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GCSE · Thematic Studies

RS.TA2 Contraception and Family Planning

AQA 8062 · Calculators not allowed · about 42 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

This question checks key vocabulary used in the debate about contraception and family planning.

(a)State what is meant by contraception.(1)

(b)State what is meant by family planning.(1)

(c)State what is meant by artificial contraception.(1)

(d)State what is meant by natural family planning.(1)

(e)State what is meant by responsible parenthood.(1)

(Total for Question 1 is 5 marks)

Explain two reasons why some religious believers oppose the use of artificial contraception. Refer to Christian belief and teaching in your answer.

(Total for Question 2 is 4 marks)

Explain two reasons why some religious believers accept the use of contraception. Refer to religious belief and teaching in your answer.

(Total for Question 3 is 4 marks)

Explain two contrasting religious beliefs about the use of artificial contraception within marriage. Refer to a source of wisdom and authority in your answer.

(Total for Question 4 is 5 marks)

Give three facts about contraception and family planning in the UK today.

(Total for Question 5 is 3 marks)

Explain the importance of family planning for religious believers today.

(Total for Question 6 is 6 marks)

Explain two non-religious arguments for the use of contraception. Refer to Humanist or other non-religious beliefs in your answer.

(Total for Question 7 is 4 marks)

State two methods of natural family planning, and for each, briefly explain how it works.

(Total for Question 8 is 4 marks)

Give three reasons why family planning is considered important in contemporary British society.

(Total for Question 9 is 3 marks)

Mark scheme · RS.TA2 Contraception and Family Planning

Question 1

(a) B1 deliberately preventing pregnancy from happening, oe
(a) Answer: Deliberately preventing pregnancy from happening.
(b) B1 making deliberate decisions about when to have children and how many to have, oe
(b) Answer: Making deliberate decisions about when to have children and how many to have.
(c) B1 using a device, medicine or procedure (e.g. the pill, condoms) to prevent pregnancy, oe
(c) Answer: Using a device, medicine or procedure, such as the pill or condoms, to prevent pregnancy.
(d) B1 avoiding pregnancy by tracking a woman's fertility cycle and avoiding sex on fertile days, without using artificial methods, oe
(d) Answer: Avoiding pregnancy by tracking a woman's fertility cycle and avoiding sex on fertile days, without artificial methods.
(e) B1 making thoughtful decisions about having and raising children so they can be properly cared for, oe
(e) Answer: Making thoughtful decisions about having and raising children so they can be properly cared for.

Question 2

B1 point 1: the Roman Catholic Church teaches that sex within marriage should always remain open to the possibility of creating new life, oe
B1 development: this is based on the belief that God intends sex within marriage to have both a unitive purpose (bringing the couple closer) and a procreative purpose (having children), which artificial contraception is seen as separating, oe
B1 point 2: some Christians believe artificial contraception goes against Genesis 1:28's command to 'be fruitful and multiply', oe
B1 development: this teaching leads some believers to see deliberately preventing conception within marriage as going against God's purpose for a married couple, oe
Answer: E.g. Catholic teaching that sex within marriage should remain open to new life (unitive and procreative purposes); Genesis 1:28's instruction to 'be fruitful and multiply'.

Question 3

B1 point 1: most other Christian denominations accept the use of contraception within marriage as a matter of individual conscience, oe
B1 development: this is often based on the belief that responsible family planning, choosing when a couple is ready to care for a child, is itself an expression of Christian love and stewardship, oe
B1 point 2: many Muslims accept the use of contraception for responsible family planning, provided it is used within marriage, oe
B1 development: Islamic teaching generally allows contraception where a couple has good reason, such as protecting the mother's health or spacing out children responsibly, oe
Answer: E.g. most other Christian denominations accepting contraception as a matter of conscience/responsible family planning; Islamic teaching generally permitting contraception within marriage for good reason.

Question 4

B1 belief 1: the Roman Catholic Church teaches that only natural family planning is acceptable, because artificial contraception separates the unitive and procreative purposes of sex, oe
B1 development: this reflects the belief that every act of sex within marriage should remain open to new life, based on Genesis 1:28's teaching to 'be fruitful and multiply', oe
B1 belief 2: many other Christians believe artificial contraception is acceptable within marriage as an expression of responsible parenthood, oe
B1 development: this view holds that God wants children to be brought into families that can care for them well, so choosing when to have children responsibly can be consistent with Christian teaching, oe
B1 reference to a source of wisdom and authority made accurately, oe
Answer: Contrast: Catholic teaching restricting couples to natural family planning (Genesis 1:28, unitive/procreative purposes) vs other Christians accepting artificial contraception as responsible parenthood.

Question 5

B1 the NHS provides contraception free of charge, oe
B1 condoms are the only widely used method that also helps protect against sexually transmitted infections, oe
B1 there are many different methods available, including hormonal methods (e.g. the pill), barrier methods (e.g. condoms) and natural methods, oe
Answer: Any three: contraception is free on the NHS; condoms also help protect against STIs; many methods are available (hormonal, barrier, natural).

Question 6

Level 3 (5-6): A detailed, well-organised answer that explains several reasons for the importance of family planning, supported by accurate reference to religious teaching and/or scripture, with clear links made between the reasons given.
Level 2 (3-4): An answer that explains some reasons for the importance of family planning, with some relevant supporting detail, though links between points may be limited.
Level 1 (1-2): One or two isolated relevant points are made about family planning, with little supporting detail or explanation.
Level 0 (0): No relevant content.
Indicative content:
- It allows couples to decide when they are ready, financially and emotionally, to care for a child, which many religious believers see as an act of responsible parenthood.
- For believers who accept contraception, it can protect the health of the mother, for example by allowing recovery time between pregnancies.
- For Roman Catholics, natural family planning allows a couple to plan the timing of a family while keeping every act of sex open to the possibility of new life, as their tradition teaches.
- It supports the belief, shared across many traditions, that children should be brought into a stable family able to provide for their needs.
- It can support gender equality within marriage, since decisions about family planning are increasingly made jointly by both partners.
- It allows married couples to balance their religious duty to have children with other responsibilities, such as work or caring for existing family members.

Question 7

B1 point 1: personal autonomy - Humanists generally believe individuals should be free to make informed decisions about their own bodies and family size, oe
B1 development: this includes the right to choose contraception without needing religious permission, based on respect for individual freedom and responsibility, oe
B1 point 2: quality of life - many non-religious people argue contraception allows couples to have only as many children as they can properly care for and support, oe
B1 development: on this view, careful family planning can improve the wellbeing of both parents and children, rather than leaving family size to chance, oe
Answer: E.g. personal autonomy (Humanist argument); quality-of-life arguments about caring properly for a planned number of children.

Question 8

B1 method 1: the calendar/rhythm method, oe
B1 explanation 1: tracking the days of a woman's monthly cycle to identify and avoid sex on the most fertile days, oe
B1 method 2: the temperature method, oe
B1 explanation 2: taking a woman's body temperature each day, since it rises slightly after ovulation, to help identify fertile days to avoid, oe
Answer: E.g. calendar/rhythm method (tracking cycle days); temperature method (tracking the small rise in body temperature after ovulation).

Question 9

B1 it allows couples to plan when they are financially and emotionally ready for children, oe
B1 it can protect the health of the mother and any children, oe
B1 it gives individuals and couples greater control and choice over their own lives, oe
Answer: Any three: allows couples to plan when they are ready; protects health; gives individuals greater control and choice.

Contraception and Family Planning - Worksheets, Questions and Revision