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Religious Studies A Level

Results 2022 | 93% of Religious Studies students attained A*- B Grades
Welcome to Religious Studies A Level

Head of Department
Mr I Harris

Why study this A Level?
Our courses offer a choice of different religions, ensuring students have a thorough understanding of diverse philosophical and ethical viewpoints. Religious studies is a thought provoking subject and our contemporary themes will help you inspire engaging classroom discussion.

Who is eligible?
Anyone with an interest in the subject, would be welcome to take up this course. A GCSE in Religious Studies is not a prerequisite, but as a rough guide, good grades (6 or higher) in essay based subjects such as English, History or RS would be an indication of suitability for the course. If students want to get the most benefit out of the course, in terms of progressing their thinking and understanding of a philosophical approach to life, then a significant amount of reading, thinking and talking/justifying their ideas will be required.

Qualification Type: A Level (2 year) or AS Level (1 year)

What do you study?

Specification: Year 2023/2025 Advanced Level Award Examination Board: AQA
For info about the AS Level click here

Component 1
Section A: Philosophy of religion: Arguments for the existence of God, Evil and suffering, Religious experience, Religious language, Miracles, Self and life after death.
Section B: Ethics and religion: Ethical theories, Issues of human life and death, Issues of animal life and death, Introduction to meta-ethics, Free will and moral responsibility, Conscience, Bentham and Kant.

Component 2
Section A: Sources of wisdom and authority: God/gods/ultimate reality, Self, death and the afterlife, Good conduct and key moral principles, Expression of religious identity, Religion, gender and sexuality, Religion and science, Religion and secularisation, Religion and religious pluralism.
Section B: The dialogue between philosophy of religion and religion. How religion is influenced by, and has an influence on philosophy of religion in relation to the issues studied.
Section C: The dialogue between ethical studies and religion. How religion is influenced by, and has an influence on ethical studies in relation to the issues studied.

How is this A Level Assessed?

A level, (award 7062)

Component 1
Section A: Philosophy of religion – two compulsory two-part questions, each worth 10 marks and 15 marks.
Section B: Ethics and religion – two compulsory two-part questions, each worth 10 marks and 15 marks. In both sections, questions may span more than one topic. In each two-part question, the first part tests AO1 and the second part tests AO2.

Component 2
Section A: Study of religion – two compulsory two-part questions, each worth 10 marks and 15 marks relating to the religion chosen. 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.
Section B: The dialogue between philosophy of religion and religion – one unstructured synoptic question from a choice of two (25 marks).
Section C: The dialogue between ethical studies and religion – one unstructured synoptic question from a choice of two (25 marks).

Where can this A Level take you?

Students gain critical and evaluative skills sought by higher education and employers – particularly in law, education, social work, politics, medicine, administration and the media.

This course is commonly studied with:
As an A-Level subject, religious studies complements several other A-Level courses, including history, sociology, psychology, English and biology.

Future Careers:
Chaplain, Higher education lecturer, Primary school teacher, Secondary school teacher, Advice worker, Archivist, Charity fundraiser, Charity officer, Civil Service administrator, Community development worker, Editorial assistant, Equality, diversity and inclusion officer, Mediator, Newspaper journalist, Policy officer, Solicitor, Youth worker.

Religious Studies AS Level Qualification

Students can study RS for just one academic year and achieve an AS qualification worth 40% of the UCAS points.

Year 2023/2024 Advanced Subsidiary Award Examination Board: AQA (7061)

Component 1
Section A: Philosophy of religion- Arguments for the existence of God, Evil and suffering, Religious experience.
Section A exam consists of two compulsory two-part questions. In each two-part question, the first part tests AO1 (15 marks) and the second part tests AO2 (15 marks).
Section B: Ethics and religion- Ethical theories, Issues of human life and death, Issues of animal life and death.
Section B covers ethics and religion and consists of two compulsory two-part questions. In each two-part question, the first part tests AO1 (15 marks) and the second part tests AO2 (15 marks).

Component 2
Section A: Sources of wisdom and authority- God/gods/ultimate reality, Self, death and the afterlife, Good conduct and key moral principles, Expression of religious identity.
The exam covers the study of religion and consists of two compulsory two-part questions. In each two-part question the first part tests AO1 (15 marks) and the second part tests AO2 (15 marks).