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GCSE · Theme A: Relationships and Families

RS.TA7 Extended and Nuclear Family Structures

AQA 8062 · Calculators not allowed · about 40 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer all questions. For the 12-mark evaluation, give reasoned arguments for and against, refer to religious arguments, and reach a justified conclusion. Two questions require short full-sentence answers: the 4-mark explain question and the 12-mark evaluation. Suggested time: 40 minutes.

Identify which one of the following best describes a nuclear family in the study of family structures.

A. Parents and dependent children living together
B. A single parent living with children only
C. Families where grandparents are the main carers
D. Two unrelated adults living together

(Total for Question 1 is 1 mark)

Give two defining features of an extended family structure, as studied in Theme A on family structures.

(Total for Question 2 is 2 marks)

Explain two similarities between the nuclear family and the extended family in the context of providing support and care.

(Total for Question 3 is 4 marks)

Explain two religious teachings about duty to family, referring to sacred writings. Name the scripture reference(s) you use.

(Total for Question 4 is 5 marks)

Extended families are better than nuclear families for raising children. Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should give reasoned arguments to support this statement, give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view, refer to religious arguments, and reach a justified conclusion.

(Total for Question 5 is 12 marks)

Give one advantage of a nuclear family for the care of older relatives, stated briefly and in the context of family structure.

(Total for Question 6 is 1 mark)

Give one disadvantage of an extended family when it comes to privacy and household space, in the context of living arrangements.

(Total for Question 7 is 1 mark)

Give three ways in which extended family members may help with the upbringing of children, in the context of support and care.

(Total for Question 8 is 3 marks)

Explain two disadvantages of the nuclear family for support networks, in the context of emergency care and daily help.

(Total for Question 9 is 4 marks)

State two reasons why some cultures favour extended family living arrangements, in the context of intergenerational responsibility.

(Total for Question 10 is 2 marks)

Explain two ways religious teachings can encourage maintaining ties with extended family, referring to at least one religious principle.

(Total for Question 11 is 4 marks)

Give three practical reasons why an extended family might be better able to care for a disabled family member, in the context of shared responsibilities.

(Total for Question 12 is 3 marks)

State three features that distinguish an extended family from a nuclear family, as defined in the AQA Theme A topic on family structures.

(Total for Question 13 is 3 marks)

Mark scheme · RS.TA7 Extended and Nuclear Family Structures

Question 1

B1 selecting A, parents and dependent children living together, as the definition of a nuclear family, cao
Answer: A

Question 2

B1 feature 1: includes relatives beyond the immediate parents and children, such as grandparents, aunts or uncles, oe
B1 feature 2: relatives may live nearby or in the same household providing daily support, oe
Answer: Includes extended relatives such as grandparents, aunts or uncles; relatives live nearby or together and provide support.

Question 3

B1 point 1: both family types can provide practical support such as childcare or help with household tasks, oe
B1 development: this might include babysitting, cooking or transport for family members, showing practical overlap, oe
B1 point 2: both can offer emotional support and a sense of belonging to members, oe
B1 development: family members in either structure can give comfort, advice and stability in times of stress, oe
Answer: Both can offer practical support like childcare and help with household tasks, and both can provide emotional support and a sense of belonging.

Question 4

B1 point 1: the Fifth Commandment tells believers to honour their parents, giving a duty of respect and care, oe
B1 development: reference to Exodus 20:12, 'Honour your father and your mother', as a scriptural source for parental duty, oe
B1 point 2: Islam teaches kindness and good treatment of parents and relatives, giving responsibilities across generations, oe
B1 development: reference to Qur'an 17:23 which instructs kindness and humility to parents, and 17:24 about lowering to them the wing of humility, oe
B1 for accurate scripture references named in the answer, cao
Answer: Exodus 20:12 commands honouring parents, giving a duty of respect and care; Qur'an 17:23-24 instructs kindness and humility towards parents, showing intergenerational responsibility.

Question 5

Level 1 (1-3): Basic statements for or against the view, with little development. Limited or no reference to religious viewpoints. Conclusion, if present, is weak.
Level 2 (4-6): Some developed arguments for and against the view. Some reference to religious teaching or sources. Conclusion is attempted but may be unbalanced.
Level 3 (7-9): Clear, developed arguments on both sides with relevant religious perspectives and evidence. A reasoned conclusion is reached which addresses the question.
Level 4 (10-12): A thorough, well-structured response with developed arguments for and against, detailed reference to religious views and scripture where appropriate, and a convincing, justified conclusion showing evaluation and judgement.
Indicative content:
- Arguments supporting extended families: greater available childcare and supervision from multiple adults, allowing parents to work or rest; close relatives can pass on cultural and moral values and provide role models; shared resources and pooled income reduce financial stress, creating a more stable environment for children.
- Arguments supporting nuclear families: clearer parental authority and consistency in discipline and routines, which some argue benefit child development; fewer household tensions from multiple generations living together can mean a calmer upbringing; nuclear families may foster greater privacy and independence for parents and children.
- Religious support for extended family roles: Christianity emphasises honouring parents (Exodus 20:12) and responsibility to care for elders; Islam teaches kindness to parents and relatives (Qur'an 17:23-24) and the importance of maintaining family ties, which can be used to argue for intergenerational care.
- Religious counterarguments: religious teachings on parental responsibility can apply within nuclear families as well, and scripture emphasises the rights of the child and proper treatment which does not prescribe one household type over another.
- Consideration of practicalities and context: social support networks, employment, housing and culture influence whether extended or nuclear arrangements are better; what is best in one community may not be in another.
- Judgement could weigh the benefits of extra support and cultural continuity in extended families against potential for conflict and reduced autonomy, and conclude that neither structure is universally superior, with a reasoned justification based on evidence and religious teaching.

Question 6

B1 one advantage such as clearer decision making about care plans for elderly relatives, oe
Answer: Clearer decision making about care plans for elderly relatives.

Question 7

B1 one disadvantage such as reduced privacy and overcrowded living conditions, oe
Answer: Reduced privacy and potential overcrowding in the household.

Question 8

B1 help 1: providing regular childcare or babysitting, oe
B1 help 2: offering advice and emotional support to parents, oe
B1 help 3: passing on cultural traditions and family history, oe
Answer: Providing childcare or babysitting; offering advice and emotional support; passing on cultural traditions and family history.

Question 9

B1 point 1: nuclear families may lack immediate extended relatives nearby to provide emergency childcare or practical help, oe
B1 development: this can increase reliance on paid childcare or state services, adding cost and stress, oe
B1 point 2: single pair of parents managing all responsibilities may face burnout without wider family support, oe
B1 development: this strain can affect parental wellbeing and the quality of care children receive, oe
Answer: Nuclear families may lack nearby relatives for emergency help, increasing reliance on paid services; parents can become overburdened without wider family support, risking burnout.

Question 10

B1 reason 1: emphasis on filial duty and caring for elders, often supported by religious or cultural teaching, oe
B1 reason 2: economic reasons, such as sharing housing costs and pooling resources, oe
Answer: Emphasis on duty to care for elders supported by culture or religion; economic reasons like sharing housing costs and resources.

Question 11

B1 point 1: teachings like the Fifth Commandment encourage honouring parents, which supports ongoing care and contact with family, oe
B1 development: this can lead believers to live near or support ageing parents and involve them in family life, oe
B1 point 2: Islamic teaching to maintain family ties and be kind to relatives encourages regular contact and mutual help, oe
B1 development: this may lead Muslims to seek practical and emotional support from extended kin and to resolve disputes, oe
Answer: Fifth Commandment encourages honouring parents and thus care and contact; Islamic teaching to maintain family ties encourages kindness and mutual support among relatives.

Question 12

B1 reason 1: more people available to share caregiving tasks, reducing individual burden, oe
B1 reason 2: wider range of skills among relatives for specialist care or advocacy, oe
B1 reason 3: shared financial resources can pay for equipment or home adaptations, oe
Answer: More people to share caregiving tasks; wider range of skills among relatives; shared finances to pay for equipment or adaptations.

Question 13

B1 feature 1: presence of additional relatives such as grandparents living nearby or in the same household, oe
B1 feature 2: a broader support network and shared domestic responsibilities, oe
B1 feature 3: closer intergenerational interaction and influence on childrearing, oe
Answer: Includes additional relatives like grandparents nearby; broader support network with shared domestic responsibilities; closer intergenerational interaction influencing childrearing.

Extended and Nuclear Family Structures - Worksheets, Questions and Revision