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Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A (1RA0): complete guide to the papers, religions and exam skills

A complete guide to Pearson Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A (specification 1RA0, Faith and Practice in the 21st Century). Explains the paper structure, the study of Christianity and Islam, the philosophy and ethics themes, and the Outline, Explain and Evaluate questions the exams reward.

Browse guides →Syllabus dot points (31)

Pearson Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A (specification 1RA0, Faith and Practice in the 21st Century) is a linear course assessed by terminal written papers at the end of Year 11. There is no coursework. This page is the index: below is a map of the papers, the two religions studied on this site (Christianity and Islam), the philosophy and ethics themes, and the exam skills that run across the whole course.

The papers

Edexcel A studies one religion in depth, a second religion in outline, and then either philosophy and ethics or a set text.

Paper 1: Study of Religion. A study in depth of one religion (Christianity or Islam) across Beliefs and teachings, Practices, Sources of wisdom and authority and Forms of expression. 1 hour 45 minutes, 102 marks, 50%.
Paper 2: Study of Second Religion. The Beliefs and Practices of a second religion. 50 minutes, 51 marks, 25%.
Paper 3: Philosophy and ethics, or Paper 4: Textual studies. Paper 3 covers Arguments for the existence of God and Religious teachings on relationships and families in the 21st century; Paper 4 studies Mark's Gospel or the Qur'an. 50 minutes, 51 marks, 25%.

Five percent of the marks on each paper are for spelling, punctuation, grammar and the use of specialist terminology, assessed on the Evaluate questions.

The religions studied here

This site covers the most widely taught pairing, Christianity and Islam, across the beliefs and practices that the exam assesses.

Christianity: Beliefs and teachings: The Trinity, the creation of the universe and humanity, the incarnation, the last days of Jesus and salvation, Christian eschatology (resurrection, judgement, heaven, hell and purgatory), and the problem of evil and suffering with its solutions.
Christianity: Practices: Liturgical and non-liturgical worship, the sacraments, prayer, pilgrimage, festivals (Christmas and Easter), and the role of the local and worldwide church, including charity.
Islam: Beliefs and teachings: The Six Beliefs and the Five Roots, the nature of Allah (Tawhid), Risalah (prophethood) and the holy books, angels and al-Qadr (predestination), and Akhirah (life after death).
Islam: Practices: The Five Pillars and the Ten Obligatory Acts, Salah and worship in the mosque, Sawm, Zakah and Hajj, Jihad, and the festivals of Id-ul-Adha, Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Ghadeer and Ashura.

The philosophy and ethics themes

Paper 3 and the wider ethics teaching apply the beliefs of Christianity and Islam to contemporary moral issues. The themes covered here are:

Religion, relationships and families. Marriage, sexual relationships, the purpose of families, contraception and family planning, divorce and remarriage, and the equality of men and women.
Religion, matters of life and death. The origins and value of life, abortion, euthanasia, and beliefs about life after death.
Religion, crime and punishment. The causes of crime, the aims of punishment, forgiveness, the treatment of criminals, and the death penalty.
Religion, peace and conflict. Peace and justice, the just war and holy war, pacifism and peacemaking, and attitudes to weapons and violence.

The skills that run across the course

Each topic rewards content knowledge, but the marks come from applying it through a fixed set of question types.

Outline and State (3 marks). Recall three accurate, distinct points of knowledge, with no development needed.
Explain (4 marks). Develop two reasons, beliefs or attitudes beyond a simple statement.
Explain with a source (5 marks). Develop two points and support the answer with a source of wisdom and authority, such as a Bible verse or a Surah.
Evaluate (12 marks). Build arguments for a statement, arguments for a different point of view, and a justified conclusion, using religious teaching throughout.

How to study Edexcel Religious Studies A

Religious Studies rewards precise knowledge and disciplined exam technique in equal measure.

Learn a source for every point. Memorise one short Bible verse or Surah for each belief and practice, because part (c) requires a source and the Evaluate questions reward accurate quotation.
Map the contrasts. Note where Christians and Muslims, or different traditions within each religion, agree and differ, since Describe and Evaluate questions reward contrast.
Drill each question type. Outline, Explain and Evaluate are marked very differently, so practise each against the mark scheme.
Rehearse the Evaluate plan. For each theme, prepare arguments for the statement, arguments for a different point of view, and a justified conclusion.
Practise timing. Paper 1 packs 102 marks into 1 hour 45 minutes, so the Evaluate answers must be planned and written quickly.

The topics, dot point by dot point

Each module has an overview guide, dot-point answer pages and a quiz. Browse the full set at /gcse-edexcel/religious-studies/syllabus.

For the official specification

Pearson publishes the full specification (1RA0), past papers and mark schemes at qualifications.pearson.com. Always revise from the current specification and Edexcel's own past papers, because question style and the named sources of wisdom and authority are board-specific.

Religious Studies guides

In-depth written guides with paired practice quizzes.

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Religious Studies practice quizzes

Multiple-choice drills with worked answer explanations. Your scores stay on this device.

The GCSE-EDEXCEL system, explained

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Common questions about Religious Studies

How is Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A (1RA0) structured?

Edexcel Religious Studies A, Faith and Practice in the 21st Century, is a linear course assessed by terminal written papers. Paper 1 is a study in depth of one chosen religion (most schools choose Christianity or Islam) covering Beliefs and teachings, Practices, Sources of wisdom and authority, and Forms of expression. Paper 2 is a study of a second religion covering Beliefs and Practices. Students then take either Paper 3, Philosophy and ethics (Arguments for the existence of God and Religious teachings on relationships and families), or Paper 4, Textual studies (Mark's Gospel or the Qur'an). There is no coursework.

What are the Edexcel Religious Studies A papers worth?

Paper 1, Study of Religion, is 1 hour 45 minutes, worth 102 marks and 50 percent of the GCSE. Paper 2, Study of Second Religion, is 50 minutes, worth 51 marks and 25 percent. Paper 3, Philosophy and ethics, or Paper 4, Textual studies, is 50 minutes, worth 51 marks and 25 percent. Five percent of the marks on each paper are for spelling, punctuation, grammar and the use of specialist terminology, tested on the Evaluate questions.

Which religions do students study for Edexcel Religious Studies A?

Students study two religions chosen from Buddhism, Christianity, Catholic Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism. The most widely taught combination is Christianity and Islam, which is the pairing covered on this site. The first religion is studied in depth on Paper 1 across four sections, and the second religion is studied on Paper 2 across Beliefs and Practices.

What question types appear in Edexcel Religious Studies A?

Each topic block uses a fixed (a) to (d) pattern. Part (a) is an Outline three or State question worth 3 marks. Part (b) is an Explain two question worth 4 marks. Part (c) is an Explain two question worth 5 marks that requires a reference to a source of wisdom and authority, such as a Bible verse or a Surah. Part (d) is an Evaluate question worth 12 marks that asks for arguments for and against a statement and a justified conclusion. Some papers also use Describe, worth 4 marks, which asks for a contrast.

How should I revise Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A?

Learn precise definitions and one short source of wisdom and authority (a Bible verse or a Surah) for every belief and practice, because part (c) demands a source and the Evaluate questions reward accurate quotation. Drill the (a) to (d) structure against the mark scheme, since the Outline, Explain and Evaluate questions are marked very differently. For the Evaluate questions, practise planning arguments for the statement, arguments for a different point of view, and a justified conclusion that weighs both sides.

How does Edexcel Religious Studies A compare to Edexcel B and other boards?

All GCSE Religious Studies specifications cover similar regulated content, so beliefs, practices and ethical themes such as relationships, life and death, crime and peace appear across boards. Edexcel A (1RA0) is distinctive for its in depth single religion on Paper 1 across four sections, its philosophy and ethics or textual study option, and its (a) to (d) question pattern with a compulsory source in part (c). Edexcel B (1RB0) is a different specification with an area of study structure, so always revise from the Religious Studies A (1RA0) specification and Edexcel A past papers.