Religious Studies

2021-2023 Specification: Head of Department: OCR Religious Studies H573 Mr Grant Woolner

Who should study this course?

Do you enjoy discussing political, cultural, social and legal issues that affect society? Do you relish debate and enquiry into the ‘big’ important questions in life? Would you like to be able to think better and win all your arguments? If so, this is probably the right subject for you.

Your study of GCSE philosophy and ethics or religious studies, will give you an idea of the types of topic we study, although it is not a requirement that you have a previous qualification. If religious studies has been studied previously, we expect a minimum grade 6, alongside a strong performance in English language or literature.

What will I be studying?

During the Religious Studies A Level you will consider demanding, thought provoking questions from the fields of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics, for example: ‘Is it possible to talk to God?’ and ‘Is an act good so long as it makes people happy?’ Discussion, debate and enquiry into topics, most of which have been taught for millennia but still have vital importance and relevance in today’s society, is to be expected during lessons. Whilst Religious Studies is a traditionally academic, essay-based subject, there are many opportunities to learn in an interactive, varied way such as film nights (with discussion), A Level conferences, external speakers and trips.

The subject will require you to think, reason and appreciate the breadth of opinion within each debate, whilst considering and developing your own. You will need to be intellectually agile and prepared for your assumptions to be challenged. There is no room for fence-sitting and your opinion should be well-informed by the end of the course. Both analysis (your ability to understand and explain) and evaluation (your ability to judge the effectiveness and credibility) of various arguments will be a central feature of the course; you should enjoy the challenge of interpreting and assessing beliefs and viewpoints that may not be your own. Overall, the subject can make your brain ache and your voice hoarse from critical discussion – but it’s fun, interesting, and develops excellent academic skills.

How will I be assessed?

At the end of Year 13, you will sit three two-hour examinations. Within each paper, you must answer three questions from a choice of four. Each question is worth 40 marks. There is no coursework for this A Level.

What next?

Philosophers and ethicists are in high demand because of their exceptional mental acuity, reasoning skills and ability to sustain a prolonged argument supported by logical inference and evidence. Areas where philosophy graduates are particularly successful include legal professions, medicine, psychology and psychiatry, counselling, politics, business management, journalism, economics, artificial intelligence and international relations.