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GCSE Religious Studies8062

GCSE Religious Studies (8062) - Updates for Summer 2026

We are introducing some light but meaningful changes to our (8062) assessments from Summer 2026. Read about the changes here.

2.0 Specification at a glance

This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams at the end of the course.

2.1 Subject content

Students must take assessments in the following two components in the same series:

2.2 Assessments

Component 1: The study of religions: beliefs, teachings and practices

What's assessed

Beliefs, teachings and practices of two from:

  • Buddhism
  • Christianity
  • Catholic Christianity
  • Hinduism
  • Islam
  • Judaism
  • Sikhism.

Christianity and Catholic Christianity is a prohibited combination.

How it's assessed

  • Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • 96 marks, plus 6 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG)
  • 50% of GCSE

Questions

Each religion has a common structure of two five-part questions of 1, 2, 4, 5 and 12 marks.

Each religion is marked out of 48.

Component 2: Thematic studies

What's assessed

Either four religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes or two religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes and two textual studies themes.

Religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes:

  • Theme A: Relationships and families.
  • Theme B: Religion and life.
  • Theme C: The existence of God and revelation.
  • Theme D: Religion, peace and conflict.
  • Theme E: Religion, crime and punishment.
  • Theme F: Religion, human rights and social justice.

Textual studies themes:

  • Theme G: St Mark's Gospel – the life of Jesus.
  • Theme H: St Mark's Gospel as a source of religious, moral and spiritual truths.

How it's assessed

  • Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
  • 96 marks, plus 3 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG)
  • 50% of GCSE

Questions

Each theme has a common structure of one five-part question of 1, 2, 4, 5 and 12 marks.

Each theme is marked out of 24.

There are two routes through this specification. Students should enter the qualification either including or excluding Textual studies.

In the Textual studies route, students must answer questions on either Christianity or Catholic Christianity, plus one religion from the other five specified religions in Component 1B and two from six religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes, plus both textual studies themes in Component 2B.

In the non-Textual studies route, students must answer questions on two specified religions in Component 1A (Christianity and Catholic Christianity are prohibited combinations) and four from six religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes in Component 2A.

Themes A–F are examined in Component 2A, Themes A–H are examined in Component 2B.