Religious, philosophical and ethical studies — AQA GCSE Religious Studies
Test yourself on Religious, philosophical and ethical studies with AQA GCSE practice questions.
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Religious, philosophical and ethical studies explained
To succeed in this specification, students must actively apply religious teachings and beliefs to contemporary ethical and philosophical issues, rather than merely describing them.
Read the full explanation
This requires making specific, accurate references to recognised sources of wisdom and authority. Depending on the religions studied, students should integrate relevant sacred texts into their arguments. For example, a Christian response to pacifism might apply teachings from the Bible or the Catechism of the Catholic Church, while a Muslim perspective would draw upon the Qur'an and Hadith. Buddhist arguments might reference the Pali Canon or the sermons of the Buddha, Hindu answers the Vedas and Upanishads, Jewish responses the Torah and Talmud, and Sikh viewpoints the Guru Granth Sahib.
Your focus
- Apply specific religious teachings to contemporary philosophical and ethical issues.
- Identify and reference appropriate sources of wisdom and authority for chosen religions.
- Construct arguments supported by evidence from sacred texts such as the Torah, Talmud, or Upanishads.
Religious, philosophical and ethical studies exam tips
Marking Points
- Accurate application of religious teachings to specific philosophical or ethical scenarios.
- Integration of direct quotations or accurate paraphrases from sacred texts to support arguments.
- Clear identification of the source of wisdom or authority being used.
- Explanation of how a specific text influences the beliefs and actions of believers today.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Memorise three to four versatile quotations or paraphrased teachings for each major ethical theme.
- 💡Always name the specific source of authority, such as the Catechism of the Catholic Church or the Pali Canon, rather than just saying 'holy books say'.
- 💡Use phrases like 'This teaching from the Vedas demonstrates that...' to explicitly link your source to your argument.
Common Mistakes
- Providing a generic religious view without referencing a specific source of authority; correct this by explicitly naming texts like the Bible or the Guru Granth Sahib.
- Misattributing a teaching to the wrong text; correct this by ensuring, for example, that Hadith references are clearly distinguished from Qur'anic verses.
- Quoting a sacred text without explaining its relevance; correct this by always linking the quotation directly back to the ethical or philosophical issue being discussed.