The influence of religion: past paper questions
Real questions on the influence of religion
The newest 20 of 84 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 9699/23 · May/June 2026 · Q2b[6]
Explain two strengths of postmodernist views on family diversity.
See it on the paper → - 9699/41 · May/June 2026 · Q6[35]
‘More people have religious beliefs today than in the past.’ Evaluate this view.
See it on the paper → - 9699/42 · May/June 2026 · Q5[35]
‘Religion contributes to the inequality experienced by women in society.’ Evaluate this view. Or
See it on the paper → - 9699/42 · May/June 2026 · Q6[35]
‘Religious organisations remain an important influence in society.’ Evaluate this view.
See it on the paper → - 9699/42 · February/March 2026 · Q6[35]
‘All societies are experiencing a revival in religious belief.’ Evaluate this view.
See it on the paper → - 9699/22 · October/November 2025 · Q4[26]
Evaluate radical feminist views of gender inequality in the family. OR
See it on the paper → - 9699/41 · October/November 2025 · Q5[35]
‘Religion is a means by which the ruling class maintain social control.’ Evaluate this view. OR
See it on the paper → - 9699/41 · October/November 2025 · Q6[35]
‘Religious organisations have lost their social significance.’ Evaluate this view.
See it on the paper → - 9699/42 · October/November 2025 · Q5[35]
‘Religion is an instrument of ideological control.’ Evaluate this view. OR
See it on the paper → - 9699/43 · October/November 2025 · Q6[35]
‘Religious organisations have lost their social significance.’ Evaluate this view.
See it on the paper → - 9699/41 · May/June 2025 · Q6[35]
‘All societies are experiencing a decline in religiosity.’ Evaluate this view.
See it on the paper → - 9699/43 · May/June 2025 · Q5[35]
‘Women have complete equality with men in religious organisations today.’ Evaluate this view. OR
See it on the paper → - 9699/41 · October/November 2024 · Q5[35]
‘Women have no power within religious organisations.’ Evaluate this view. OR
See it on the paper → - 9699/41 · October/November 2024 · Q6[35]
‘The growth of new religious movements is evidence that secularisation has occurred.’ Evaluate this view.
See it on the paper → - 9699/42 · October/November 2024 · Q6[35]
‘The growth of new religious movements shows that religion remains a powerful influence in society.’ Evaluate this view.
See it on the paper → - 9699/43 · October/November 2024 · Q5[35]
‘Women have no power within religious organisations.’ Evaluate this view. OR
See it on the paper → - 9699/43 · October/November 2024 · Q6[35]
‘The growth of new religious movements is evidence that secularisation has occurred.’ Evaluate this view.
See it on the paper → - 9699/42 · May/June 2024 · Q5[35]
‘Religious organisations serve the interests of the ruling class.’ Evaluate this view. OR
See it on the paper → - 9699/42 · May/June 2024 · Q6[35]
‘Religion has less social significance today than in the past.’ Evaluate this view.
See it on the paper → - 9699/43 · May/June 2024 · Q5[35]
‘Many societies are experiencing a revival in religious belief.’ Evaluate this view. OR
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Comprehensive responses • Candidates demonstrated a wide-ranging understanding of the debate surrounding religious renewal, presenting balanced arguments on both sides. • Responses showed clear understanding of the emergence of fundamentalism as evidence for a revival in religious belief, supported by relevant examples. • Candidates discussed postmodernist views, such as ‘believing without belongi...
— Examiner report, February/March 2026, 9699/42 Q6 (Cambridge)
Good responses to this question demonstrated a detailed understanding of the feminist theory that religion supports patriarchal values. High scoring responses included references to a range of feminist theorists and perspectives, along with evidence supporting the view expressed in the question. This was complemented by a sustained evaluation of the strengths and limitations of the feminist view t...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9699/41 Q5 (Cambridge)
This was a popular question that was answered well by many of the candidates. Good responses discussed several reasons why religion may have lost social significance today. Links to the secularisation thesis were made in many of the higher scoring answers and evidence from appropriate research studies was used to support the analysis. Strong evaluative responses considered a range of arguments and...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9699/41 Q6 (Cambridge)
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