both?

Course Assessment Structure

Question paper - 80 marks

The question paper gives candidates an opportunity to demonstrate application of the following skills and breadth of knowledge and understanding from across the course:

  • analysing religious, moral and philosophical questions
  • presenting detailed and reasoned views

The question paper has 80 marks out of a total of 100 marks. The question paper is therefore worth 80% of the overall marks for the course assessment. It has a greater emphasis on the assessment of knowledge and understanding than the assignment, with approximately 50% of the marks being awarded for the demonstration of knowledge and understanding.

Candidates can be asked to do the following, at a straightforward level, in relation to the religious and philosophical question they have studied:

  • describe, explain and analyse aspects of the religious and philosophical question
  • describe, explain and analyse religious and non-religious responses to the question
  • present reasoned views about the religious and non-religious responses to the question
  • evaluate the question and religious and non-religious responses to it

The question paper is set and marked by SQA, and conducted in centres under conditions specified for external examinations by SQA. Candidates complete this in 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Assignment - 20 marks

The assignment allows candidates to demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and understanding within the context of religious, moral and philosophical questions:

  • identifying an appropriate religious, moral or philosophical issue for study, about which there are alternative or different points of view
  • commenting on the significance or impact of the issue
  • using sources of information
  • drawing on knowledge and understanding to explain and analyse the issue and viewpoints, one of which must be religious, moral or philosophical
  • drawing and presenting a detailed and reasoned conclusion on the issue

The assignment has 20 marks out of a total of 100 marks. The assignment is therefore worth 20% of the overall marks for the course assessment. 50% of the marks cover skills.

The assignment is set by centres within SQA guidelines. SQA provides a brief for the generation of evidence to be assessed. Candidates have an open choice of topic/issue to be researched. Evidence is submitted to SQA for external marking. All marking is quality assured by SQA.