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SQA Higher RMPS: complete guide to the areas, the question papers and the assignment

A complete guide to SQA Higher Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies (RMPS), an SCQF level 6 qualification. Covers the three areas of study (World Religion, Morality and Belief, Religious and Philosophical Questions), the two question papers and the assignment, the skills tested, and how to study for an A.

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SQA Higher RMPS (Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies) is a one-year course at SCQF level 6, building on National 5 RMPS and preparing learners for Advanced Higher or university study. It is graded A to D from three assessment components totalling 110 marks: two question papers and an assignment. The course has three areas of study. This page is the index: below is a map of the areas, the assessment structure, the skills tested, and how to study for an A.

The three areas of SQA Higher RMPS

The course specification organises Higher RMPS into three areas.

World Religion
You study one religion in depth, from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism or Sikhism, through the human condition (the problem), the goal (the aim that answers it), the means (the path to it) and beliefs about the divine. Examined in Question Paper 1, Section 1 (30 marks). See the World Religion overview.
Morality and Belief
You study moral issues from religious and non-religious viewpoints, across contexts such as Religion and Justice, Religion and Relationships, Religion, Environment and Global Issues, Religion, Medicine and the Human Body, and Religion and Conflict. Examined in Question Paper 1, Section 2 (30 marks). See the Morality and Belief overview.
Religious and Philosophical Questions
You study the big philosophical questions: Origins, the Existence of God, Miracles, the Problem of Evil and Suffering, and Free Will and Determinism. Examined in Question Paper 2 (20 marks). See the Religious and Philosophical Questions overview.

Course assessment

The Higher RMPS award is graded A to D and is made up of three components, totalling 110 marks, all set and marked by the SQA.

  • Question Paper 1 - 60 marks. Section 1 is World Religion (30 marks) and Section 2 is Morality and Belief (30 marks). It tests knowledge, understanding and evaluation.
  • Question Paper 2 - 20 marks. It covers Religious and Philosophical Questions through argument and evaluation.
  • Assignment - 30 marks. An independent investigation of a chosen issue, researched and written up under controlled conditions, reaching a supported judgement. See the assignment overview.

The three components combine to test the same analytical and evaluative skills, with the question papers carrying the larger share.

The skills tested

Across all three components, the SQA tests how you handle ideas and build arguments, not just recall:

  1. Knowledge and understanding. Accurate, developed knowledge of beliefs, viewpoints and arguments, with correct technical terms.
  2. Analysis. Breaking an argument or viewpoint into its parts and showing how they work.
  3. Evaluation. Weighing arguments and viewpoints, religious and non-religious, and reaching a supported judgement. The course reports repeatedly identify evaluation as the skill candidates most need to strengthen.

How to study SQA Higher RMPS

Higher RMPS rewards accurate knowledge and confident, balanced argument.

  1. Learn your religion, context and topics in depth. Every question assumes detailed knowledge of what you have studied.
  2. Master evaluation. Drill the "to what extent" move: reasons on both sides, religious and non-religious viewpoints, and a judgement you have argued for.
  3. Use technical terms accurately. Words such as dukkha, nibbana, sanctity of life, Just War, theodicy and compatibilism earn marks when used precisely.
  4. Bank evidence and viewpoints. Keep teachings, arguments and counter-arguments ready to deploy.
  5. Practise past papers. Use SQA past papers, marking instructions and course reports to learn the question style and what markers reward.

The areas, topic by topic

Each area has answer pages with worked questions and cross-links, plus an overview guide and quiz. Browse the full set from this hub: World Religion, Morality and Belief, Religious and Philosophical Questions, and the assignment.

For the official course specification

The SQA (now Qualifications Scotland) publishes the full Higher RMPS course specification, the coursework assessment task, specimen and past papers, marking instructions and course reports at sqa.org.uk. Always revise from the current specification and SQA past papers, because question style and terminology are board-specific.

Religious, Moral & Philosophical Studies guides

In-depth written guides with paired practice quizzes.

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Religious, Moral & Philosophical Studies practice quizzes

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

The SQA-HIGHER system, explained

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Common questions about Religious, Moral & Philosophical Studies

How is SQA Higher RMPS structured?
Higher RMPS is an SCQF level 6 course built around three areas: World Religion, Morality and Belief, and Religious and Philosophical Questions. In World Religion a candidate studies one religion in depth through its account of the human condition, the goal and the means, plus beliefs about the divine. Morality and Belief examines moral issues (such as justice, relationships, environment, medicine and conflict) from religious and non-religious viewpoints. Religious and Philosophical Questions covers the big philosophical questions (origins, the existence of God, miracles, the problem of evil, and free will and determinism). The course builds on National 5 RMPS and prepares learners for Advanced Higher or further study.
How is SQA Higher RMPS assessed?
The award is graded A to D and has three components totalling 110 marks. Question Paper 1 is worth 60 marks and has two sections: World Religion (30 marks) and Morality and Belief (30 marks). Question Paper 2 is worth 20 marks and covers Religious and Philosophical Questions. The assignment is worth 30 marks: an independent investigation of a chosen issue, researched and written up under controlled conditions. Together these test knowledge, understanding and the skill of evaluation.
What is the Higher RMPS assignment?
The assignment is the 30-mark coursework component. A candidate chooses a religious, moral or philosophical issue, ideally a debatable question, researches it using a range of sources, and writes up a balanced, evaluative response under controlled conditions. The marks reward a clear issue, relevant and accurate knowledge from sources, balance, analysis and evaluation, referencing, and a conclusion that reaches a supported judgement. Evaluation is the skill the SQA most often reports as weak, so weighing arguments rather than describing them is where marks are won.
What does SCQF level 6 mean for Higher RMPS?
SCQF is the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. Higher sits at level 6, the same level as other Highers and the access point most Scottish universities use for entry. It is more demanding than National 5 (level 5) and below Advanced Higher (level 7). Higher RMPS develops critical thinking, the analysis of belief and value, and the ability to argue and evaluate, skills valued well beyond the subject itself.
Which religion and topics will I study in Higher RMPS?
Schools choose what to teach. In World Religion you study one religion in depth from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism or Sikhism; Buddhism is the most popular choice. In Morality and Belief you study one or more contexts from Religion and Justice, Religion and Relationships, Religion, Environment and Global Issues, Religion, Medicine and the Human Body, and Religion and Conflict. In Religious and Philosophical Questions you study topics such as Origins, the Existence of God, Miracles, the Problem of Evil and Suffering, and Free Will and Determinism. Check which your school is teaching.
How should I revise for SQA Higher RMPS?
Learn your chosen religion, moral context and philosophical topics in depth, because every question assumes accurate knowledge. Drill the evaluation skill that runs through the whole course: for 'to what extent' questions, set out reasons on both sides, bring in religious and non-religious viewpoints, and reach a supported judgement. Use correct technical terms (such as dukkha, nibbana, sanctity of life, Just War, theodicy and compatibilism). Practise SQA past papers and read the marking instructions and course reports, because question style and the wording markers reward are board-specific.
How does SQA Higher RMPS differ from A-Level Religious Studies?
Higher RMPS is a one-year SCQF level 6 Scottish qualification, whereas A-Level Religious Studies is a two-year qualification used in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Higher RMPS is assessed by two question papers (World Religion and Morality and Belief in Paper 1, Religious and Philosophical Questions in Paper 2) plus an assignment, and uses the SQA course specification and Scottish question styles. It deliberately combines religion, moral philosophy and the philosophy of religion in one course. Always revise from the current SQA specification and SQA past papers.