How to Get an A* in IGCSE Religious Studies

Getting an A* in IGCSE Religious Studies takes more than just learning a few facts or memorising quotes. Top students succeed because they understand exactly what examiners are looking for, and they know how to apply that knowledge with confidence and clarity.

As a Religious Studies teacher who has helped hundreds of students achieve top grades, I know the most common pitfalls and the habits that distinguish an A* from a B. 

This guide breaks down everything you need to know: from revising key content and structuring high-level answers to exam techniques and strategies for the day itself.

Understand the IGCSE Religious Studies Exam Structure

Two main exam boards currently offer the IGCSE Religious Studies qualification: Cambridge (CIE 0490) and Edexcel (4RS1). Both test your ability to explain religious beliefs, interpret sacred texts, and evaluate moral and philosophical arguments. However, the paper format is slightly different in each one. 

Cambridge IGCSE (CIE 0490)

• Paper 1: Worship, Beliefs, Scriptures and Sacred Places in two religions from Christianity, Islam and Judaism

• Paper 2: Festivals, Fasts, Family Life and Social Action in two religions (students answer questions from two topics)

• Each question includes a range of question parts with an increasing mark value, up to 8 marks.

• You’re expected to support your answers with detailed knowledge and, where relevant, reference to religious teachings.

You can see the current syllabus on the Save My Exams CIE IGCSE RS page.

Edexcel IGCSE (4RS1)

• Paper 1: Beliefs and Values in a chosen religion, e.g. Christianity, Islam, Judaism or Hinduism.

• Paper 2: The Religious Community, covering elements of religious practice such as worship, celebrations, and pilgrimage.

• Each paper includes structured questions that build from short knowledge-based items to extended evaluation questions (up to 12 marks)

• You’re expected to support your answers with detailed knowledge and, where relevant, reference to religious teachings.

You can see the current syllabus on the Save My Exams CIE IGCSE RS page.  

Make sure you have all the correct resources to hand for the right qualification before you start your revision.

It’s also worth noting that the IGCSE grades you’re awarded will also vary depending on exam board. Currently, if you study the Cambridge CIE IGCSE RS you’ll achieve an A* to G grade, while on the Edexcel IGCSE RS course you’ll be awarded a number from 9 to 1.

Master the Key Content Areas

To achieve a top grade in your IGCSE Religious Studies, whether it's an A* (CIE) or a Grade 9 (Edexcel), you’ll need a strong grasp of the beliefs and practices of the religion or religions you’ve studied. You’ll also be able to apply your understanding of these beliefs to ethical or philosophical issues.

Here’s how to approach each part of the course effectively:

1. Understand the course content

The exact IGCSE Religious Studies topics you study will vary slightly, depending on your exam board. You’ll be required to learn information on the core beliefs and teachings of your chosen religion or religions, and how members of that religion put their faith into practice in their religious rituals and practices. You’ll consider religious responses to moral and ethical issues, such as war and peace, rights, equality and social justice, and care for the environment.

Check your syllabus carefully and make sure you’re clear on which units you’ll be examined on. Your teacher or tutor will be able to advise you and provide a list of topics for revision

2. Revise effectively

Break down the course into clear sections and treat each topic separately. This will help you stay focused and avoid confusion between religions, if you’re studying more than one. Being organised at the start of your revision makes the whole process easier.

Use any revision tools that may help. For example:

• Revise actively. Don’t just read or copy from your books or the Save My Exams notes. Use flashcards, quizzes, and any other strategies that best help you learn.

• Make your notes exam-friendly. Bullet points will help. Use colours and try to link beliefs and why they’re important or how they link to issues via mind maps.

• Scripture recall: Aim to learn one or two short quotes per topic. You don’t need to learn the reference numbers; it’s far more important to know who said it and what they said. Don’t try to learn all of the quotes. Focus on those you can apply flexibly across different questions.

• For example, a Christian teaching such as "God created mankind in his own image" (Genesis 1:27) is useful across topics such as creation and the environment, the sanctity of life, and human dignity.

• Topic checklists: Tick off subtopics once you’re confident in them. This gives you a clear sense of progress.

3. Focus on commonly examined areas

Take a close look at past papers and examiner reports to try to identify recurring topics. Again, this depends on the exam board you’re studying. Your teacher will be able to advise. Aim to know these high-frequency topics inside out, so that you’re ready to answer any type of question on them.

How to Write High-Scoring Exam Answers

Once you know your content, you’ll need to apply it successfully to the different types of exam questions. The key is to understand what the examiner expects from each type of question.

Core Question Types to Expect

Regardless of the board, you’ll typically face three types of questions. Learning to identify which one you’re being asked will help you tailor your answer for top marks. Here are the strategies to use:

Building Successful Answers to Evaluation Questions 

Success in the longer questions requires you to do more than present facts. You’ll need to represent different viewpoints, justify them and reach a conclusion. Here is a simple strategy I always teach my students to follow to hit all the assessment objectives for A*:

1. Introduction: Briefly outline the issue. Define any key terms.

2. Viewpoint 1: Explain one argument clearly, using religious teaching or reasoning.

3. Viewpoint 2: Offer the contrasting view, again supported with belief or evidence.

4. Extra angle or comparison: Add depth by comparing religious and secular views, or different traditions.

5. Conclusion: State your view and explain why it’s stronger or more convincing.

Tips from Top Scorers

If you’re aiming for an A*, it’s worth knowing what top students do differently. It always involves starting early and listening to advice from your teachers - I would say that, of course, as a teacher! Here are some strategies I’ve noticed the most successful students tend to have in common:

1. They revise consistently, not just before the exam

A* students don’t rely on last-minute cramming. Instead, they build strong habits, including regular short revision sessions, the use of active recall techniques such as flashcards, and spaced repetition. This approach helps to ward off last-minute panic and is the most effective way to revise in any subject.

2. They use examiner reports and mark schemes

High-achieving students check the examiners’ advice on past papers. This helps them to avoid common mistakes and pitfalls, while highlighting what strong answers include. This is a great way to boost students into the A* band.

These reports are available on the Cambridge and Edexcel websites, and the mark schemes from past papers can be found on the relevant 'Save My Exams' pages.

3. They self-test and track progress

Rather than rereading notes, top students test themselves regularly. They use mini quizzes or write down everything they can remember from a topic. Then they check what they missed and revise accordingly.

If they spot a weak area, like forgetting to include the opposing view in an evaluation answer, they take steps to correct it before it becomes a habit.

4. They practise full answers under timed conditions

This is essential to success. A* students make past paper questions part of their revision routine. In my experience, it makes a huge difference. It strengthens your subject knowledge, helps you express it fluently, and builds your confidence under pressure

Every practice answer helps. Start without a timer, then move on to timed practice. You can check your work against the official mark schemes, or ask your teacher or peers to look over what you’ve written.

Exam-Day Techniques and Mindset

You’ve revised thoroughly, you’re all set. Don’t let exam-day nerves or a negative mindset prevent you from getting that A* you’ve worked so hard for. Use these strategies to help you stay calm and focused for success.

1. Be prepared

The night before:

• Lay out everything you need: pens, ID, water bottle, etc. 

• Avoid last-minute cramming, which will only cause you stress. 

• Wind down with something relaxing and get an early night.

On the morning of every exam:

• Always eat something. Even if you don’t feel hungry, your body needs fuel. 

• Try to arrive early, so you’re not rushing. This will help you stay calm.

It’s completely normal to feel nervous, especially if RS is one of your first exams. The adrenaline will actually help you to focus and work quickly. Try to keep any jittery feelings under control with some breathing exercises.

2. Plan before you write

Nerves can cause you to misread questions or overlook important instructions. You can avoid this by reading the paper carefully and planning your answers before writing them. This is especially important in answering longer evaluation questions, because you want to structure your writing and stay focused, not veer off at a tangent and fail to answer the question. 

For evaluation questions: 

• Jot down your main points

• Include one quote or example per side

• Decide on your final judgement

3. Stick to the timings

I always advise students to use the mark allocation to guide their answer times. Allowing about one minute per mark helps you to leave sufficient time to do justice to longer answers. It also provides time for checking through your paper once it’s completed.

4. Stay calm if you get stuck

If you don’t know the answer right away:

• Breathe, move on, and come back later if possible

• Break the question into parts. Underline key words

• Try writing something relevant; partial marks are better than none

After the exam, walk away and forget it. You’ve done all you can, and it’s time to breathe out and focus on the next challenge. Never compare answers with your friends. It only causes more stress.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I write for an evaluation question?

Aim for 3 or 4 well-developed paragraphs and a justified conclusion. 

A high-scoring answer will present at least two sides of the issue, supported by religious teachings or examples, and explain why one side is more convincing. Planning your structure before you write helps you stay focused and hit all the criteria for top marks.

Is it better to revise one religion or multiple?

That depends on your syllabus. 

Always use the specification to guide your revision. Make a checklist to ensure you cover everything that might come up. Never leave out a religion if your paper is going to include questions about it: that’s a certain pathway to failure.

What’s the best way to revise religious scripture or quotes?

Choose one or two short quotes per topic. 

Make sure you understand them and can explain how they relate to the topic. Knowing why they are significant is far more important than remembering the reference number.

Flashcards, quote banks, and practice questions are great tools here. 

How important is spelling and grammar in Religious Studies essays?

It’s important to express yourself as clearly as possible, especially in the longer, evaluative questions.

While there are no marks allotted specifically for Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar (SPaG) by either exam board for the IGCSE exams, both state that you should write in “well-structured continuous prose”. Therefore, do your best to write as clearly as possible. This will make your arguments clearer. Take extra care with accuracy on subject-specific words.

Final Thoughts

Achieving an A* in IGCSE Religious Studies requires demonstrating a clear knowledge and understanding of religious beliefs, as well as being able to explain and evaluate them effectively. Top-grade students go beyond passive revision: they practise writing full answers, work from real mark schemes, and take time to understand what examiners are actually rewarding.

If you’re aiming for an A*, build on what you already know and focus on exam technique as much as content. Test yourself, use past papers regularly, self-mark your work against examiner reports, and look for small improvements every time. 

An A* is fully achievable with consistent, focused effort. With every well-planned, thoughtful answer you write, you're showing the examiner that you’ve got what it takes to reach the top.

Sources:

Cambridge IGCSE Religious Studies (0490) (opens in a new tab)

Edexcel International GCSE Religious Studies | Pearson qualifications (opens in a new tab)