Switching to AQA from OCR

To help you compare our GCSE with the offering from OCR, 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.

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Assessment structure

Paper 1

AQA GCSE Religious Studies	OCR GCSE Religious Studies
The study of religions: beliefs, teachings and practices	Beliefs and teaching and practices The study of a first religion
Written exam	Written exam
1 hour 45 minutes	1 hour
96 marks, plus 6 marks for SPaG (50% of GCSE)	63 marks plus 3 marks for SPaG (25% of GCSE)

Paper 2

AQA GCSE Religious Studies	OCR GCSE Religious Studies
Thematic studies	Beliefs and teaching and practices The study of a second religion
Written exam	Written exam
1 hour 45 minutes	1 hour
96 marks, plus 3 marks for SPaG (50% of GCSE)	63 marks plus 3 marks for SPaG (25% of GCSE)

Paper 3

AQA GCSE Religious Studies	OCR GCSE Religious Studies
	Religion, philosophy and ethics in the modern world from a religious perspective
	Written exam
	2 hours
	126 marks plus 6 marks for SPaG (50% of GCSE)

Subject content

Paper 1

AQA GCSE Religious Studies	OCR GCSE Religious Studies
Students should study any two of the following: Buddhism Christianity Catholic Christianity Hinduism Islam Judaism Sikhism.	Students are required to study two religions from: Christianity Islam Judaism Buddhism Hinduism. One religion will be assessed in Paper 1, the other in Paper 2.

Paper 2

AQA GCSE Religious Studies	OCR GCSE Religious Studies
Students may study either four religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes or two religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes and two textual studies themes.	Students are required to study two religions from: Christianity Islam Judaism Buddhism Hinduism. One religion will be assessed in Paper 1, the other in Paper 2.

Paper 3

AQA GCSE Religious Studies	OCR GCSE Religious Studies
	Students are required to study this component from the perspective of one of the following religions: Christianity Islam Judaism Buddhism Hinduism. There are four themes to be studied: Relationships and families The existence of God, gods and the ultimate reality Religion, peace and conflict Dialogue between religious and non-religious beliefs and attitudes.