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GCSE · Thematic Studies

RS.TF4 Wealth and Poverty

AQA 8062 · Calculators not allowed · about 55 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

This question checks key vocabulary used when discussing wealth and poverty.

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

(b)State what is meant by absolute poverty.(1)

(c)State what is meant by relative poverty.(1)

(d)State what is meant by wealth.(1)

(e)State what is meant by a structural cause of poverty.(1)

(Total for Question 1 is 5 marks)

Give three causes of poverty.

(Total for Question 2 is 3 marks)

Explain two religious teachings about poverty. Refer to a religion in your answer.

(Total for Question 3 is 4 marks)

Explain two contrasting views about the best way to reduce poverty.

(Total for Question 4 is 5 marks)

This question is about wealth and poverty. It is the AQA-style 24-mark, five-part question.

(a)State what is meant by relative poverty.(1)

(b)Give two causes of poverty.(2)

(c)Explain two religious teachings about the causes or effects of poverty. Refer to a sacred text in your answer.(4)

(d)Explain two contrasting views about whether it is more important to give charity to the poor or to change the systems that cause poverty. Refer to a religious and a non-religious view in your answer.(5)

(e)Evaluate this statement: 'Individual charity does more to help the poor than changing society's structures.' In your answer you should: refer to religious teaching, refer to different points of view, reach a justified conclusion.(12)

(Total for Question 5 is 24 marks)

Explain two effects of poverty on individuals or families.

(Total for Question 6 is 4 marks)

Give three ways religious believers might respond to poverty.

(Total for Question 7 is 3 marks)

Mark scheme · RS.TF4 Wealth and Poverty

Question 1

(a) B1 lacking the money or resources needed to meet basic material needs, oe
(a) Answer: Lacking the money or resources needed to meet basic material needs.
(b) B1 a level of poverty where a person cannot meet the basic necessities for survival, e.g. food, clean water or shelter, oe
(b) Answer: A level of poverty where a person cannot meet the basic necessities for survival, e.g. food, clean water or shelter.
(c) B1 having significantly less income or resources than the average standard of living in a particular society, oe
(c) Answer: Having significantly less income or resources than the average standard of living in a particular society.
(d) B1 having a large amount of money or valuable possessions and resources, oe
(d) Answer: Having a large amount of money or valuable possessions and resources.
(e) B1 a cause of poverty arising from the way society, the economy or institutions are organised, rather than from an individual's own choices, oe
(e) Answer: A cause of poverty arising from the way society, the economy or institutions are organised, rather than from an individual's own choices.

Question 2

B1 unemployment or low wages, oe
B1 illness or disability, oe
B1 lack of access to education, affordable housing or healthcare, oe (accept conflict, natural disaster, or family breakdown)
Answer: Any three: unemployment or low wages; illness or disability; lack of access to education, affordable housing or healthcare; conflict; natural disaster; family breakdown.

Question 3

B1 point 1: Christians are taught to be generous towards those who are poor, oe
B1 development: Deuteronomy 15:11 teaches, 'There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy', showing generosity to the poor is presented as a lasting duty, not an optional extra, oe
B1 point 2: Muslims have a duty to support the poor through Zakah, oe
B1 development: Qur'an 9:60 lists the poor and the needy among those who should receive Zakah, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, showing support for the poor is built into the structure of Muslim practice, oe
Answer: E.g. Christian teaching to be openhanded towards the poor (Deuteronomy 15:11); Muslim duty to support the poor and needy through Zakah (Qur'an 9:60).

Question 4

B1 view 1: individual charitable giving is the most effective, immediate response to poverty, oe
B1 development: this view points to religious duties such as Zakah and Christian giving, which provide direct, practical help to people in need right now, without depending on slow political processes, oe
B1 view 2: structural or systemic change is needed for a lasting reduction in poverty, oe
B1 development: this view, held by both religious and non-religious campaigners, argues that fairer wages, better welfare systems and tackling unfair systems address the root causes of poverty, whereas charity alone treats the symptoms without stopping poverty recurring, oe
B1 reference to a specific example, teaching or organisation made accurately, oe
Answer: Contrast: charitable giving as the most effective immediate response vs structural/systemic change as needed for a lasting reduction in poverty.

Question 5

(a) B1 having significantly less income or resources than the average standard of living in a particular society, oe
(a) Answer: Having significantly less income or resources than the average standard of living in a particular society.
(b) B1 unemployment or low wages, oe
(b) B1 illness or disability, oe (accept lack of access to education/housing, conflict, natural disaster, family breakdown)
(b) Answer: E.g. unemployment or low wages; illness or disability.
(c) B1 point 1: the Bible warns that unfair treatment of workers can cause poverty, oe
(c) B1 development: James 5:4 warns, 'Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you', condemning employers who withhold fair pay and so cause hardship for those who work for them, oe
(c) B1 point 2: the Qur'an forbids interest (riba), which can trap people in poverty through unpayable debt, oe
(c) B1 development: Qur'an 2:275 teaches that 'Allah has permitted trade and has forbidden interest', reflecting the belief that unfair lending practices can deepen poverty rather than relieve it, oe
(c) Answer: E.g. Bible teaching condemning unfair withholding of wages (James 5:4); Qur'an teaching forbidding interest, which can trap people in debt (Qur'an 2:275).
(d) B1 view 1: giving charity directly to those in need is the most important response, oe
(d) B1 development: this view, common among religious believers, treats charitable giving (e.g. Zakah, or Christian giving inspired by 'faith without works is dead', James 2:17) as an immediate religious duty that provides real relief now, oe
(d) B1 view 2: changing the unjust systems that cause poverty is the most important response, oe
(d) B1 development: this view, held by both religious social-justice campaigners and secular/Humanist campaigners, argues that lasting change requires addressing root causes such as unfair wages or lack of opportunity, since charity alone cannot fix the systems that keep producing poverty, oe
(d) B1 reference to a specific example, teaching or organisation made accurately, oe
(d) Answer: Contrast: giving charity directly is the most important response vs changing unjust systems is the most important response.
(e) L4 (10-12): A well-argued, balanced answer that considers more than one point of view in a developed way, using accurate and detailed references to religious teaching to support each point, and reaches a clear, justified conclusion.
(e) L3 (7-9): A clear and reasoned answer that considers more than one point of view, supported by relevant references to religious teaching, though the justification of the conclusion may be less developed.
(e) L2 (4-6): A reasoned answer that considers at least one point of view, with some relevant supporting evidence, but with limited or no consideration of an alternative view.
(e) L1 (1-3): One or more relevant points are made, but with little or no supporting evidence and no reasoned conclusion.
(e) L0 (0): No relevant content.
(e) Indicative content:
- Agree: charity gives direct, immediate relief to people in poverty right now, and is a religious duty in both Christianity and Islam (e.g. the obligatory nature of Zakah), so it cannot wait for slow political or economic change.
- Agree: charitable giving builds compassion, personal connection and community, and does not depend on persuading governments or institutions to act, which can take many years.
- Agree: Deuteronomy 15:11's command to be openhanded towards the poor addresses individuals directly, suggesting personal generosity is itself the primary religious response to poverty.
- Disagree: charity alone does not address root causes such as unemployment, low wages or lack of affordable housing, so people can be helped today but remain in poverty long-term unless the underlying causes change.
- Disagree: some religious traditions include a strong call for justice as well as charity; James 5:4's condemnation of employers who withhold fair wages criticises an unjust system, not merely a lack of individual generosity, showing that structural fairness matters too.
- Disagree: structural change (e.g. fairer wages or better welfare provision) can lift far more people out of poverty permanently than individual gifts can, since it changes the conditions that cause poverty in the first place.
- A balanced answer might note that major religious charities in Britain today typically do both: they provide direct charitable relief and campaign for fairer laws and systems, treating the two as complementary rather than as a real either/or choice.
- A balanced conclusion might argue that charity is more effective for urgent, immediate need, while structural change is more effective for lasting, large-scale poverty reduction, so a full response to poverty needs both.

Question 6

B1 point 1: poverty can make it harder to access good healthcare, education or housing, oe
B1 development: e.g. a family struggling to afford school essentials, healthy food or a stable, warm home, which can affect a child's education and health, oe
B1 point 2: poverty can increase stress and harm mental health, oe
B1 development: e.g. constant worry about paying bills or debt can affect a person's wellbeing and relationships with family, oe
Answer: E.g. reduced access to good healthcare, education or housing; increased stress and harm to mental health.

Question 7

B1 giving Zakah or charitable donations (sadaqah), oe
B1 volunteering, e.g. at a foodbank or shelter, oe
B1 campaigning or advocating for fairer laws and systems, oe (accept supporting a religious aid or development organisation)
Answer: Any three: giving Zakah/charitable donations; volunteering, e.g. at a foodbank or shelter; campaigning for fairer laws and systems; supporting a religious aid or development organisation.

Wealth and Poverty - Worksheets, Questions and Revision