Skip to main content

← WJEC-GCSE

Wales Β· WJEC2026

WJEC GCSE Religious Studies (Wales): complete guide to the units, themes and exam skills

A complete guide to WJEC GCSE Religious Studies for Wales (specification 3120). Explains the two-unit full-course structure, Part A beliefs and practices, the four philosophical and ethical themes, the religions studied, the question types and mark tariffs, the assessment objectives, and the source-of-wisdom and evaluation skills the exams reward.

Browse guides β†’Syllabus dot points (9)

WJEC GCSE Religious Studies for Wales (specification 3120) takes a distinctive issues-based approach: learners study the beliefs, teachings and practices of at least two religions and apply them, alongside non-religious views such as atheism and Humanism, to big philosophical and ethical questions. This page is the index: below is a map of the two units, the religions studied, the four themes, the question types and the exam skills that run across both papers. WJEC's Wales specification is distinct from its England-facing Eduqas brand, so always revise from the current WJEC documents and past papers.

The two units

The full course is two written units, each a written exam worth 50 percent. Unit 1 alone is the short course.

  • Unit 1: Religion and Philosophical Themes. 50 percent. Part A is the core beliefs and teachings of Christianity and one other religion; Part B is two philosophical themes, the Issues of Life and Death and the Issues of Good and Evil.
  • Unit 2: Religion and Ethical Themes. 50 percent. Part A is the practices of Christianity and one other religion; Part B is two ethical themes, the Issues of Relationships and the Issues of Human Rights.

Across the qualification the two assessment objectives are weighted equally: AO1 (knowledge and understanding) and AO2 (analysis and evaluation).

The religions and the themes

Every learner studies Christianity (or Catholic Christianity) plus one other religion chosen from Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism. This site covers Christianity and Islam, the most widely taught combination.

Unit 1 beliefs and teachings
Christianity: the nature of God, the Trinity, creation, the Incarnation, Jesus, the crucifixion and resurrection, salvation and life after death. Islam: Tawhid, the Six Beliefs, prophethood and Muhammad, the Qur'an and akhirah.
Unit 2 practices
Christianity: worship and prayer, baptism and the Eucharist, the Church, Christmas and Easter, pilgrimage, mission and charity. Islam: the Five Pillars, worship in the mosque, Id-ul-Fitr and Id-ul-Adha, and jihad.
The four themes
Issues of Life and Death; Issues of Good and Evil; Issues of Relationships; Issues of Human Rights, each studied through religious and non-religious responses.

The question types that carry the marks

Each topic is examined through a ladder of question parts, rising in marks and demand.

  1. (a) Definition. About 2 marks (AO1): define a key term accurately.
  2. (b) Describe. About 5 marks (AO1): developed, accurate points.
  3. (c) Explain. About 8 marks (AO1): developed reasons or teachings, with sources of wisdom.
  4. (d) Evaluation. About 15 marks (AO2): "Discuss this statement", a balanced argument with religious and non-religious views and a clear judgement, carrying the SPaG marks.

How to study WJEC Religious Studies

Religious Studies rewards precise knowledge and disciplined evaluation in equal measure.

  1. Learn beliefs and practices with sources of wisdom. A short quotation or reference for each idea lifts (c) and (d) answers into the top bands.
  2. Drill each question type. The (a), (b), (c) and (d) questions are marked very differently, so practise each against its tariff.
  3. Make the (d) evaluation your strength. Half the marks are AO2, so prepare for-and-against arguments and a conclusion for every theme.
  4. Always include non-religious views. The themes require atheist and Humanist responses, not only religious teaching.
  5. Write accurately. SPaG is marked in the (d) question, so use specialist terms correctly and plan before you write.

The units, dot point by dot point

Each unit has an overview guide, dot-point answer pages and a quiz, alongside the exam-skills guide. Browse the full set at /wjec-gcse/religious-studies/syllabus.

For the official specification

WJEC publishes the specification (3120), past papers and mark schemes at wjec.co.uk. A new Made-for-Wales GCSE Religious Studies (3150) is taught from September 2025; check which specification your centre follows, and always revise from the current WJEC documents and past papers, because the question style, theme content and the balance of religious and non-religious views are board-specific.

Religious Studies guides

In-depth written guides with paired practice quizzes.

See all β†’

Religious Studies practice quizzes

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

The WJEC-GCSE system, explained

See all β†’

Common questions about Religious Studies

How is WJEC GCSE Religious Studies structured?
The full course is two written units, each worth 50 percent. Unit 1, Religion and Philosophical Themes, has Part A (the core beliefs and teachings of Christianity and one other religion) and Part B (two philosophical themes, the Issues of Life and Death and the Issues of Good and Evil). Unit 2, Religion and Ethical Themes, has Part A (the practices of Christianity and one other religion) and Part B (two ethical themes, the Issues of Relationships and the Issues of Human Rights). Unit 1 on its own is the short course.
Which religions are studied in WJEC GCSE Religious Studies?
Every learner studies Christianity (or Catholic Christianity) plus one other world religion chosen by the centre from Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism. This site covers Christianity and Islam, the most widely taught combination, but the four philosophical and ethical themes are the same whichever second religion is chosen, and the themes also require non-religious responses such as atheism and Humanism.
What are the four themes in WJEC GCSE Religious Studies?
There are two philosophical themes in Unit 1, the Issues of Life and Death (origins, sanctity and quality of life, abortion, euthanasia, life after death) and the Issues of Good and Evil (the problem of evil, sources of morality, crime and punishment, forgiveness, the death penalty). There are two ethical themes in Unit 2, the Issues of Relationships (marriage, sex, divorce, family, gender roles, contraception) and the Issues of Human Rights (dignity and equality, prejudice and discrimination, social justice, poverty and wealth, freedom of expression). All are studied through religious and non-religious responses.
What are the assessment objectives in WJEC GCSE Religious Studies?
Two assessment objectives are weighted equally. AO1 rewards knowledge and understanding of beliefs, teachings and practices, and is tested in the short (a), (b) and (c) questions. AO2 rewards analysis and evaluation, weighing arguments to reach a supported judgement, and is tested in the extended (d) 'Discuss this statement' question, which also carries the spelling, punctuation and grammar marks. Because half the marks are AO2, evaluation matters as much as recall.
Is there a new WJEC GCSE Religious Studies specification?
Yes. A new Made-for-Wales GCSE Religious Studies (qualification 3150) is being taught from September 2025 and supports the Curriculum for Wales. From September 2025 Year 10 learners are entered for the new specification. The long-standing specification covered on this site (3120) has its final full assessment in summer 2026, with a resit opportunity in January 2027. Always check which specification your centre is following and revise from the current WJEC documents and past papers.
How should I revise WJEC GCSE Religious Studies?
Learn the beliefs and practices of your two religions with a short source of wisdom for each idea, because the (c) and (d) questions reward scripture and teaching. Drill each question type against its tariff, since the (a) definition, (b) describe, (c) explain and (d) evaluation are marked very differently. Make the (d) evaluation your strength: for every theme, prepare arguments for and against, a religious and a non-religious view, and a clear conclusion, and write accurately because SPaG is marked there.