What Is GCSE Religious Studies?

Are you curious about how people make moral decisions, why different religions believe what they do, or what happens after we die? If so, GCSE Religious Studies might be the subject for you.

GCSE RS is not about preaching to others, and you definitely don’t have to be religious to take it. Instead, it’s about exploring different worldviews, asking big questions about life, and learning how to build thoughtful, well-reasoned arguments. 

You’ll study a mix of religious beliefs, ethical dilemmas, and philosophical ideas, and learn how they apply to real-world issues.

I’ve been teaching GCSE RS for many years, and in this guide I’ll explain exactly what you can expect from your course: what you’ll study, how it’s assessed, what lessons are like, and the skills you’ll develop along the way. You’ll also find advice on whether GCSE RS is a good fit for your learning style, and what you can do with it after Year 11.

Overview of the GCSE Religious Studies Course

GCSE Religious Studies is a thought-provoking subject that helps you understand religious beliefs, ethical issues, and big philosophical questions. It gives you the chance to explore how different people view the world, and why they think as they do.

You’ll study at least two major world religions (often Christianity and Islam, though this can vary by school) and examine how beliefs influence behaviour, attitudes, and decision-making. You’ll also explore a range of moral and social issues, like whether war can ever be justified, how we should treat criminals, and what different religions say about life after death.

The aim of the course isn’t to tell you what to think, it’s to help you think clearly. RS enables you to reflect on your own views, understand others, and develop the skills to explain and defend your opinions in a respectful, well-structured way.

By the end of the course, you’ll have a better understanding of religion, ethics, and philosophy and how they shape the world around us.

What Do You Study in GCSE Religious Studies?

Course content differs according to the exam board your school is following. Commonly, GCSE RS courses are divided into two main parts:

1. The Study of Religions

You’ll explore the beliefs, teachings, and practices of two world religions - most commonly Christianity and Islam, though some schools offer Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, or Sikhism instead. 

You’ll learn about:

• Each religion’s core beliefs: what they believe about the nature of God, the nature of revelation, and life after death, etc.

• Each religion’s key practices: how they pray and worship, festivals and pilgrimages, etc.

• How religious beliefs influence behaviour and attitudes in modern society

2. Thematic Studies

You’ll take a look at some of the most pressing moral and philosophical issues humans face in today’s world, and consider how different religions, as well as non-religious people, respond to them. 

Common topics include:

• Relationships and families: the purpose and importance of marriage, gender roles, sexuality

• Crime and punishment: the nature of justice, forgiveness, and the death penalty

• Peace and conflict: war, pacifism, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction

• Religion and life: abortion, euthanasia, animal rights, the environment

Each topic asks you to think deeply about questions that matter in today’s world and present opinions and solutions, supporting your views with religious teachings and clear reasoning.

If you want a more detailed breakdown of the themes and religions you might study, see our GCSE Religious Studies Topics article.

How Is the Course Structured and Assessed?

GCSE Religious Studies is exam-based – there’s no coursework or practical element. Everything is assessed through written exams at the end of Year 11.

Exam Board Structure

Your exact course depends on the exam board your school uses – usually AQA, Edexcel, OCR, or Eduqas. While details vary slightly, the structure is broadly similar across all of them:

• Two exam papers

• Each paper is typically 1 hour and 45 minutes

• Papers are usually split between your two chosen religions and your thematic topics

Types of Questions

Most exam boards include a mix of:

• 1-mark questions: quick factual recall

• 2-mark questions: short definitions or explanations

• 4-mark questions: describing beliefs or teachings

• 5-mark questions: explaining religious views with reasoning

• 12-mark questions: evaluating arguments and giving a justified opinion

For 12-mark questions, you’ll need to explain both sides of an argument, refer to religious teachings, and reach a clear conclusion. These are the ones that really test your analytical and writing skills, and they carry a lot of marks to reflect this.

What Are Lessons Like in Religious Studies?

GCSE RS lessons reflect the world around you, and you’ll often find yourself reflecting on current issues in the news. You’ll explore these real-world issues through the lens of religious and ethical thinking, which means there’s plenty of room for debate, reflection, and critical thought. 

This means that GCSE RS lessons are often lively and discussion-based. You won’t just sit and copy notes – lessons frequently involve active thinking, talking, and challenging ideas. 

As an RS teacher, I can tell you that it’s not uncommon to find students walking out of class still debating the rights or wrongs of the issue we’ve covered during the lesson! The more involved you become, the more you’ll enjoy lessons.

Articulating your thoughts through discussion with others will help you to express your views clearly and back them up with evidence – brilliant practice for answering the longer evaluation questions when it comes to your exams.

A Typical RS Lesson Might Include:

• Examining key beliefs or practices in different religions

• Analysing religious texts or teachings

• Applying religious teachings to modern issues like euthanasia, war, or justice

• Planning essay responses using sample questions

• Class or group discussions on ethical dilemmas

Homework and Revision

Expect to write practice exam answers, learn key quotes from scripture, and revise themes or teachings using flashcards, knowledge organisers, or past paper questions. 

What Skills Do You Need (and Gain) in GCSE RS?

While GCSE Religious Studies requires you to remember facts, it goes much further than that; it’s about thinking deeply and explaining ideas clearly. That means you’ll develop a wide range of valuable skills, whether or not you continue the subject after Year 11.

Key Skills You’ll Develop:

Critical Thinking

You’ll learn how to question arguments, spot strengths and weaknesses, and weigh up different viewpoints.

Constructing Arguments

You’ll practise writing balanced, well-structured answers, especially longer evaluation questions that ask for reasoned judgement.

Understanding Different Perspectives

RS teaches you to engage with worldviews that are different from your own. You’ll learn to explain and respect a wide range of beliefs.

Textual Analysis

You’ll read and apply key teachings from religious scriptures and learn how to interpret and apply them to ethical or philosophical issues.

Ethical Reasoning

You’ll explore complex moral issues and learn how to think through consequences, principles, and values.

These skills are all excellent preparation for A Levels, and will serve you well beyond that. They’re valuable for a wide range of degrees and future careers in fields like law, politics, medicine, education, and more.

Why Do Students Choose Religious Studies?

Sarah Lane Cawte, Chair of the Religious Education Council of England and Wales (opens in a new tab) (REC), said: “RS is one of the most popular subjects at GCSE”, and there are many reasons why students continue to opt for the subject in large numbers.

Although RS is a compulsory GCSE in many religious-based schools, being religious is not a key factor for the many students who choose RS as an option. The subject appeals to a wide range of learners, especially those who enjoy thinking, writing, and debating.

Top reasons students pick RS:

It’s thought-provoking

If you like discussing real-world issues like war, justice, or human rights, RS gives you a space to explore them in depth.

It links well with other subjects

RS pairs especially well with subjects like History, English, Philosophy, Sociology, and Politics. The skills you develop, especially essay writing and critical thinking, are transferable across the humanities.

It supports a range of careers

RS is excellent preparation for careers in law, medicine, journalism, education, politics, social work, and anything that involves people, ethics, or communication.

There’s no coursework or practical exam

RS is 100% exam-based. That makes it a good option for students who prefer structured revision and essay writing over coursework or data-heavy practicals.

It helps you understand the world

Learning about religions, worldviews, and ethical frameworks helps you become more globally aware, respectful, and open-minded, qualities that are useful in any walk of life.

Is GCSE Religious Studies Right for You?

Is Religious Studies a good fit for you? Here are some questions to help you decide.

Ask yourself:

• Do I enjoy discussing moral or ethical questions?

• Am I interested in how religion shapes people’s beliefs and actions?

• Do I like essay-based subjects that involve thinking and writing?

• Am I open to hearing different points of view, even if I disagree with them?

• Would I rather explore ideas than memorise facts or do experiments?

If you answered ‘yes’ to most of those, there’s a good chance RS will suit you.

How does it compare to other subjects?

• Compared to History: RS contains plenty of History, and students often enjoy both subjects. While RS covers ideas and beliefs and how they affect behaviour and ethics, History is more concerned with the chronology of events. This is reflected in essay questions: RS questions are more focused on argument and evaluation than on chronology or historical evidence.

• Compared to Sociology: Again, there is some crossover, because both subjects examine patterns of behaviour. However, RS is less about data and more about belief systems, moral theories, and philosophical arguments.

What if I’m not religious?

That’s completely fine – you don’t need to follow a religion to take GCSE RS. 

The course is about understanding beliefs, not agreeing with them. Many successful students are agnostic or non-religious. What matters is that you’re interested in ideas, not what you personally believe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be religious to take GCSE RS?

No. You don’t have to follow any religion to study GCSE Religious Studies. 

The course is about understanding religious and non-religious perspectives, not promoting personal faith. What matters is your willingness to explore different views respectfully and critically.

Is there any coursework in GCSE RS?

No. The subject is assessed entirely through written exams at the end of the course. 

There’s no coursework or practical assessment, which makes it a good option for students who enjoy essay writing and structured revision.

What GCSE grade do I need to take RS at A Level?

Most schools ask for a grade 6 or above in RS or English Language to take A Level Religious Studies. 

This is because the A Level course involves essay writing, reading difficult texts, and analysing complex ideas, so strong literacy skills are important.

Final Thoughts

GCSE Religious Studies is a subject that gives you the tools to think deeply, argue clearly, and understand the world around you. Whether you’re religious or not, RS invites you to explore big questions about life, morality, and belief, and to consider different perspectives with an open mind.

You’ll develop valuable skills in writing, critical thinking, and ethical reasoning, all of which are useful for a wide range of careers and post-16 subjects. If you enjoy discussing current issues, thinking about what’s right and wrong, or making sense of different worldviews, RS could be a great choice.

Still unsure? Speak to your RS teacher, look at past exam questions, or try a taster lesson. You can get a great sense of what the course is about by looking at the wide range of GCSE RS resources including revision notes, past papers and worked examples on Save My Exams. You don’t have to have all the answers, just a spirit of curiosity and the tendency to ask, ‘but why?’!

Sources

Religious Studies remains a popular GCSE despite specialist teacher recruitment challenge (opens in a new tab)

Religious Education Council (opens in a new tab)

New Ofsted report finds schools need to add depth to their RE curriculum - (opens in a new tab)GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)