Specifications that use this resource:
Switching to AQA from OCR
To save you time and help you compare our A-level Religious Studies with the OCR specification, we’ve created some comparison tables.
These tables highlight the content and requirements side by side, so you can make the right choice for your students.
Let us know if you’d like to hear from us, we’ll send you everything you need to get started.
For further information and resources, head to the subject pages of our new
A-level Religious Studies specification.
Mandated similarities
According to the Department for Education and Ofqual, all GCSE Religious Studies specifications must include assessment comprised of 60% AO1 and 40% AO2. They should also meet the requirement for students to:
- Study three of the four approaches: Systematic study of one religion, Philosophy of religion, Religion and ethics, Textual studies (this includes the content specified for each approach).
- Acquire and develop knowledge and a critical understanding of: religious thought, belief and practice and the different ways in which these are expressed in the lives of individuals, communities and societies; how religious texts and/or other relevant sources of wisdom and authority are interpreted and applied; major issues, challenges and questions within and about the study of religion (for example, the role of tolerance, respect and recognition and interreligious dialogue, methods of study, relevance to contemporary society) and responses to these; the causes, meanings and significance of similarities and differences in religious thought, belief and practice within and/or between religion(s).
- Demonstrate critical awareness of: questions, issues and arguments posed by scholars from within and outside religious traditions; social, religious and historical factors that have influenced developments in the study of religions and beliefs; connections between the various elements of the area(s) of study.
Assessment structure
Paper 1
AQA A-level Religious Studies | OCR A-level Religious Studies |
|---|---|
Philosophy of religion and ethics | Philosophy of religion |
Written exam | Written exam |
3 hours | 2 hours |
100 marks (50% of A-level) | 120 marks (33.3% of A-level) |
Paper 2
AQA A-level Religious Studies | OCR A-level Religious Studies |
|---|---|
Study of religion and dialogues | Religion and ethics |
Written exam | Written exam |
3 hours | 2 hours |
100 marks (50% of A-level) | 120 marks (33.3% of A-level) |
Paper 3
AQA A-level Religious Studies | OCR A-level Religious Studies |
|---|---|
| Developments in religious thought |
| Written exam |
| 2 hours |
| 120 marks (33.3% of A-level) |
Subject content
Paper 1
AQA A-level Religious Studies | OCR A-level Religious Studies |
|---|---|
Section A: Philosophy of religion
|
|
Section B: Ethics and religion
|
Paper 2
AQA A-level Religious Studies | OCR A-level Religious Studies |
|---|---|
Section A: Study of religion For each faith option (2A–2E) the following topics are covered:
|
|
Section B: The dialogue between philosophy of religion and religion How religion is influenced by, and has an influence on philosophy of religion in relation to the issues studied. | |
Section C: The dialogue between ethical studies and religion How religion is influenced by, and has an influence on ethical studies in relation to the issues studied. |
|
Paper 3
AQA A-level Religious Studies | OCR A-level Religious Studies |
|---|---|
|
In the context of one religion chosen from Christianity (03), Islam (04), Judaism (05), Buddhism (06) or Hinduism (07). |