GCSE and A-level Religious Studies: qualification updates for 2026     

We are committed to making sure that the content in our qualifications is inclusive and diverse, and that it better reflects the values and lived experiences of our learners and communities. We are pleased to announce that we have replaced outdated terminology in the subject content of our GCSE and A-level Religious Studies specifications – to apply to the summer 2026 exams and future series.

Our 2024 and 2025 GCSE assessment materials already reference ‘same-sex relationships’, ‘those in poverty’ and ‘mental health problems’ rather than ‘homosexuality’, ‘the poor’ and ‘mental illness’. We are making sure that these small but important language updates are included in the subject content in our GCSE and A-level Religious Studies specifications and resources.

GCSE Religious Studies A (8061) (short course) 

What has changed

• homosexuality replaced with ‘same sex relationships ’. 

Updated specification and resources

• GCSE Religious Studies A (Short Course) (8061) updated specification (Version 1.4)
• Subject specific vocabulary - Section B: thematic studies
• Scheme of work: Paper 1 - Section B Theme A Relationships and families

GCSE Religious Studies A (8062) (full course)  

 What has changed

• homosexuality replaced with ‘same sex relationships’
• the poor replaced with ‘those living in poverty’
• mental illness replaced with ‘mental health problems ’. 

Updated specification and resources 

• GCSE Religious Studies A (Full Course) (8062) updated specification (Version 1.3)
• Subject specific vocabulary - Component 2: thematic studies
• Schemes of work - Paper 2 - Theme A, Theme E and Theme F
• Mark scheme – Paper 2A Non-textual studies – Sample set 1 from 2026
• Mark scheme – Paper 2B Textual studies sample set 1 from 2026

GCSE Religious Studies B (8063) 

 What has changed

• homosexuality replaced with ‘same sex relationships’
• the poor replaced with ‘those living in poverty’.

 Updated specification and resources

• GCSE Religious Studies B (8063) updated specification (Version 1.3)
• Subject specific vocabulary - Component 2: perspectives on faith: themes
• Scheme of work: Paper 2A Section B Theme A Religion, relationships and family
• Scheme of work: Paper 2A - Section B Theme C Religion, human rights and social justice
• Question paper: Paper 2A Section B Perspectives on faith (Non-textual studies) – Sample set 1 2018
• Mark scheme: Paper 2A Section B Perspectives on faith (Non-textual studies) – Sample set 1 2018

A-level Religious Studies (7062)  

 What has changed

• homosexuality replaced with ‘same sex relationships’
• transgender issues replaced with ‘transgender matters’
• the poor and the oppressed replaced with ‘oppressed people and those living in poverty’.

 Updated specification and resources

• A-level Religious Studies (7062) updated specification (Version 1.3, 16 January 2026)
• Question papers - Sample set 1 2018 for Paper 2A Buddhism, Paper 2B Christianity, Paper 2C Hinduism, Paper 2D Islam, Paper 2E Judaism
• Schemes of work for Paper 2A Buddhism, Paper 2B Christianity, Paper 2C Hinduism, Paper 2D Islam, Paper 2E Judaism
• Mark schemes - Sample set 1 for Paper 2A Buddhism, Paper 2B Christianity, Paper 2C Hinduism, Paper 2D Islam, Paper 2E Judaism.

In March 2025 we also made some light but meaningful updates to our assessments for 2026 for our GCSE Religious Studies Specification A and Short Course qualifications following teacher feedback and analysis of our item-level data. We are pleased to confirm that the relevant sections of the GCSE Religious Studies specifications have also been updated to reflect these changes.

If you have any questions about our Religious Studies qualifications you can get in touch with us by email at religiousstudies@aqa.org.uk or you can call us on 0161 957 3881.