RE 2026 Semester One Exam Revision Guide Summary

Structure of the Exam

  • Format: The exam contains three sections: Multiple choice, Source Analysis, and Short Answer.

  • Scope: Content covers Unit 11 (Vocation) and Unit 22 (The Search for Freedom) for the 20262026 Semester One Examination.

Unit 1: Vocation – Called to Be and Become

  • The Basic Human Vocation: Every person has a life-calling from God. Work is viewed as a participation in God’s creative activity.

  • Discovering Vocation: Requires spiritual discernment. Lent is a dedicated time for reflection on life and salvation.

  • The Christian Vocation: Sharing in the mission of Jesus as priest, prophet, and king to bring the Christian promise to fulfilment.

  • Marriage as a Vocation: A sacrament conferred by baptised people upon one another, restoring God’s original plan for life together.

  • Ministerial Priesthood: Jesus supports followers through the Sacrament of Holy Orders (bishop, priest, and deacon), characterized by service and celibate love.

  • Religious Life: Imitating Jesus through vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, working in various apostolates.

Unit 2: The Search for Freedom

  • Moral Choice and Responsibility: True freedom is the ability to make responsible moral choices by overcoming internal and external pressures.

  • Moral Principles and Natural Law: Natural Law and revealed laws (Ten Commandments and the two great commandments of Jesus) help determine right from wrong.

  • Covenants and Old Law: God initiated the Sinai Covenant and gave the Old Law (Torah/Decalogue) to allow the people of Israel to relate more closely to Him.

  • The New Law of Freedom: Jesus gave a New Law consisting of 44 elements to empower followers, including Charity (divine love), the Sacraments, and the Sermon on the Mount.

  • The Beatitudes: These 88 attitudes of Jesus identify the path to true happiness and freedom.

Essential Vocabulary

  • Vocation: A life calling from the Latin vocatio ("a call").

  • Discernment: To understand a course of action deeply, often leading to a decision.

  • Salvation: God’s saving action that overcomes original sin.

  • Chastity: Harmonising sexual thoughts and desires to see others as God does.

  • Procreation: Parents cooperating in God’s creation of children.

  • Sacrament: A visible sign of God's invisible grace.

  • Decalogue: The Ten Commandments (Greek for "ten words").

  • Charity: Divine love to love God above all else and others for God’s sake.

Assessment Direction Verbs

  • Analyse: Identify components and relate implications.

  • Outline: Sketch in general terms.

  • Describe: Provide characteristics and features.

  • Explain: Relate cause and effect (how and why).

  • Discuss: Weigh up arguments or differing points of view.