Edexcel AS and A level Religious Studies - Exploring different religions and beliefs - Brochure

Oct 20, 2026

Overview of the Edexcel AS and A level Religious Studies qualifications for 2016, explaining qualification specifications, teaching approach, and how they help students confidently interpret, contextualise, and analyse expressions of religions and world views. Covers flexible study combinations across philosophy, ethics, New Testament studies, and study of religion, plus six additional religion options. Summarises qualifications at a glance and assessment structure, including paper choices, marks and timing, and guidance for centres.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Qualifications overview

Working with you

Flexible study combinations of religions and topics

Opportunity to focus on philosophy and ethics topics

Qualifications at a glance

Assessment overview

Forbidden combination

AS and A level Religious Studies Exploring different religions and beliefs Discover our qualifications 2 Exploring different religions and beliefs This brochure will provide an overview of the specifications for our Edexcel AS and A level Religious Studies qualifications. In here, we outline how our specifications will engage your students and enable them to confidently interpret, contextualise and analyse the expressions of religions and world views they encounter – and how we are supporting you every step of the way. We provide: flexible study combinations of religions and topics ...........pages 3-5 opportunity to focus on philosophy and ethics topics .......pages 3-5 clear and [accessible assessments ....................................](accessible assessments ....................................page 6)[page 6](accessible assessments ....................................page 6) co-teachable AS and A level [courses ................................](courses ................................page 7)[page 7](courses ................................page 7) expert support and guidance ...........................................pages 8-9 Working with you We’ve listened to feedback from the teaching community, subject associations and universities to make sure our Edexcel AS and A level Religious Studies specifications for 2016 have been shaped by you and reflect the demands of a truly modern and evolving religious studies environment. Next steps … Once you’ve read through this guide, turn to the back page for details of how to: 1. Sign up to teach our qualifications and get specification updatesand free support. 2. Sign up for one of our FREE Getting Ready To Teach events to help you plan for September 2020 with confidence. Flexible study combinations of religions and topics Our AS and A level Religious Studies specifications offer a wide choice of topics within the requirement for more religious content, allowing you to tailor the course content to your students’ interests. Content is relevant to the real world and encourages students to develop an appreciation of religious thought and its contribution to individuals, communities and societies. We offer four areas of study, allowing you to choose the three you wish to teach from: • Philosophy of Religion • Religion and Ethics • New Testament Studies • Study of Religion. The fourth area of study offers additional choice with the chance to study one out of the following six religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism or Sikhism. Opportunity to focus on philosophy and ethics topics Our specifications help to develop a holistic understanding of religion, facilitating enquiry into the purposes and commitments of human life, especially as expressed in philosophy, ethics and religion. Two individual papers covering familiar philosophy and ethics content ensure that you can adapt the course to include the topics which are currently popular with AS and A Level students. 3 Qualifications at a glance The four topics are the same at AS and A level. The content of the AS level is a subset of the A level content. Centres co-teaching AS and A level can deliver the first three topics in each component in the first year, allowing students to be entered for the AS at the end of the year. Students are assessed through three externally-examined papers. AS level – choice of three papers from the following four options Paper 1: Philosophy of Religion 33.33% 48 marks 1hr Paper 2: Religion and Ethics 33.33% 48 marks 1hr Paper 3: New Testament Studies 33.33% 48 marks 1hr Paper 4: Study of Religion 33.33% 54 marks 1hr Content overview • Philosophical issues. • Nature and influence of religious experience. • Problems of evil and suffering. Content overview • Significant concepts in issues and debates. • Study of three ethical theories. • Application of ethical theories. Content over

FAQs

What is the purpose of this Edexcel AS and A level Religious Studies guide?

It provides an overview of the specifications for Edexcel AS and A level Religious Studies, explaining how the courses engage students and support confident interpretation, contextualisation, and analysis of religions and world views.

Which study areas can centres choose for AS and A level?

Centres can choose three topics from four areas: Philosophy of Religion, Religion and Ethics, New Testament Studies, and Study of Religion.

How does assessment work for the AS and A level qualifications?

Students are assessed through externally-examined papers. The guide outlines the available paper options, structured question formats, and different marks and duration for AS and A level.

Oct 20, 2026

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