Religious Studies - A Level

Component 1:

Section A: Philosophy of religion

• Arguments for the existence of God
• Evil and suffering
• Religious experience
• Religious language
• Miracles
• Self and life after death.

Section B: Ethics and religion

• Ethical theories
• Issues of human life and death
• Issues of animal life and death
• Introduction to meta ethics
• Free will and moral responsibility
• Conscience
• Bentham and Kant.

Component 2:

• Sources of wisdom and authority
• God/gods/ultimate reality
• Self, death and the afterlife
• Good conduct and key moral principles
• Expression of religious identity
• Religion, gender and sexuality
• Religion and science
• Religion and secularisation
• Religion and religious pluralism.

A Level Component 1

Section A Philosophy of Religion and Ethics

How it's assessed

Written exam: 3 hours

100 marks

50% of A-level

Questions

Section A: Philosophy of religion – two compulsory two-part questions, each worth 10 marks

and 15 marks.

Section B: Ethics and religion – two compulsory two-part questions, each worth 10 marks and 15 marks.

In both sections, questions may span more than one topic. In each two-part question,

the first part tests AO1 and the second part tests AO2.

A Level Component 2- Christianity

Section B: The dialogue between philosophy of religion and religion.

Section C: The dialogue between ethical studies and religion.

How it's assessed

Written exam: 3 hours

100 marks

50% of A-level

Questions

Section A: Study of religion – two compulsory two-part questions, each worth 10 marks and 15 marks relating to the religion chosen. Questions may be set that span more than one topic. In each two-part question, the first part tests AO1 and the second part tests AO2.

Section B: The dialogue between philosophy of religion and religion – one unstructured synoptic question from a choice of two (25 marks).

Section C: The dialogue between ethical studies and religion – one unstructured synoptic question from a choice of two (25 marks).

Students must have a good writing ability and a Grade 5 in English Language is recommended.

Studying advanced level Theology will complement and support any choice of subject. So whether you are interested in the Arts or the Sciences, Theology could be for you. It will teach you to think and develop your views on modern issues. It is a very versatile A Level and it will be useful if you are pursuing a career in many fields, such as Teaching (Primary or Secondary), Journalism, Nursing, Medicine and Social Work.