Everything you need to know about AQA GCSE Religious Studies

Doing well in AQA GCSE Religious Studies comes down to understanding the exam just as much as the content itself. 

From understanding the paper structure to mastering evaluation questions, this guide helps you focus your revision where it matters most.

Key takeaways

• AQA GCSE Religious Studies is assessed through two written exam papers, taken at the end of the course
• You’ll study two religions, plus four thematic topics linked to ethics and philosophy
• There is no coursework. Your final grade comes entirely from the exams
• Strong answers balance religious beliefs, sources of authority, and reasoned evaluation
• Clear structure, accurate terminology, and well-justified viewpoints are key to top marks

What’s the format for AQA GCSE Religious Studies?

AQA offers two GCSE Religious Studies courses, Religious Studies A and Religious Studies B, but they both follow the same overall structure.

Your assessment consists of:

• Two written exam papers
• 1 hour 45 minutes per paper
• 96 marks per paper
• Each paper is worth 50% of your final grade
• All exams are taken at the end of Year 11
• No non-exam assessments (coursework)

The two papers test different parts of the course, so understanding how they work and how they differ is essential for effective revision.

What’s the difference between Papers 1 and 2 for AQA GCSE Religious Studies?

Both AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062) and Religious Studies B (8063) are assessed through two written papers.

While the question style is similar across both courses, the paper titles, content focus, and depth of study differ.

Paper 1: The Study of Religions

Religious Studies A (8062)

Paper 1: The Study of Religions

You'll study two religions, chosen by your school.

Religious Studies B (8063)

Paper 1: Religious Beliefs, Teachings and Practices

You will study Catholic Christianity in-depth and one other religion chosen by your school. Possible religions include either Islam or Judaism. 

For both courses, you’re assessed on beliefs, teachings, and practices.

In the exam, you’ll be asked to:

• Recall key beliefs and teachings
• Explain religious practices and their significance
• Use religious sources of authority (such as sacred texts)
• Apply beliefs to religious life today

This paper rewards accurate knowledge, correct use of religious terminology, and clear, developed explanations.

Paper 2: Thematic Studies

Religious Studies A (8062)

Paper 2: Thematic Studies

You'll study four themes, explored through religious and non-religious viewpoints.

Religious Studies B (8063)

Paper 2: Religion, Philosophy and Ethics in the Modern World

You'll study four themes, with a stronger emphasis on philosophical and ethical issues.

Themes are chosen from topics such as:

• Religion and life
• Religion, crime and punishment
• Religion, peace and conflict
• Religion, human rights and social justice

In this paper, you’ll be asked to:

• Explain different religious viewpoints
• Compare religious and non-religious perspectives
• Analyse arguments
• Evaluate statements and reach justified conclusions

This paper places a much stronger emphasis on evaluation and judgement, especially in longer-mark questions.

What are examiners looking for?

AQA Religious Studies examiners assess answers using two main assessment objectives. In simple terms, they want to see that you can:

• AO1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of religions and beliefs
• AO2: Analyse and evaluate aspects of religion and belief, including arguments and viewpoints

To reach the higher grades, examiners are looking for answers that show clear understanding, thoughtful explanation, and well-reasoned judgment.

That means:

Clear, accurate knowledge

Use correct religious terminology and show that you understand what beliefs and practices mean, not just what they are.

Developed explanations

Go beyond stating beliefs by explaining why they matter and how they influence behaviour or attitudes.

Balanced evaluation

In evaluation questions, consider more than one viewpoint and explain each side clearly before weighing them up.

Justified conclusions

Finish with a conclusion that follows logically from your answer and is supported by clear reasons.

A simple rule to remember: state a point, explain it, and justify it.

What are the grade boundaries for AQA Religious Studies?

It’s important to remember that the exact grade boundaries for your GCSE exams will change every year. Exam boards adjust grade boundaries after an exam, depending on the exam's difficulty and how the cohort performed.

This is so students don’t have an advantage or disadvantage because of the year they took the paper. For example, if your paper were harder, grade boundaries would be lowered so that a grade 5 reflects the same level of knowledge as in previous years.

To give a sense of what to expect, here are the grade boundaries for AQA Religious Studies GCSE from the last year:

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What key topics do I need to know for AQA GCSE Religious Studies?

The exact content depends on which specification your school follows, but all AQA GCSE Religious Studies courses include two main areas.

Paper 1: The Study of Religions

You’ll study two religions, covering topics such as:

• Core beliefs and teachings
• Practices and rituals
• Places of worship
• Festivals
• The role of religion in daily life

Paper 2: Thematic Studies

You’ll study four themes, each explored through religious and non-religious perspectives. These may include:

• Relationships and families
• Religion and life
• Religion, crime and punishment
• Religion, peace and conflict
• Religion, human rights and social justice

For each theme, you’ll need to understand:

• Different religious viewpoints
• Non-religious perspectives
• Arguments for and against key ideas
• How beliefs influence moral decision-making

Where can I find past papers and mark schemes? 

Practising with past papers and mark schemes is one of the most effective ways to prepare for GCSE Religious Studies.

Past papers help you understand question styles, see how marks are awarded, and build confidence with real exam timing and structure.

Head to the AQA website to find past papers and mark schemes from previous GCSE Religious Studies exams.

How can I prepare for AQA GCSE Religious Studies?

Here are five practical ways to prepare confidently and effectively.

1. Learn key beliefs with meaning

Don’t just memorise beliefs, understand why they matter and how they influence behaviour.

Top tip: Always link beliefs to actions or attitudes. This means showing how a belief shapes how religious people think, make moral decisions, and behave in everyday life. 

Examiners reward answers that go beyond naming a belief and explain its practical impact, because this demonstrates real understanding rather than simple recall.

2. Practise evaluation questions regularly

Higher-mark questions often ask you to “evaluate” a statement.

Practise:

• Writing balanced arguments
• Explaining both sides clearly
• Reaching a justified conclusion

The more you practise this skill, the more natural it becomes in the exam. 

3. Use religious sources accurately

You don’t need long quotes, but you do need to reference religious teachings accurately and clearly explain how they support a viewpoint

Short, relevant references score better than vague mentions.

4. Use a clear structure in your answers

A clear structure makes your thinking easy to follow and easier to mark.

This matters most in longer-mark questions, where marks are awarded for developed points and clear reasoning. In these answers, aim to include:

• One clear point in each paragraph
• Explanations that develop the point fully
• A conclusion that directly answers the question

A reliable way to do this is the PEEL structure (Point, Evidence, Explain, Link), which helps you build clear, well-developed paragraphs without overcomplicating your answer.

You can learn how to use it step by step in our guide: How to use the PEEL technique to write an effective essay

5. Use exam-style questions and feedback

Past questions show you exactly how AQA phrases things and how marks are awarded.

Use them to:

• Practise timing
• Improve clarity
• Spot where marks are gained or lost

AQA GCSE Religious Studies rewards clear thinking, balanced judgement, and confident explanation. With the right preparation and regular practice, you’ll go into the exam knowing exactly what’s expected and how to show it. You’ve got this 💪📚