Specification

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Specification
(PDF), Last Updated: 05 March 2012
For first teaching from September 2008. For first award of AS Level in Summer 2009. For first award of A Level in Summer 2010.

Related Circulars

Schemes of work (S/IF/102/11)
(PDF), Last Updated: 19 October 2011

Examination questions at A2 level (S/IF/26/11)
(PDF), Last Updated: 10 March 2011

GCE Religious Studies is made up of two levels: AS and A2. The AS can be taken as a ‘stand alone’ qualification without progression to A2. However, to obtain the Advanced GCE qualification, students must complete both the AS and A2 levels.

The specification has a modular structure and students are required to study two units of study at each level. Students must study the same units at AS and A2. For example, if students study AS 1 at AS level they must study A2 1 at A2 level and if students study AS 2 at AS level they must also study A2 2 at A2 level and so on.

The table below highlights the units available at each level:

AS Units	A2 Units
AS 1: An Introduction to the Gospel of Luke	A2 1: The Theology of the Gospel of Luke
AS 2: An Introduction to the Acts of the Apostles	A2 2: A Study of Acts, Galatians and 1 Corinthians
AS 3: An Introduction to Old Testament Covenant and Prophecy	A2 3: The Covenant Community: Prophecy and Renewal
AS 4: The Christian Church in the Roman Empire: Beginnings, Expansion and External Pressure	A2 4: The Continued Development of the Christian Church in the Roman Empire to AD 325
AS 5: The Origins of the Celtic Church in Ireland and the Beginnings of its Missionary Outreach	A2 5: A Study of the Development and Impact of the Celtic Church in the 5 th, 6 th and 7 th Centuries
AS 6: Religious Ethics: Foundations, Principles and Practice	A2 6: Ethics and Society
AS 7: An Introduction to Philosophy of Religion	A2 7: Religious Belief and Competing Claims
AS 8: An Introduction to the Study of Islam	A2 8: Islam: Law, Tradition and Practice

For more information, see the revised specification.