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SQA National 5 RMPS: complete guide to the three components, the question paper and the assignment

A complete guide to SQA National 5 Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies (RMPS), an SCQF level 5 qualification. Covers the three components (World Religion, Morality and Belief, Religious and Philosophical Questions), how the course splits between the question paper and the assignment, and how to study each component for an A.

Browse guides β†’Syllabus dot points (9)

SQA National 5 Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies (RMPS) is a one-year course at SCQF level 5, building on the Broad General Education and preparing learners for Higher RMPS or related study. It is graded A to D from two assessment components: a question paper and an assignment. This page is the index: below is a map of the three components, the assessment structure, and how to study each one. Throughout, views are presented accurately, neutrally and respectfully.

The three components of SQA National 5 RMPS

The course specification organises the content into three components. In each one, a centre chooses what to study in depth, so two schools may study different religions, issues and questions while sitting the same exam.

World Religion
A study of one religion, chosen from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism or Sikhism, explored through four questions: human nature, the human condition, the goal of human existence, and the means of reaching it. This site uses Christianity as the worked example.
Morality and Belief
A study of one contemporary moral issue, such as Crime and Punishment, Relationships, Medical ethics, the Environment or Conflict, explored through religious and non-religious responses and the sources of moral authority behind them. This site uses Crime and Punishment as the worked example.
Religious and Philosophical Questions
A study of one big question, such as the origins of the universe and the existence of God, the problem of suffering and evil, or the existence of the soul and life after death, exploring the main arguments and religious and non-religious responses. This site provides worked pages for all three question areas.

Course assessment

The National 5 RMPS award is graded A to D and is made up of two components, both set and marked by the SQA.

  • Question paper - 60 marks, sat under exam conditions. It uses source-based and extended-response questions drawn from the three components, testing the skills of describing, explaining and evaluating.
  • Assignment - 20 marks. A candidate researches a religious, moral or philosophical question or issue, gathers and references sources showing different viewpoints, and writes a report under supervised conditions with a reasoned conclusion.

The two components combine to a total of 80 marks, with the assignment worth 20 per cent of the award. There is no separate unit assessment in the graded award.

The skills RMPS tests

Across both components, the SQA tests three things, signalled by the command words:

  1. Describe. Set out beliefs, arguments or responses accurately and with detail.
  2. Explain. Give reasons and consequences (why a belief or argument leads to something).
  3. Evaluate. Weigh arguments on more than one side and reach a reasoned judgement ("to what extent", "how far").

A fourth skill runs through all of these: presenting religious and non-religious views fairly and respectfully, whatever your own opinion.

How to study SQA National 5 RMPS

National 5 RMPS rewards precise knowledge used to build clear, balanced answers.

  1. Work from the course specification. Each component is a checklist of beliefs, arguments and responses; question-paper items are written from them.
  2. Learn key terms exactly. Words like imago Dei, salvation, retribution, the cosmological argument, free will and reincarnation must be used precisely.
  3. Always know both sides. For moral issues and philosophical questions, prepare a developed religious and a developed non-religious response, and where each comes from.
  4. Match the command word. Decide whether to describe, explain or evaluate before you write, and give a judgement when the question asks for one.
  5. Practise past papers. Use SQA past papers and marking instructions to learn the source-based question style and the wording markers reward.

The components, dot point by dot point

Each component has answer pages with worked questions and cross-links. Browse the full set from this hub: World Religion (human nature and the human condition, the goal, the means); Morality and Belief (the nature and causes of crime, the purposes of punishment, responses to crime and the death penalty); and Religious and Philosophical Questions (the origins of the universe and the existence of God, the problem of suffering and evil, the existence of the soul and life after death).

For the official course specification

The SQA publishes the full National 5 RMPS course specification, specimen and past papers, marking instructions and the coursework assessment task at sqa.org.uk. Always revise from the current specification and SQA past papers, because the religion, moral issue and question your centre teaches, and the exact question style, are set by the SQA.

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-NATIONAL-5 system, explained

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Common questions about Religious, Moral & Philosophical Studies

How is SQA National 5 RMPS structured?
National 5 RMPS is an SCQF level 5 course made up of three components: World Religion, Morality and Belief, and Religious and Philosophical Questions. In each one, a centre chooses what to study in depth: one world religion, one contemporary moral issue, and one religious or philosophical question. The course develops skills in describing, explaining and evaluating religious, moral and philosophical positions, and the ability to express detailed and reasoned views.
How is SQA National 5 RMPS assessed?
The course award is graded A to D and has two components, both set and marked by the SQA. The question paper is worth 60 marks and is sat under exam conditions, using source-based and extended-response questions across the three components. The assignment is worth 20 marks and is a piece of research on a chosen RMPS topic. Together they give a total of 80 marks, with the assignment worth 20 per cent of the award.
What is the National 5 RMPS assignment?
The assignment is a research task worth 20 marks in which a candidate investigates a religious, moral or philosophical question or issue, gathers and references sources showing different viewpoints, and writes a report under supervised conditions. It rewards a clear question or issue, accurate factual information, the presentation of different points of view, analysis, an evaluation with a reasoned conclusion, and proper referencing. It assesses the same skills of explanation and evaluation examined in the question paper.
Which religion, moral issue and question will I study?
It depends on your centre. For World Religion a school chooses one of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism or Sikhism. For Morality and Belief a school chooses one contemporary moral issue, such as Crime and Punishment, Relationships, Medical ethics, the Environment or Conflict. For Religious and Philosophical Questions a school chooses one big question, such as the origins of the universe and the existence of God, the problem of suffering and evil, or the soul and life after death. This site uses Christianity, Crime and Punishment, and all three question areas as worked examples; always check what your school teaches.
What does SCQF level 5 mean for National 5 RMPS?
SCQF is the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. National 5 sits at level 5, the same level as a GCSE grade in England and the usual stepping stone to Higher (level 6). National 5 RMPS carries six SCQF credit points and signals a secure ability to describe, explain and evaluate religious, moral and philosophical positions before moving on to Higher study.
How should I revise for SQA National 5 RMPS?
Work through the three components against the SQA course specification, because the question paper is written from them. For each, learn the key beliefs, arguments and terms precisely, then practise the three command words: describe (set out accurately), explain (give reasons and consequences) and evaluate (weigh both sides and reach a judgement). Always present religious and non-religious views accurately and respectfully, and practise SQA past papers and marking instructions to learn the source-based question style.
How does SQA National 5 RMPS differ from GCSE Religious Studies?
National 5 RMPS is a one-year SCQF level 5 Scottish qualification set by the SQA, whereas GCSE Religious Studies is set by English, Welsh and Northern Irish boards such as AQA, OCR and Edexcel. National 5 RMPS is assessed by a single 60-mark question paper plus a 20-mark assignment, uses the SQA course specification, and is organised into three components built around choice (one religion, one moral issue, one philosophical question) rather than the GCSE paper structure. Always revise from the current SQA specification and SQA past papers.