GCSE Religious Studies
OVERVIEW
This course develops a student's knowledge of other cultures and world religious beliefs as well as building their understanding of key ethical issues such as medical ethics, animal rights, human rights and world conflict. These issues are not only taught from a religious perspective but also from a non-religious perspective, enabling students to develop an understanding of how they themselves decide upon what is 'right' and 'wrong'. RE at GCSE level also equip students with key skills in analysis, debate, evaluation and critical thinking, that are essential for other GCSEs.
Examination board: Edexcel
Course title: GCSE Religious Studies B
Two written examinations
Papers are untiered
THE DETAILS
Students will study two religions, looking at the key philosophical and ethical issues facing the local, national and international community as well as learning about the beliefs, teachings and practices of the two religions. The two religions studied are Christianity and Islam.
CHRISTIANITY (50% of total grade)
There are four compulsory content areas:
Beliefs
Marriage and the Family
Living the Religious Life
Matters of Life and Death
ISLAM (50% of total grade)
There are four compulsory content areas:
Beliefs
Crime and Punishment
Living the Religious Life
Peace and Conflict
THE EXAMINATIONS
PAPER 1: RELIGION AND ETHICS - CHRISTIANITY (1 hr and 45 minutes, 102 marks, 50% of the qualification)
Students must answer all questions.
The paper consists of four questions including short open, open response and extended writing questions.
The paper will also assess spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG) and use of specialist terminology and these will contribute a minimum of 5% of marks towards the overall weighting for this paper.
PAPER 2: RELIGION, PEACE AND CONFLICT - ISLAM (1 hr and 45 minutes, 102 marks, 50% of the qualification)
Students must answer all questions.
The paper consists of four questions including short open, open response and extended writing questions.
The paper will also assess spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG) and use of specialist terminology and these will contribute a minimum of 5% of marks towards the overall weighting for this paper.
WHERE CAN IT TAKE ME?
Knowledge of other cultures and world religious beliefs can be useful in many jobs where you are working with the public or communities. These include:
counselling and social services
marketing, sales and advertising
catering and hospitality
leisure, sport and tourism
retail sales and customer services
education and training
medicine and nursing; and service sector roles
Plus MANY more!
GCSE Religious Studies is also a good path towards vocational qualifications including travel and tourism, health and social care, childcare, uniformed public services, legal studies, as well as A levels in Health and Social Care, Geography, Law, History, Sociology, Philosophy, Psychology and, of course, religious studies.
Lead Professional for Religious Studies - j.thompson@lordswoodboys.co.uk
Lordswood Boys' School • Hagley Road • Harborne • Birmingham • B17 8BJ
Tel:0121 464 2837
Email: enquiry@lordswoodboys.co.uk
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