Download Welcome to AQA GCE RELIGIOUS STUDIES

ITS FOR YOU
Religious Studies is designed for people
of any faith… and people who have no
faith.
It is not necessary to have taken
Religious studies at GCSE, although
students who do have a GCSE in RE will
find AS/A level will build on that prior
knowledge & understanding.
Welcome to AQA GCE
RELIGIOUS STUDIES
 KEY LEARNING TOPICS
IN THE FIRST YEAR:
RELIGIONS OF ISLAM &
SIKHISM.
Need to know all core
beliefs and practices.
 ‘Shahadah is the
most important of
the 5 pillars for
Muslims’ (15 marks)
Explain how Langar ‘is a laboratory of
Sewa’ (30 marks)
First year…
You’ll take two exams. One in
Islam and one in Sikhism.
Each exam lasts 1 hour and 15
minutes
You are required to answer two
essay questions from a choice of 4
in each exam
Where will success take me?
The skills you learn in Religious Studies
will be useful to you in a number of
careers; teaching, youth work,
journalism, civil service or government
to name a few.
If you’re thinking of a career in law or
medicine then a RS A Level is looked
upon favourably for undergraduate
courses too.
THE SECOND YEAR (A2) more on
the religions and RELIGION &
CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
It will refer to religion generally in modern
society
 ‘Living in a secular society strengthens
religious faith’
 How far do you agree? 30 marks
 A typical A2 question.
Transition task, you must do task
1 and pick one of the transition 2
tasks and one of the transition 3
tasks.
Transition activity 1:
What do these keywords mean:
 Tawhid
 Shirk
 Akhirah
 Farz
 Haram
 Makruh
Transition activity 2
‘Shahadah is the most important of
the 5 pillars for Muslims’ (15 marks)
 Explain what the Shahadah is
 What its role and importance is to
Muslims as part of the five pillars
 When it is said
 Just because its first doesn’t make
it the most important.
Transition Activity 3: research
and answer the following
question.
Explain what Muslims
believe about Judgement
(30 marks)
Include what they believe will
happen. When it will happen?
What will be taken into
account?
Think about the following to help
you develop your answer.
Muslims are expected to do the will of Allah.
Transition Activity 2: research
and answer this question
 Explain how and why the Khalsa was
formed (15 marks). Roughly two sides of A4
 Refer to what happened, refer to the
actual story behind it.
 Explain how it was formed and developed,
include the actual events, volunteers,
amrit.
 Explain the reasons for forming the
Khalsa, what was happening to the Sikhs
at the time?
Transition activity 3
 Explain how Langar ‘is a laboratory of
Sewa’ (30 marks) Roughly two sides of A4
 Explain what langar and sewa are
 What is purpose of it
 Why was it started
 How does it challenge caste system
 Refer to the purpose of selfless service
 How is sewa very distinctive to Sikhism
in contemporary society
Useful websites for Sikhism
 http//www.sikhs.org
 http//www.Sikh-history.com
 http//www.Sikhnet.com
 http//www.Allaboutsikhs
 http//www.Sikhstudent.org
 http//www.Sikhcybermuseum.org
 http//www.Sikhspirit.com
 http//www.Sikhmissionarysociety.org
Some useful websites for Islam
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/
http://www.rsweb.org.uk/
http://www.academicinfo.net/Islam.html
http://islam.uga.edu/#islam