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Qualification details

EDEXCEL Level 1/Level 2 GCSE in Religious Studies (Short Course)

Qualification summary

The specification reflects the fact that the religious traditions of Great Britain are in the main Christian, while taking into account other principal religions represented in Great Britain, thus meeting the requirements of the Education Act (1996), section 375(3) and, where appropriate, section 28(1) of the Education Act (1944).
The emphasis of this specification on religious and moral issues is designed to be consistent with the non-statutory National Framework for Religious Education for Key Stage 4 and to build on the Key Stage 3 requirements of the Framework. It is also designed to be consistent with the requirements of many locally agreed syllabuses for Religious Education, and to stimulate the interest of students for whom Religious Studies is compulsory.
The specification is distinctive in that students may study a full issues-based course by combining Units 1 and 8. It also allows students to study either only Christianity (Unit 2 and either 9 or 16), Catholic Christianity (Unit 3 and either 10 or 16), Islam (Units 4 and 11), Judaism (Units 5 and 12), Hinduism (Units 6 and 13), or Sikhism (Units 7 and 14). However, any combination of two units from separate modules is permitted for a full course, or any single unit for a short course, to give centres the opportunity to build on studies at Key Stage 3 or to meet the provisions of their locally agreed syllabus. The two Catholic Christianity units (3 and 10) fulfil the content requirements of the Curriculum Directory of the Bishops of England and Wales (1996), but students will be expected to be aware of the broader Christian tradition.
This specification provides a coherent short or full course balanced in terms of breadth and depth, and offers all students, of any religious persuasion or none, the opportunity to demonstrate their attainment irrespective of their gender or ethnic, religious or social background.

Qualification details

500/4526/X
EDEXCEL - Edexcel Limited
1,2
GCSE - General Certificate of Secondary Education
GCSE - Short Course
Accreditation start date:
01/09/2008
Operational start date in centres:
01/09/2009
Accreditation end date:
31/08/2015
Certification end date:
31/08/2016
For information on the approval of qualifications for funding in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, see the links to DCSF, DIUS, DCELLS, DELNI and DENI below.

When undertaking a qualification that does not appear on the governments' lists as eligible for funding for specific age ranges, users must be aware of legal requirements. Not all qualifications are suitable for all age ranges.
For further information on 14-19 qualifications offered in England, please refer to the DCSF Section 96 website.

For further information on 19+ qualifications offered in England, please refer to the DIUS Section 97 website.
For further information on Wales, visit the DCELLS website.
For further information on Northern Ireland, visit the DELNI and DENI websites.
English
This specification provides a foundation for progression to the full course GCSE in Religious Studies and to further study at Levels 2 and 3 in the National Qualifications Framework, including AS and Advanced GCE in Religious Studies and in other humanities subjects such as General Studies, History, Geography and English.
The course provides students with the opportunity to develop skills in evaluation and in considering issues from a range of perspectives. These skills are highly valued by a range of professions, such as public services and the caring professions.
No specific job occupation
  • 10 History, Philosophy and Theology
    • 10.4  Theology and Religious Studies
60-70
A*/A/B/C/D/E/F/G
Written Examination
N/A
View Performance Measures Here
The short course consists of one unit which can be taken from any module.

Module A: Religion and Life
Unit 1: Religion and life based on a study of Christianity and at least one other religion
Unit 2: Religion and life based on a study of Christianity
Unit 3: Religion and life based on a study of Catholic Christianity
Unit 4: Religion and life based on a study of Islam
Unit 5: Religion and life based on a study of Judaism
Unit 6: Religion and life based on a study of Hinduism
Unit 7: Religion and life based on a study of Sikhism

Module B: Religion and Society
Unit 8: Religion and society based on a study of Christianity and at least one other religion

Module C: Faith in Practice
Unit 9: Christianity
Unit 10: Catholic Christianity
Unit 11: Islam
Unit 12: Judaism
Unit 13: Hinduism
Unit 14: Sikhism
Unit 15: Buddhism

Module D: Mark’s Gospel
Unit 16: Mark’s Gospel
  • A  -  Module A: Religion and Life
    Contains Units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
    • F/501/4919 - Religion and life based on a study of Christianity and at least one other religion
    • T/501/4920 - Religion and life based on a study of Christianity
    • A/501/4921 - Religion and life based on a study of Catholic Christianity
    • F/501/4922 - Religion and life based on a study of Islam
    • J/501/4923 - Religion and life based on a study of Judaism
    • L/501/4924 - Religion and life based on a study of Hinduism
    • R/501/4925 - Religion and life based on a study of Sikhism
  • B  -  Module B: Religion and Society
    Contains Unit 8
    • Y/501/4926 - Religion and society based on a study of Christianity and at least one other religion
  • C  -  Module C: Faith in Practice
    Contains Units 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
  • D  -  Module D: Mark's Gospel
    Contains Unit 16