Religious Studies

What is the exam board and route?

A Level Religious Studies OCR: Ethics, Philosophy & Theology 

Subject Entry Requirements: Grade 6 in GCSE Religious Studies or in a GCSE Humanities subject e.g., Geography, History advised.

Subject outline 

A Level Religious Studies (RS) comprises the study of Theology, Ethics, and Philosophy, from ancient times to the modern day. 

Philosophy covers 

• Plato and Aristotle; 

• Soul, Mind, and Body; 

• The Existence of God; 

• The Problem of Evil and Suffering; 

• Religious Experience; 

• Religious Language. 

Ethics covers 

• Natural Law; 

• Utilitarianism; 

• Situation Ethics; 

• Kant; 

• Meta-Ethical Theories; 

• Conscience; 

• Practical Ethics: Euthanasia, Sexual Ethics, Business Ethics. 

Theology covers 

• Human Nature; 

• Death and the Afterlife; 

• Knowledge of God’s Existence; 

• The Person of Jesus; 

• Christian Moral Principles 

• Religious Pluralism; 

• Gender; 

• Marxist Theology; 
• Secularism. 

How is the course assessed? 

Three exams of 2 hours each, one per paper. 

Why study Religious Studies?

A Level Religious Studies is taught exclusively by specialists in all three papers in dedicated teaching rooms. Students are challenged to think deeply about complex issues such as the relationship between language and reality, what makes an action right or wrong, and how literally scripture might be interpreted. Over the two years of A Level boys are taught to recognise strong arguments, to use scholarship to bolster their views, and to actively engage with independent reading – all fundamental skills for university and beyond. Past pupils have gone on to read subjects as diverse as Law, PPE, Medicine, History, Drama, and Mathematics. 

Complementary subjects 

RS complements any subject, but boys who study the Sciences, AI Ethical Mapping, Psychology, or Politics might find it a particular fit. 

Possible careers 

Skills and knowledge taught in RS are of particular interest in Law, Medicine, the Civil Service, Journalism, Media, Advertising. 

Subject enrichment available 

• Philosophy Society 
• Essay competitions 
• Oxbridge application and interview preparation 

Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.
Socrates