You can choose either GCSE or IGCSE Religious Studies as a private (external) candidate, as there is no coursework / Non-Examined Assessment in the new 9-1 GCSEs. The GCSEs are available as 'Short Course' GCSEs, worth half a GCSE, or as 'Long Course' versions worth a full GCSE. The International GCSEs are only available as full IGCSEs.
AQA GCSE Religious Studies
There are two specifications available from AQA for GCSE, both of which are assessed without coursework and both can be taken as either a long or short course.
[Spec A]
- 2 papers of 1 hr 45 mins each
Paper 1 - The study of religions: beliefs, teachings and practices
Students should study any two of the following:
- Buddhism
- Christianity
- Catholic Christianity
- Hinduism
- Islam
- Judaism
- Sikhism.
Christianity and Catholic Christianity is a prohibited combination
Paper 2 Thematic studies
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.
[Spec B]
2 papers of 1hr 45min
Paper 1 Catholic Christianity
Catholic beliefs, teachings, practices, sources of authority and forms of expression in relation to six topics:
- creation
- incarnation
- the Triune God
- redemption
- church
- eschatology
Paper 2 Perspectives on faith
One religion chosen from either Islam or Judaism
and either
- two religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes chosen from
- Theme A: Religion, relationships and families
- Theme B: Religion, peace and conflict
- Theme C: Religion, human rights and social justice.OR
or
- two textual studies themes:
- Theme D: St Mark’s Gospel – the life of Jesus
- Theme E: St Mark’s Gospel as a source of spiritual truth.
[Short Course ]
This short course is co-teachable with our GCSE Religious Studies full course. It does not include the 'practices' section of the religions studied in Spec A.
There is one examination of 1hr 45minutes. This comprises of 3 question/answer booklets. 2 booklets for section A (one for each religion) and 1 booklet for section B. It is advised to spend 50 mins on section B and 25 minutes each on the two section A booklets.
This one examination contains the following:
Section A: The study of religions: beliefs and teachings
Section A: Students answer questions on the beliefs and teachings of TWO religions from the following:
- Christianity
- Islam
- Judaism
- Buddhism
Section B: Thematic studies: religious, philosophical and ethical studies. Students answer questions on both themes:
- Theme A: Relationships and families
- Theme B: Religion, peace and conflict
The short course is essentially the same teachings as Spec A except without the 'practices' teaching for the religions. Themes A and B are identical to themes A and B of Spec A. Therefore Spec A resources work well for teaching this short course.
'Resources for AQA'
AQA recommended textbooks can be found here. Most are for Spec A.
CGP also have a number of revision books for Spec A. CGP revision books and flashcards can be found here.
An online resource linked from the AQA subject page is RE:online.
Edexcel IGCSE Religious Studies
Edexcel IGCSE Religious Studies
The Edexcel specification has two parts assessed on one 2hr 30 min paper:
Part 1 Beliefs and Values
Part 2 The Religious Community
The above themes are studied with reference to at least one of:
- Buddhism
- Christianity
- Hinduism
- Islam
- Judaism
- Sikhism
There is a list of recommended reading at the end of the specification.
It is also possible to take a standard GCSE in Religious Studies with Edexcel as either a long or short course.
The long course consists of 2 units (two 1hr 30 min papers)and the short course of 1 (one 1hr 30 min paper)from:
- Religion and Life (choice of six different perspectives)
- Religion and Society (Christianity and at least one other perspective)
- Study of one religion (choice of six different perspectives)
- Mark's Gospel
There are textbooks for some of the units
CIE IGCSE Religious studies
This specification is assessed using two 1 hr 45 min papers and focuses on three religious traditions:
- Christianity
- Islam
- Judaism
But the candidate only studies and answers questions on 2 out of the 3 possible religions. Each is examined in terms of:
- Worship
- Beliefs and sacred writings
- Festivals, fasts, pilgrimage/historic places
- Religion and the family; rites of passage
- Religion and social action
There is a list of suggested resources available on the CIE website.
NB: This exam is only available in the October/November exam sitting, not in the summer.
O Level
There is also an O level Religious Studies (Bible Knowledge) available from CIE
This is assessed using two 1 hr 30 min papers:
- The portrayal of the life and teaching of Jesus (Focusing on the Gospel of Luke (2014) or Gospel of Matthew - from 2015)
- The portrayal of the birth of the early church (Focusing on the Book of Acts)
This specification is mainly used overseas but is available for timezone 3 (UK)
There is a list of recommended reading on the CIE website.
OCR GCSE Religious Studies
There are two specifications from OCR which are both exam only. Both specs are available as long courses (four 1hr papers) or short course (two 1hr papers)
Any 4 (or 2 for short course) from:
- Buddhism 1
- Buddhism 2
- Christianity 1
- Christianity 2
- Christianity 1 (Roman Catholic)
- Christianity 2 (Roman Catholic)
- Hinduism 1
- Hinduism 2
- Islam 1
- Islam 2
- Judaism 1
- Judaism 2
- Sikhism 1
- Sikhism 2
- Christian Scriptures 1
- Christian Scriptures 2
- Jewish Scriptures 1
- Jewish Scriptures 2
- Muslim Texts 1
- Muslim Texts 2
Most units are available as separate textbooks.
All four (or any 2 for short course) from:
- Philosophy 1
- Philoshophy 2
- Ethics 1
- Ethics 2
A range of textbooks are available eg for all units together.
Additional Resources
[BBC Knowledge and Learning GCSE Religious Studies Films]
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1620609181544744/ Facebook group for home educating families who are studying any of the Religious Studies IGCSEs/O or A Levels.