Ethics is the hardest exam to predict because there are many question variations (topics asked on their own or as application) and a significant amount of areas have been asked over the years. On this note I must be clear that I do not share my predictions with you to be correct, I share them with you to give you an idea of what to expect or what to be prepared for. I make my predictions simply by looking at previous questions, recognizing the obvious gaps (using the spec) and making possible questions from here (no secret magic trick here). So here goes…

Specific questions could be:

1. Meta Ethics: Ethical Naturalism e.g. Evaluate the extent to which ethical terms such as good, bad, right and wrong have an objective factual basis that makes them true or false in describing something.​ My reasoning is that meta ethics was not on last year’s paper and it is a specific part of the syllabus that has never been asked before.
2. Sex Ethics: Specifically on premarital sex, extramarital sex or homosexuality e.g. “No theory is useful when dealing with issues surrounding homosexuality.” Discuss. Or specific to Kant e.g. ‘To what extent can issues surrounding sex ethics be judged as good, bad, right or wrong based on the extent to which duty is best served.’​ I might be wrong on this one because sex ethics did appear last year and there was also a Kant question, however examiners usually like at least two application questions and there are more areas of sex ethics that have not been asked than euthanasia. For example there has never been a general question on the themes of sex ethics and that seems to me like a big gap.
3. Conscience: General Q e.g. “Conscience is just an umbrella term for moral decision making based on culture and environment not God.”​ Cosncince was not on last year’s paper and only one fgneral conscince qustion has been asked (2021).
4. Business Ethics and/ or Utilitarianism: General Q on Business (e.g “Globalisation discourages the pursuit of good ethics as the foundation of good business.” Discuss.) Business with Utilitarianism (e.g. “Utilitarianism is not useful when making ethical decision regarding issues surrounding business ethics.”) or general Utilitarianism (e.g. “The strengths of Bentham’s utilitarianism outweighs its weaknesses. Discuss) ​I think you may get a business question and a utilitarianism question. Utilitarianism has never been asked in the second year exam. Utilitarianism and business has not been asked since 2019 – however I doubt they will ask for Utilitarianism and Utilitarianism with business. I think the question will be a general business theme (probably not whistleblowing as this is the only theme that has been asked in 2021). It could be a business question that has been asked in the first year such as “good business decisions are always good ethical decision.s”
5. Natural Law: To what extent are the primary and secondary presents of Natural Law unhelpful in moral decision making. Or Assess the view that Natural Law is too reliant on telos in making moral decision. ​There are a number of areas of NL that have not been asked in the second year and the last time a question on NL was on the exam was in 2021. High likeability.

Good luck to all of you! You have worked very hard, so this is your opportunity to show off! Don’t forget to join the live stream on Sunday 16th June at 6.00 for last minute exam support.