Islamic Studies

Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary Level
8053 Islamic Studies November 2012

Principal Examiner Report for Teachers
2012
ISLAMIC STUDIES

Paper 8053/01
Paper 1

General Comments

Most candidates appeared well prepared for the examination and there were a number of excellent scripts
from a range of Centres. Many candidates demonstrated a sound knowledge of the subject. Questions 1,
3, 4, 7, 11 and 12 remained the most popular and were answered satisfactorily. Questions 2, 5, and 8 were
less popular and less well answered. Very few candidates attempted Question 9 and 10. Candidates are
encouraged to read the questions carefully before answering in order to realise the specific requirements of
them.

Comments on Specific Questions

Section A

Question 1

The majority of candidates answered this question reasonably well, although some answers were very
general statements about the life of the Prophet.

Question 2

(a) Most candidates were able to offer relevant information, some however lacked development.

(b) Stronger candidates explained very well the importance of the people of Medina in the early years
of Islam.

Question 3

(a) In this part candidates were expected to explain why Abu Bakr thought it necessary to resist the
false prophets who rose up in his time. Most candidates were able to achieve high marks but some
only stated the history of false prophets.

(b) Part (b) was generally well answered. There were some very good answers where candidates
were able to provide factual information as well as explanation and evaluation.

Section B

Question 4

(a) This question was quite well answered by the majority of candidates. There were some excellent
answers from candidates who presented well detailed accounts including dates, names and
specific circumstances.

(b) In this part candidates were required to explain why early Muslims thought they should make a
written copy of the Quran. A number of candidates repeated the answer from part (a).

Question 5

(a) Most candidates performed reasonably well in part (a). Some candidates appeared to misread the
question and only translated the surah, al-Fatihah.

1
Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary Level
8053 Islamic Studies November 2012
Principal Examiner Report for Teachers
2012
(b) This part of the question was not answered so well but the best candidates gave references from
the Quran to make an authentic and compelling answer.

Question 6

This question was very well answered with many candidates achieving high levels.

Section C

Question 7

This question was very popular and many of the candidates who attempted it did well. There were some
outstanding quality responses to this question.

Question 8

(a) The question was very well answered. In this part many candidates were able to describe the
distinctive features of a Muslim marriage ceremony and a Muslim funeral with detailed examples.

(b) Some candidates experienced difficulty with this part of the question as they were unable to relate
these observances to the principles of early Islam. They tended to concentrate on the pre-Islamic
Arabian society. There were a few good answers to this part of the question.

Question 9

This question was not popular as a very small number of candidates attempted it. Answers to part (a) and
(b) revealed a very limited understanding of the subject matter.

Section D

Question 10

Again this was the least popular question and the few candidates that attempted it did not do very well.

Question 11

This was the most popular question in this section and many of the candidates did it well. There were some
excellent answers from the candidates who revealed a reasonable level of knowledge of the Quran and
Sunnah.

Question 12

The question was well answered by most candidates. Part (a) was generally much better attempted than
part (b). Many candidates were able to provide a detailed account of the legal principles of ijma and qiyas.
Part (b) was poorly answered as many failed to appreciate that the question asked candidates to explain
how these sources of Islamic law can be put into practice in Muslim societies today and this was not
addressed properly. There was however, some exceptionally good knowledge and understanding
expressed by a number of candidates.
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Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary Level

8053 Islamic Studies November 2012

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