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Course Description

Religious Studies continues to be one of the most desired and interesting subject areas for students engaging in meaningful dialogue of the world, our society and the people that live in it. Never in the history of education has there been such an incredible incentive to develop and promote the social, moral, spiritual and cultural development of students in the UK. Philosophy and Ethics is the subject that allows us to ask and investigate following questions. ‘Is free will real or just an illusion?’ Or ‘does fate exist? If so, do we have free will?’ ‘What happens to us when we die?’ and ‘How did the universe begin?’ The investigation of these types of questions and the exploration of deep thinking will really enable a great start to a successful future.

Student Quotes

How will I be assessed?

You will be assessed on the basis of two exams, taken at the end of year 11: 

  • 100% written examination.
  • Paper one 1 hour 45 minutes.
  • Paper two 1 hour 20 minutes

What will I learn?

Component 1: The study of religions: beliefs, teachings and practices

Component 2: Thematic studies

What’s assessed

Beliefs, teachings and practices of two from:

  • Buddhism
  • Christianity
  • Catholic Christianity
  • Hinduism
  • Islam
  • Judaism
  • Sikhism.

Christianity and Catholic Christianity is a prohibited combination.

What’s assessed

Either four religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes or two religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes and two textual studies themes.

Religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes:

  • Theme A: Relationships and families.
  • Theme B: Religion and life.
  • Theme C: The existence of God and revelation.
  • Theme D: Religion, peace and conflict.
  • Theme E: Religion, crime and punishment.
  • Theme F: Religion, human rights and social justice.

Textual studies themes:

  • Theme G: St Mark’s Gospel – the life of Jesus.
  • Theme H: St Mark’s Gospel as a source of religious, moral and spiritual truths.

How it’s assessed

  • Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • 96 marks, plus 6 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG)
  • 50% of GCSE

How it’s assessed

  • Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • 96 marks, plus 3 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG)
  • 50% of GCSE

Questions

  • Each religion has a common structure of two five-part questions of 1, 2, 4, 5 and 12 marks.
  • Each religion is marked out of 48.

Questions

  • Each theme has a common structure of one five-part question of 1, 2, 4, 5 and 12 marks.
  • Each theme is marked out of 24.

What could I do next?

Law, Medicine, Public Services (e.g. Police, Social Work and the National Health Service), Teaching, and Journalism, Counselling, Media, and the Armed Services.