GCSE Religious Studies

Title of qualification

Exam Board

AQA

What will I learn?

The course has two key papers:

Paper 1: The study of Religions – Beliefs, teachings and practices.

In this unit you will study two religions in detail. The religions we focus on are Christianity and Islam. For each religion you will examine:

Key beliefs –Nature of God, creation, afterlife & the key figures within that faith.
Practices – Worship and festivals, forms of worship, importance of prayer.

Paper 2: Thematic studies (Moral issues)
In this unit you will study four topics from the following:

Relationships and Families – Family life, contraception, marriage and divorce.
Religion and Life – Animal rights, abortion, creation.
Religion, Peace and Conflict – war and religious attitudes to war.
Religion Crime and Punishment – Religious attitudes to crime and punishments including the death penalty.
Religion and Human Rights.
The Existence of God – Examining the key arguments for and against God’s existence and his revelation to mankind.

How will this course be assessed?

Both papers are 100% final examination.

What skills do I need?

Literacy – the ability to read and write fluently.
Listening skills.
The ability to engage in group activity.
Oracy – the ability to discuss different opinions and values.
Presentational skills (spoken and written).

What is next for me after this course?

Students gain an appreciation of how religion, philosophy and ethics form the basis of our culture. They will develop analytical and critical thinking skills, the ability to work with abstract ideas, leadership and research skills. All these skills will help prepare them for further Post 16 study.