Switching to AQA from Edexcel A

To help you compare our GCSE with the offering from Edexcel, we’ve created some comparison tables.

These tables highlight the main differences between each exam board.

Mandated similarities

Alongside these differences, there are a number of things which need to be exactly the same. According to the Department for Education and Ofqual, all GCSE Religious Studies specifications must include assessment comprised of 50% AO1 and 50% AO2. They should also meet the requirement for students to:

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of two religions
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key sources of wisdom and authority including scripture and/or sacred texts, where appropriate, which support contemporary religious faith
• understand the influence of religion on individuals, communities and societies
• understand significant common and divergent views between and/or within religions and beliefs
• apply knowledge and understanding in order to analyse questions related to religious beliefs and values
• construct well-informed and balanced arguments on matters concerned with religious beliefs and values set out in the subject content
• demonstrate knowledge that the religious traditions of Great Britain are, in the main, Christian and that religious traditions in Great Britain are diverse and include the following religions: Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism, as well as other religions and non-religious beliefs, such as atheism and humanism. Throughout all of the programmes of study, specifications should include the study of common and divergent views within traditions in the way beliefs and teachings are understood and expressed.

See how your current exam board compares to us, below.

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Assessment structure

The Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A consists of three areas of three papers.

All students must complete Papers 1 and 2. Students must then complete one assessment from either Paper 3 or Paper 4.

Paper 1

AQA – GCSE Religious Studies	Edexcel – GCSE Religious Studies
Catholic Christianity	Study of religion
Written exam	Written exam
1 hour 45 minutes	1 hour 45 minutes
96 marks plus 3 marks for SPaG (50% of GCSE)	102 marks (50% of GCSE)

Paper 2

AQA – GCSE Religious Studies	Edexcel – GCSE Religious Studies
Perspectives on faith	Study of second religion
Written exam	Written exam
1 hour 45 minutes	50 minutes
96 marks, plus 6 marks for SPaG (50% of GCSE)	51 marks (25% of GCSE)

Paper 3

AQA – GCSE Religious Studies	Edexcel – GCSE Religious Studies
	Philosophy and ethics
	Written exam
	50 minutes
	51 marks (25% of GCSE)

Paper 4

AQA – GCSE Religious Studies	Edexcel – GCSE Religious Studies
	Textual studies
	Written exam
	50 minutes
	51 marks (25% of GCSE)

Subject content

Paper 1

AQA – GCSE Religious Studies	Edexcel – GCSE Religious Studies
Catholic Christianity Creation Incarnation The Triune God, mission and prayer Redemption – ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven Church and the Kingdom of God Eschatology: Christian life, death and eternity	Catholic Christianity Beliefs and teachings Practices Sources of wisdom and authority Forms of expression and   ways of life

Paper 2

AQA – GCSE Religious Studies	Edexcel – GCSE Religious Studies
Perspectives on faith Section A: Islam or Judaism Section B: Themes	Study of second religion Beliefs and teachings Practices

Paper 3

AQA – GCSE Religious Studies	Edexcel – GCSE Religious Studies
	Philosophy and ethics Arguments for the existence   of God Religious teachings on   relationships and families in the 21st century Students must select one religion from a choice of three Catholic Christianity Christianity Islam

Paper 4

AQA – GCSE Religious Studies	Edexcel – GCSE Religious Studies
	Textual studies Students will be expected to study Christianity and St Mark’s Gospel within the context of the wider British society.