Component 1: Study of Religions — Beliefs, Teachings and Practices

AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062) Component 1 requires students to study two religions in depth — one Christianity-based and one from another tradition. For each religion you must know both beliefs and practices.

Structure of Component 1

Students study two religions chosen by their school:

Christianity-based options:

• Christianity (3.1.1) — beliefs and practices
• Catholic Christianity (3.1.7) — an alternative

Second religion options:

• Islam (3.1.2)
• Buddhism (3.1.3)
• Hinduism (3.1.4)
• Judaism (3.1.5)
• Sikhism (3.1.6)

What you need to know for each religion

Beliefs: Core doctrines, key texts, ideas about God/ultimate reality, afterlife, human nature.

Practices: Worship, festivals, rites of passage, pilgrimage, ethics, the role of the community.

Key skills in Component 1

• Description: Use religious terminology correctly. Quote or reference key texts.
• Explanation: Connect beliefs to practices — how does what a religion believes shape what followers do?
• Evaluation: Consider different perspectives within a religion (e.g. Sunni vs Shi'a Islam; Catholic vs Protestant Christianity).

Exam technique

Component 1 questions follow a standard pattern:

• 1 mark: Name/identify
• 2 marks: State two features
• 4 marks: Explain two ways... (two PEEL paragraphs)
• 5 marks: Explain two beliefs/practices with reference to scripture/sacred texts
• 12 marks: 'Evaluate this statement' — two sides + conclusion, using religion AND secular views

The 12-mark question is levels-marked. To reach Level 4 you must: present a well-reasoned argument on both sides; use specialist vocabulary; and reach a supported conclusion.