Religious Studies

Studying RE means being able to encounter two of the most exciting areas open to human beings. It enables us to ask about the most important parts of being human and pose questions like ‘what is the meaning of life?’, ‘does God exist?’, ‘is there life after death?’ and ‘am I real?’ Both disciplines teach a rigorous approach to seeking out the answers. The department hopes to sow the seeds of critical inquiry through our teaching and encourage students to let no stone go unturned and no assumption go unchallenged in their quest for the right answers.

Component 1:

A Study of Religion - Written examination: 2 hours, 33% of qualification.

This component offers the choice of the study of one religion from a choice of six: Option A: Christianity, Option B: Islam, Option C: Judaism, Option D: Buddhism, Option E: Hinduism, Option F: Sikhism

There will be four themes within each option: religious figures and sacred texts; religious concepts and religious life; significant social and historical developments in religious thought; religious practices and religious identity.

Learners will be expected to answer one question from Section A out of a choice of two and one question from Section B out of a choice of three in this component. Questions can be taken from any area of the specification.

Component 2:

Philosophy of Religion - Written examination: 2 hours, 33% of qualification.

There will be four themes within this component: arguments for the existence of God; challenges to religious belief; religious experience; religious language. Learners will be expected to answer one question from Section A out of a choice of two and one question from Section B out of a choice of three in this component. Questions can be taken from any area of the specification.

Component 3:

Religion and Ethics - Written examination: 2 hours, 33% of qualification.

There will be four themes within this component: ethical thought; deontological ethics; teleological ethics; determinism and free will.

Learners will be expected to answer one question from Section A out of a choice of two and one question from Section B out of a choice of three in this component. Questions can be taken from any area of the specification.

Eduqas Specification link:

https://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/religious-studies/as-a-level/

Future Careers:

Education, journalism, law, politics, social work, medicine

Useful Links:

• https://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/religious-studies/as-a-level/ - Digital resources, past papers
• https://plato.stanford.edu/ - Stanford encyclopaedia of Philosophy
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion - BBC Religion and Ethics

Revision guides

• WJEC/Eduqas Religious Studies for AS/A Level – Philosophy
• WJEC/Eduqas Religious Studies for AS/A Level – Ethics
• WJEC/Eduqas Religious Studies for AS/A Level – Christianity

This course is assessed entirely through examination in May/June.

All students starting their course in Year 12 will be assessed at the end of Year 13 and gain a full A Level grade.

A Level students are required to complete 5 hours of private study per week; this is closely monitored with regular folder checks. Students are given support to develop their essay writing skills.

Congratulations to our Year 13 students on achieving 82% A*-C in 2021.

How will I be assessed?

What independent study will I have to do?

What other courses complement Religious Studies?

A Level Results 2022