Cambridge IGCSE Religious Studies 0490 Syllabus 2029 - Exam Syllabus Version 1

Oct 23, 2026

Cambridge IGCSE Religious Studies 0490 syllabus for exams in 2029 outlines the program’s purpose, curriculum structure, aims, and assessment approach. It explains key benefits of Cambridge International Education, including flexible learning pathways, data-led insight, and support for schools worldwide. The document details assessment papers 1 and 2, command words, subject content by religion, grade use, accessibility, and administrative guidance, with changes for 2029 noting the latest syllabus is version 1 published September 2026.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages44

Reading Time1 h 51 min

AccessFree to download

Why choose this syllabus?

1 Why choose this syllabus?

Syllabus overview

3 Subject content

Christianity

Islam

Judaism

4 Details of the assessment

Paper 1 – Worship, Beliefs, Scriptues and Sacred Places

Paper 2 – Festivals, Fasts, Family Life and Social Action

5 What else you need to know

Syllabus ™ Cambridge IGCSE Religious Studies 0490 Use this syllabus for exams in 2029. Exams are available in the November series. [Please check the syllabus page at www.cambridgeinternational.org/0490 to see if](Please check the syllabus page at www.cambridgeinternational.org/0490 to see if) this syllabus is available in your administrative zone. Version 1 For the purposes of screen readers, any mention in this document of Cambridge IGCSE refers to Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education. Why choose Cambridge? We work with schools worldwide to build an education that shapes knowledge, understanding and skills. Together, we give learners the confidence they need to thrive and make a positive impact in a changing world. As part of the University of Cambridge, we offer a globally trusted and flexible framework for education from age 3 to 19, informed by research, experience, and listening to educators. With recognised qualifications, high-quality resources, comprehensive support and valuable insights, we help schools prepare every student for the opportunities and challenges ahead. Qualifications that are recognised and valued worldwide From the world’s top-ranked universities to local higher education institutions, Cambridge qualifications open doors to a world of opportunities. Setting a global standard With over 160 years of experience in delivering fair, valid and reliable assessments to students worldwide, we offer a global, recognised performance standard for international education. Your path, your way Schools can adapt our curriculum, high-quality teaching and learning resources and flexible assessments to their local context. Our aligned offer helps Cambridge schools support every learner to reach their potential and thrive. Learning with lasting impact Cambridge learners build subject knowledge and conceptual understanding, and develop a broad range of skills, learning habits and attributes to help make them ready for the world. Improving learning outcomes through data-led insight and action Our trusted baseline and diagnostic assessments, together with our insights and evaluation service, help schools turn data into knowledge and actionable insights, to inform teaching decisions and improve learner outcomes. Bringing together a community of experts We bring together the collective knowledge of experts and our diverse community of educators worldwide, supporting them to learn from one another and share ideas and information. Tackling the climate crisis together We believe that education is key to tackling the climate crisis. Together with Cambridge schools, we can empower young people with the skills and knowledge to take action on climate change, helping them be ready for the world. School feedback: ‘We think the Cambridge curriculum is superb preparation for university.’ Feedback from: Christoph Guttentag, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Duke University, USA © Cambridge University Press & Assessment September 2026 Cambridge International Education is the name of our awarding body and a part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment, which is a department of the University of Cambridge. Cambridge University Press & Assessment retains the copyright on all its publications. Registered centres are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own internal use. However, we cannot give permission to centres to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within a centre. Contents Why choose Cambridge? ............................................................................................... 2 1 Why choose this syllabus? ........................................................................................ 4 2 Syllabus overview ....................................................................................................... 7 Aims 7 Content overview 8 Assessment ov

FAQs

When are the Cambridge IGCSE Religious Studies 0490 exams available in 2029?

Exams are available in the November series in 2029.

What are the two assessment papers for the syllabus?

Paper 1 covers Worship, Beliefs, Scriptues and Sacred Places, and Paper 2 covers Festivals, Fasts, Family Life and Social Action.

Are there significant changes to the syllabus for 2029?

The document states there are no significant changes affecting teaching; the latest syllabus is version 1 published September 2026.

Oct 23, 2026

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