What are the assessment objectives in Paper 1?

The same two as the whole qualification, weighted equally. AO1 is knowledge and understanding of the arguments, scholars and ideas; AO2 is analysis and evaluation, weighing the arguments and reaching a justified conclusion. Because AO2 is half the marks, the extended essays must argue and judge, not just describe the design or ontological argument.

What is the textual-reasoning question in Paper 1?

One section prints an extract from the Edexcel Anthology (for example Mackie's Evil and Omnipotence or the Flew, Hare and Mitchell falsification symposium) and asks you to explain the author's argument and evaluate it. You revise the prescribed texts in advance because the extract is supplied in the paper. It is an AO2-heavy task testing whether you can read a philosopher closely and assess the reasoning.

Which topics does this overview cover?

It ties together the three Paper 1 dot points on this site: the arguments for the existence of God (design, cosmological, ontological), the problem of evil and religious experience, and religious language and miracles. Each has its own page with the named scholars, the key moves and the evaluation the exam rewards.

How should I revise Paper 1 Philosophy of Religion?

Build an argument bank per topic: for each argument learn its form (inductive or deductive), its leading proponent and its main critic, then practise evaluative paragraphs that put the argument against the objection and judge. Master the anthology extracts so you can explain and assess them under time pressure, and rehearse the extended essay with Edexcel past papers and mark schemes, since the levels reward sustained, supported argument.

EnglandReligious Studies

Edexcel A-Level Religious Studies Paper 1 Philosophy of Religion: a complete overview

Q: How is Edexcel A-Level Religious Studies Paper 1 structured?

Paper 1 is Philosophy of Religion, a two-hour written exam worth 80 marks and a third of the A-level. It covers six areas: philosophical issues and questions (the design, cosmological and ontological arguments), the nature and influence of religious experience, the problems of evil and suffering, philosophical language, the works of scholars, and influences of developments in religious belief. The paper mixes shorter structured questions, a textual-reasoning question on an anthology extract, and an extended evaluative essay.

A complete overview of Edexcel A-Level Religious Studies Paper 1, Philosophy of Religion. Explains the structure of the exam, the AO1 and AO2 split, the anthology and textual-reasoning question, and ties together the arguments for God, the problem of evil and religious experience, and religious language and miracles.

Generated by Claude Opus 4.815 min read9RS0/01Updated 2026-06-02

Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed

Jump to a section

How Paper 1 works
Arguments for the existence of God
The problem of evil and religious experience
Religious language and miracles
How Paper 1 is examined

Edexcel A-Level Religious Studies Paper 1 is Philosophy of Religion. It asks whether reason can establish that God exists, whether suffering counts against God, whether religious experience is evidence, and whether talk about God is even meaningful. This overview ties together the three topic pages and explains how the paper is examined.

How Paper 1 works

Paper 1 is a two-hour written exam worth 80 marks. It covers six areas: the arguments for God (design, cosmological, ontological), religious experience, the problems of evil and suffering, philosophical language, the works of scholars, and developments in religious belief. Questions range from shorter structured tasks to a textual-reasoning question on an anthology extract and an extended evaluative essay. The two assessment objectives, AO1 (knowledge) and AO2 (evaluation), are weighted equally.

Arguments for the existence of God

The design and cosmological arguments are inductive (reasoning from the world to a probable God), set out by Aquinas, Paley and Leibniz and challenged by Hume, Darwin, Russell and Kant. The ontological argument is deductive (reasoning from the definition of God), set out by Anselm and challenged by Gaunilo, Kant and Russell. The key skill is judging whether any of them amounts to a proof.

The problem of evil and religious experience

The problem of evil comes in a logical form (Mackie's anthology extract) and an evidential form (Rowe), answered by the Augustinian and Irenaean (Hick's soul-making) theodicies and the free will defence. Religious experience is offered as positive evidence (James, Otto, Swinburne) and challenged by neuroscience (Persinger), psychology (Freud) and the diversity of experiences.

Religious language and miracles

The language debate asks whether God-talk is meaningful (Ayer's verification principle, the Flew, Hare and Mitchell falsification symposium) and offers non-cognitive routes (the via negativa, Aquinas's analogy, Tillich's symbol). The miracles debate asks whether belief in a miracle can be rational (Hume's evidential and practical arguments against, Swinburne and Wiles in reply).

How Paper 1 is examined

The textual-reasoning question. Explain and evaluate a printed anthology extract; revise the set texts in advance.
The extended essay (AO2-heavy). Build a sustained argument that sets scholar against scholar and reaches a justified conclusion.

Sources & how we know this

Pearson Edexcel A-Level Religious Studies (9RS0) specification — Pearson Edexcel (2016)