AQA GCSE Religious Studies

Specification at a glance:

This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams at the end of the course.

There are two assessed components. Students must take assessments in both Component 1 and Component 2 in the same exam series.

Subject content
Component 1: Philosophy of religion and ethics
Component 2: Study of religion
2A Buddhism
2B Christianity
2C Hinduism
2D Islam
2E Judaism
Assessments
Component 1: Philosophy of religion and ethics
What's assessed

Section A: Philosophy of religion

Arguments for the existence of God.
Evil and suffering.
Religious experience.
Section B: Ethics and religion.

Ethical theories.
Issues of human life and death.
Issues of animal life and death.
How it's assessed

Written exam: 2 hours
120 marks
67% of AS
Questions

Section A: Philosophy of religion – two compulsory two-part questions worth 15 marks and 15 marks on philosophy of religion (60 marks).
Section B: Ethics – two compulsory two-part questions worth 15 marks and 15 marks on ethics and religion (60 marks).
In both sections, questions may be set that span more than one topic. In each two-part question, the first part tests AO1 and the second part tests AO2.

Component 2: Study of religion
What's assessed

For each faith option (2A–2E) the following content is covered:

Sources of wisdom and authority.
God/gods/ultimate reality.
Life after death.
Key moral principles.
Religious identity.
How it's assessed

Written exam: 1 hour
60 marks
33% of AS
Questions

Study of religion – two compulsory two-part questions worth 15 marks and 15 marks relating to the religion chosen (60 marks).

In both sections, questions may be set that span more than one topic. In each two-part question, the first part tests AO1 and the second part tests AO2.

(from the official website)