ABSTRACT
The most important quality needed to be a successful A-Level religious studies teacher is that one transmit the sense that every topic they teach is meaningful and true for those who live by these ideas and practices. This is the case for many A-Level subjects, but religious studies is about actual beliefs, values and practices which shape human lives and this is why this A-Level subject is more than just an academic exercise and passing an examination; for this reason many pupils find studying the subject is a very significant moment in their own moral, spiritual and intellectual development. Assessment is probably the area which new and even experienced teachers find the most problematic. Examination questions are set using a range of 'command words' appropriate to the assessment objectives. Stimulus material is used in various ways. Some examination boards may set an extended passage based on a set text or an unseen for comment and evaluation.
