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GCSE Religious Studies Exam
GCSE Religious Studies Exam
GCSE Religious Studies exam booking for private candidates and adult learners, with AQA, Edexcel and Edexcel IGCSE options.
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Fast-Track GCSE Religious Studies Qualification. Secure your exam place and complete your qualification without returning to school or college.
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Fully-Regulated GCSE Religious Studies Exam. Sit a recognised GCSE Religious Studies qualification.
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Online GCSE Religious Studies Course. Purchase the Pass GCSE Religious Studies course to give you the best preparation for your exam.
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Lowest Cost, No Hidden Fees. Book with clear upfront pricing and the key exam arrangements included.
Now available online.
Spread the cost over up to 6 months
Spread the cost over up to 6 months
Got a question?
We'd love to talk about how we can help you.
How does the GCSE Religious Studies exam process work?
Ready to book your GCSE Religious Studies exam, or looking at a GCSE resit? Pass makes the process clear from the start, helping you understand your exam board options, choose the right sitting and secure a place at a suitable centre.
GCSE Religious Studies exams are taken in person, with summer sittings available for AQA A, Edexcel A, Edexcel B and Edexcel IGCSE. The exam is open to external candidates aged 16 and over, and Pass will help arrange the key exam details for you.
Speak to one of our GCSE exam advisors today and we will help you move from choosing your exam option to feeling confident about the day itself. Pass offers an online GCSE Religious Studies course to study to go alongside your GCSE exam booking.
Reserve your place
Choose your GCSE Religious Studies exam options and Pass will follow up with the next steps for arranging your place.
Prepare to Pass
Pair your exam with the Pass Course to build your knowledge across your chosen GCSE Religious Studies specification.
Take your exam
We will confirm your exam time, location and key details before you attend your allocated Pass exam centre.
Receive your results
Your grade will be released through the exam centre on the relevant national results day.
Take the next step in your career
Use your GCSE Religious Studies qualification to progress into further study, training or work.
Fast-Track GCSE Religious Studies Qualification
Book your GCSE Religious Studies exam through a quicker route than returning to school or college, with Pass helping you secure an exam place that fits your plans.
Fully-Regulated GCSE Religious Studies Exam
Choose from Religious Studies exam options with AQA A, Edexcel A, Edexcel B and Edexcel IGCSE, giving you a recognised qualification accepted across the UK by employers, colleges and education providers.
Online GCSE Religious Studies Course
Add the GCSE Religious Studies course to your exam booking for full topic coverage, guided revision and mock exams to help you prepare with confidence.
Low Cost Guaranteed, No Hidden Fees
Pass offers clear GCSE Religious Studies exam pricing with the key exam arrangements included, so you know what you are paying before you book.
1Reserve your place
Choose your preferred exam date, exam board and exam option online, then proceed through the checkout to complete your booking.
GCSE Religious Studies Details
GCSE Religious Studies exams available through AQA A, Edexcel A, Edexcel B and Edexcel IGCSE
Open to private candidates, external candidates and adult learners aged 16 and over
Recognised throughout the UK as a fully accredited GCSE qualification
Pass will help arrange your place at a suitable Pass-approved exam centre
Flexible Exam booking
Flexible Exam Series, giving you the freedom to decide on your exam series when you feel ready
*Your booking will remain valid up to and including the equivalent exam series two years later. For example, any booking made before the end of the Summer 2026 exam series can be used to sit an exam in any available series up to and including Summer 2028.
Late fees may apply depending on when you confirm your chosen exam series. Please see our T&Cs for full details.
2The Number 1 GCSE Religious Studies Course
Initial Assessment
Start with a short Initial Assessment that maps out your current understanding of religious beliefs, teachings and practices, before you begin the course.
Personal Learning Plan
Our Topic Area Knowledge Assessments build you a Personal Learning Plan, highlighting which areas of the specification need the most attention.
Continue Learning
Progress through structured content covering your chosen units, with explanations and examples that build your understanding topic by topic.
Instantly Marked Mock Exams
Sit full mock papers marked instantly to examiner standard, with clear feedback showing exactly where to focus before your GCSE Religious Studies exam.
3Take your exam
Before your exam day, we will send you full confirmation of the time, location and relevant details for your exam centre, so there are no surprises on the day. We recommend checking the exam rules in advance so everything runs smoothly. On the day itself, make your way to your local Pass centre and sit your exam in person.
Exam Information
Exam taken in person at an exam centre local to you
GCSE Religious Studies exam dates can be found below
4Receive your results
GCSE grades are confirmed on a nationally set results day each year: for summer exams this is ordinarily the third Thursday in August, when results are published across all subjects and exam boards at the same time.
As a private candidate sitting GCSE Religious Studies, your results will be released through your exam centre. Check with them before results day to find out how they distribute grades, as this varies - some centres require you to collect in person, while others will send them by email or post.
5Take the next step. It all starts with a Pass.
Use your GCSE Religious Studies qualification to progress into college, university, an apprenticeship, or take the next step in your career. If you are considering other subjects as well, you can compare Pass’s online GCSE courses before deciding what to study next.
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How can the UK's best course help you pass?
Our GCSE Religious Studies course is designed to strengthen your understanding of beliefs, practices, philosophy and ethics. Here's what's included:
Find Your Starting Level
Personal Learning Plan
Revision, Questions and Tests
Realistic Mock Exams
Track Your Progress
24/7 Access, 100% Online
Find Your Starting Level
Initial Assessment
Before working through the specification, you'll complete a short Initial Assessment covering key religious beliefs, teachings and terminology.
The questions draw on themes from across your chosen units, helping identify which areas you already understand well and which ones need more focus.
Your course then adapts around these results, prioritising the areas that will make the biggest difference to your final GCSE Religious Studies grade.
Personal Learning Plan
Topic Area Knowledge Assessments
A series of Topic Area Knowledge Assessments follows, covering beliefs and teachings, practices, and the philosophical and ethical themes relevant to your chosen units.
Your performance in these assessments builds a Personal Learning Plan tailored to you, directing your study time towards the topics that need the most attention rather than spreading it evenly.
This plan updates as you progress through the course, keeping your GCSE Religious Studies preparation focused right up to exam day.
Revision, Questions and Tests
All the Revision You Need
Every topic in your chosen units is covered in full, with clear explanations and worked examples showing how to apply religious, philosophical and ethical arguments to exam-style questions.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Short quizzes after each topic let you check your understanding as you go, flagging anything worth revisiting before moving on.
Put Your Knowledge to the Test
An end-of-topic test rounds off each section in the style of the real exam, with full written solutions so you can see exactly where marks were gained or lost.
Realistic Mock Exams
Full Mock Papers
Full-length mock papers reflect the structure of the real GCSE Religious Studies exam, giving you practice across your chosen units and paper formats.
Exam Mode
Exam Mode applies a timer to any mock paper, helping you build up your pace ahead of the real exam.
Track Your Progress
with ExamReady
ExamReady monitors your progress across the course, using your assessment scores and mock results to indicate how prepared you are for your GCSE Religious Studies exam. Once it shows you have reached a strong standard, that's your signal to book - and since the course is studied entirely from home, the timing is entirely up to you.
24/7 Access, 100% Online
100% Online
There's no need to attend anywhere in person - the course runs entirely online, so all you need is an internet connection.
Anytime Access
Log in whenever it suits you and build your GCSE Religious Studies revision around the rest of your commitments.
100 Recommended Hours
Around 100 hours is a helpful guide for the course as a whole, though it's just a guide - work at your own pace and spend longer wherever it's needed.
GCSE Religious Studies A Exam Information - AQA (8062)
Component 1 - The Study of Religions
Topics
Students study the beliefs, teachings, practices, sources of wisdom and authority of two religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism and others.
Format
Written exam with two five-part questions for each religion. The paper includes 96 marks plus 6 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Component 2 - Thematic Studies
Topics
Students choose from philosophical, ethical and religious themes, such as relationships, human rights, crime and punishment, or religious texts such as St Mark's Gospel.
Format
Written exam with one five-part question for each theme. The paper includes 96 marks plus 3 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar.
GCSE Religious Studies A Exam Information - Edexcel (1RA0)
Paper 1 - Study of Religion
Topics
Beliefs and teachings, practices, sources of wisdom and authority, forms of expression and ways of life.
Format
A range of short-answer and extended-response questions based on the chosen religion, including analysis of religious texts and their significance.
Paper 2 - Study of Religion
Topics
Beliefs and teachings, plus practices of a second different religion, such as Islam, Hinduism or Judaism.
Format
A range of short-answer and extended-response questions based on the chosen second religion from the available options.
Paper 3 - Philosophy and Ethics
Topics
Arguments for the existence of God, and religious teachings on relationships and families in the 21st century.
Format
A range of short-answer and extended-response questions based on philosophical and ethical themes for the chosen religion.
Paper 4 - Textual Studies
Topics
The significance and teachings of Mark's Gospel or The Qur’an, including understanding key texts and their impact.
Format
Short-answer and extended-response questions based on the chosen textual study.
GCSE Religious Studies B Exam Information - Edexcel (1RB0)
Paper 1 - Religion and Ethics
Topics
Beliefs, Marriage and the Family, Living the Religious Life, and Matters of Life and Death.
Format
A range of short and longer questions including structured and extended responses. Questions may include sources of wisdom and authority from religious texts.
Paper 2 - Religion, Peace and Conflict
Topics
Beliefs, Crime and Punishment, Living the Religious Life, and Peace and Conflict.
Format
A range of short and longer questions examining issues such as crime, justice, war and peace from the perspective of a chosen religion.
Paper 3 - Religion, Philosophy and Social Justice
Topics
Beliefs, Philosophy of Religion, Living the Religious Life, and Equality.
Format
A range of structured and extended questions exploring philosophical ideas and issues of equality and justice within a religious tradition.
Please note: for the above only, students must choose 2 different areas of study for which they will sit one exam each, and must choose a different religion for each area of study.
GCSE Religious Studies Exam Information - Edexcel IGCSE (4RS1)
Paper 1: Beliefs and Values
Topics
The universe, creation and the place of human beings; life and death; peace and conflict; rights, equality and social justice.
Format
A written paper with short open-response and extended open-response questions. Students answer questions based on the key topic areas from their chosen religion.
Paper 2: The Religious Community
Topics
Origins and their impact on the community; celebration and pilgrimage; worship and practice.
Format
A written paper with short open-response and extended open-response questions. Students answer questions based on the religious community for their chosen religion.
Please note: for Edexcel IGCSE Religious Studies, students sit both Paper 1 and Paper 2.
GCSE Religious Studies Exam Dates - AQA A (May 2027)
| DATE | TIME | DURATION | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Thursday 13 May | Morning | 1h 45m |
| Paper 2 | Friday 21 May | Morning | 1h 45m |
Paper 1
Paper 2
GCSE Religious Studies Exam Dates - Edexcel A and Edexcel B (May 2027)
| DATE | TIME | DURATION | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Thursday 13 May | Morning | 1h 45m |
| Paper 2 | Friday 21 May | Morning | Edexcel A 50m, Edexcel B 1h 45m |
| Paper 3 | Monday 7 June | Morning | Edexcel A 50m, Edexcel B 1h 45m |
| Paper 4 - Edexcel A Only | Monday 7 June | Morning | 50m |
Paper 1
Paper 2
Paper 3
Paper 4 - Edexcel A Only
GCSE Religious Studies Exam Dates - Edexcel IGCSE (Summer 2027)
| DATE | TIME | DURATION | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Beliefs and Values | Thursday 13 May | Morning | 1h 45m |
| Paper 2A to 2F: The Religious Community | Friday 21 May | Morning | 1h 30m |
Paper 1: Beliefs and Values
Paper 2A to 2F: The Religious Community
FAQs
What exam boards do you offer for GCSE Religious Studies?
Pass offers GCSE Religious Studies exam options for AQA, Edexcel and Edexcel IGCSE. The right option depends on the specification you want to sit and the papers you are prepared for. For a broader official overview, GOV.UK publishes the GCSE Religious Studies subject content used across GCSE specifications in England.
How many papers will I need to sit?
AQA has two papers of 1 hour 45 minutes each. Edexcel A has four papers, with Paper 1 lasting 1 hour 45 minutes and Papers 2, 3 and 4 lasting 50 minutes. Edexcel B has three papers of 1 hour 45 minutes each. Edexcel IGCSE has two papers, with Paper 1 lasting 1 hour 45 minutes and Paper 2 lasting 1 hour 30 minutes.
Where will I sit my GCSE Religious Studies exam?
Pass will help arrange a suitable exam centre for your GCSE Religious Studies exam. You will sit the exam in person and receive the confirmed time, location and details before the day. If you also choose to take a GCSE online course with pass this can be done remotely
Can adults take this GCSE Religious Studies exam?
Yes. Adults and private candidates can take this GCSE Religious Studies exam, provided they meet the minimum age requirement of 16 or over.
Is this the same qualification taken in schools?
Yes, even if you book your GCSEs online, AQA, Edexcel, and Edexcel IGCSE all award recognised qualifications accepted by schools, colleges and employers to private exam bookers.
Can I book a GCSE Religious Studies resit?
Yes. You can book a GCSE Religious Studies resit through Pass, choose from the available exam board options and receive support with the exam booking process. You can also read more about GCSE exam booking if you want a wider overview of how Pass supports private candidate exam entries.
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