Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When will the exams be held?
A. All AS exams will be available in both the January and Summer series. All A2 exams will be available only in the Summer series only.
Q. When will the first examinations be available?
A. This Religious Studies specification will be available for first teaching from September 2008. The first AS examination will take place in 2009 and the first A Level examination will be in 2010.
Q. What range of grades will be available for AS and A2?
A. AS Level qualifications will be awarded on a five-grade scale A – E. A Level qualifications will be awarded on a six-grade scale A* – E.
To be awarded an A*, students will need to achieve a Grade A on their full A Level qualification and an A* on the aggregate score of their A2 units. Students who fail to reach the minimum standard for a Grade E are recorded as U (unclassified) and will not receive a certificate.
Q. How will this qualification help students gain Key Skills?
A. This specification will provide assessment evidence for nationally-specified
Key Skills Level 3 in:
- Communication;
- Information Technology;
- Improving Own Learning Performance;
- Working with Others; and
- Problem Solving.
Q. Do any of the exams involve synoptic assessment?
A. Yes, students will be assessed synoptically in Section B of the A2 exams. A different synoptic theme for each A2 unit of study will be pre-released at the start of the course. A list of the possible themes can be found under point 4.5 of the revised specification.
