Specification points
Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A 1RA0
343 points in 4 topics, with Edexcel's codes and titles.
Grade boundaries·Edexcel command words
Codes and titles are read by a script from Edexcel's published specification and have not been checked by a person. What each point covers is in the specification itself: Edexcel’s specification.
1 Study of Religion
- 1A Catholic Christianity
- 1A.1 Beliefs and Teachings
- 1A.1.1 The Trinity
- 1A.1.2 Biblical understandings of God as a Trinity of Persons
- 1A.1.3 Creation
- 1A.1.4 The significance of the Creation account in understanding the nature of humanity
- 1A.1.5 The Incarnation
- 1A.1.6 The events in the Paschal Mystery
- 1A.1.7 Significance of Jesus for Catholic beliefs on salvation
- 1A.1.8 Catholic beliefs about eschatology
- 1A.2 Practices
- 1A.2.1 The sacramental nature of reality
- 1A.2.2 Liturgical worship within Catholic Christianity
- 1A.2.3 The funeral rite as a liturgical celebration of the Church
- 1A.2.4 Prayer as the ‘raising of hearts and minds to God’
- 1A.2.5 The role and importance of forms of popular piety
- 1A.2.6 Pilgrimage
- 1A.2.7 Catholic Social Teaching
- 1A.2.8 Catholic mission and evangelism
- 1A.3 Sources of Wisdom and Authority
- 1A.3.1 Development and structure of the Bible
- 1A.3.2 Interpretation of the Bible
- 1A.3.3 The magisterium of the Church
- 1A.3.4 The Second Vatican Council
- 1A.3.5 The Church as the Body of Christ and the People of God
- 1A.3.6 The meaning of the four marks of the Church
- 1A.3.7 Mary as a model of the Church
- 1A.3.8 Sources of personal and ethical decision making
- 1A.4 Forms of Expression and Ways of Life
- 1A.4.1 Architecture and decoration of Catholic churches
- 1A.4.2 Internal features of a Catholic church
- 1A.4.3 Sacred objects in Catholicism
- 1A.4.4 Paintings, frescoes and drawings in Catholicism
- 1A.4.5 Sculpture and statues in Catholicism
- 1A.4.6 The purpose and use of symbolism and imagery in religious art
- 1A.4.7 The meaning and significance of drama
- 1A.4.8 Music in Catholic worship
- 1B Christianity
- 1B.1 Beliefs and Teachings
- 1B.1.1 The Trinity
- 1B.1.2 The creation of the universe and of humanity
- 1B.1.3 The Incarnation
- 1B.1.4 The last days of Jesus’ life
- 1B.1.5 Salvation and the role of Christ
- 1B.1.6 Christian eschatology
- 1B.1.7 The problem of evil/suffering and a loving and righteous God
- 1B.1.8 Christian solutions to the problem of evil
- 1B.2 Practices
- 1B.2.1 Christian worship
- 1B.2.2 Sacraments in two Christian denominations
- 1B.2.3 The nature and purpose of prayer
- 1B.2.4 Pilgrimage
- 1B.2.5 Christian religious celebrations
- 1B.2.6 The future of the Christian Church
- 1B.2.7 The role and importance of the local church in the local community
- 1B.2.8 The role and importance of the Church in the worldwide community
- 1B.3 Sources of Wisdom and Authority
- 1B.3.1 Structure of the Bible as the Word of God
- 1B.3.2 Use of the Bible in daily Christian life
- 1B.3.3 Sources of Christian ethical decision making
- 1B.3.4 Jesus as the Word of God and role model
- 1B.3.5 The Church as the Body of Christ
- 1B.3.6 The growth and development of the Church
- 1B.3.7 Leaders and leadership in the Church
- 1B.3.8 The role of women in the Church
- 1B.4 Forms of Expression and Ways of Life
- 1B.4.1 Paintings and drawings in Christianity
- 1B.4.2 The divergent meaning, significance and purpose of icons within Christianity
- 1B.4.3 The meaning and significance of sculpture for Christians
- 1B.4.4 The purpose and use of symbolism and imagery in religious art
- 1B.4.5 The meaning and significance of drama
- 1B.4.6 The purpose of literature in Christian life
- 1B.4.7 The nature and use of traditional styles of music in worship
- 1B.4.8 The nature and use of contemporary music in worship
- 1C Islam
- 1C.1 Beliefs and Teachings
- 1C.1.1 The Six Beliefs of Islam
- 1C.1.2 The Five Roots of ‘Usul ad-Din in Shi’a Islam
- 1C.1.3 The nature of Allah
- 1C.1.4 Risalah
- 1C.1.5 Muslim holy books
- 1C.1.6 Malaikah
- 1C.1.7 al-Qadr
- 1C.1.8 Akhirah
- 1C.2 Practices
- 1C.2.1 Ten Obligatory Acts of Shi’a Islam
- 1C.2.2 Shahadah as one of the Five Pillars
- 1C.2.3 Salah as one of the Five Pillars
- 1C.2.4 Sawm as one of the Five Pillars
- 1C.2.5 Zakah as one of the Five Pillars and Khums
- 1C.2.6 Hajj as one of the Five Pillars
- 1C.2.7 Jihad
- 1C.2.8 Id-ul-Adha
- 1C.3 Sources of Wisdom and Authority
- 1C.3.1 The Qur’an
- 1C.3.2 The Prophet Muhammad
- 1C.3.3 The Seal of the Prophets, Surah 33:36–47
- 1C.3.4 Significance of the family of the Prophet
- 1C.3.5 The Hadith and the Sunnah
- 1C.3.6 Shari’ah Law
- 1C.3.7 The Imam in Shi'a Islam
- 1C.3.8 The imam in Sunni Islam
- 1C.4 Forms of Expression and Ways of Life
- 1C.4.1 Muslim identity
- 1C.4.2 The mosque
- 1C.4.3 Calligraphy in Islam
- 1C.4.4 Shi’a obligatory actions
- 1C.4.5 The significance of Sufi ways of life
- 1C.4.6 The role and significance of a Sheikh/teacher in Sufism
- 1C.4.7 Dance, music and poetry in Islam
- 1C.4.8 A Muslim charity in the UK
2 Study of Second Religion
- 2A Catholic Christianity
- 2A.1 Beliefs and Teachings
- 2A.1.1 The Trinity
- 2A.1.2 Biblical understandings of God as a Trinity of Persons
- 2A.1.3 Creation
- 2A.1.4 The significance of the Creation account in understanding the nature of humanity
- 2A.1.5 The Incarnation
- 2A.1.6 The events in the Paschal Mystery
- 2A.1.7 Significance of Jesus for Catholic beliefs on salvation
- 2A.1.8 Catholic beliefs about eschatology
- 2A.2 Practices
- 2A.2.1 The sacramental nature of reality
- 2A.2.2 Liturgical worship within Catholic Christianity
- 2A.2.3 The funeral rite as a liturgical celebration of the Church
- 2A.2.4 Prayer as the ‘raising of hearts and minds to God’
- 2A.2.5 The role and importance of forms of popular piety
- 2A.2.6 Pilgrimage
- 2A.2.7 Catholic Social Teaching
- 2A.2.8 Catholic mission and evangelism
- 2B Christianity
- 2B.1 Beliefs and Teachings
- 2B.1.1 The Trinity
- 2B.1.2 The creation of the universe and of humanity
- 2B.1.3 The Incarnation
- 2B.1.4 The last days of Jesus’ life
- 2B.1.5 Salvation and the role of Christ
- 2B.1.6 Christian eschatology
- 2B.1.7 The problem of evil/suffering and a loving and righteous God
- 2B.1.8 Christian solutions to the problem of evil
- 2B.2 Practices
- 2B.2.1 Christian worship
- 2B.2.2 Sacraments in two Christian denominations
- 2B.2.3 The nature and purpose of prayer
- 2B.2.4 Pilgrimage
- 2B.2.5 Christian religious celebrations
- 2B.2.6 The future of the Christian Church
- 2B.2.7 The role and importance of the local church in the local community
- 2B.2.8 The role and importance of the Church in the worldwide community
- 2C Islam
- 2C.1 Beliefs and Teachings
- 2C.1.1 The Six Beliefs of Islam
- 2C.1.2 The Five Roots of ‘Usul ad-Din in Shi’a Islam
- 2C.1.3 The nature of Allah
- 2C.1.4 Risalah
- 2C.1.5 Muslim holy books
- 2C.1.6 Malaikah
- 2C.1.7 al-Qadr
- 2C.1.8 Akhirah
- 2C.2 Practices
- 2C.2.1 Ten Obligatory Acts of Shi’a Islam
- 2C.2.2 Shahadah as one of the Five Pillars
- 2C.2.3 Salah as one of the Five Pillars
- 2C.2.4 Sawm as one of the Five Pillars
- 2C.2.5 Zakah as one of the Five Pillars and Khums
- 2C.2.6 Hajj as one of the Five Pillars
- 2C.2.7 Jihad
- 2C.2.8 Id-ul-Adha
- 2D Buddhism
- 2D.1 Beliefs and Teachings
- 2D.1.1 The life of the Buddha
- 2D.1.2 Dhamma
- 2D.1.3 First Noble Truth, including reference to the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta
- 2D.1.4 Second Noble Truth, including reference to Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta
- 2D.1.5 Third Noble Truth, including reference to the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta
- 2D.1.6 Fourth Noble Truth, including reference to the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta
- 2D.1.7 Human life
- 2D.1.8 Buddhist ethical teachings
- 2D.2 Practices
- 2D.2.1 Meditation
- 2D.2.2 Chanting
- 2D.2.3 Mantra recitation
- 2D.2.4 Features of Buddhist places of worship
- 2D.2.5 Objects of devotion in Buddhist places of worship
- 2D.2.6 Puja
- 2D.2.7 Death and mourning rituals and ceremonies
- 2D.2.8 Festivals and retreats
- 2E Hinduism
- 2E.1 Beliefs and Teachings
- 2E.1.1 The nature of Brahman
- 2E.1.2 Nirguna and Saguna Brahman
- 2E.1.3 Three aspects of the divine
- 2E.1.4 Manifestations of the Divine
- 2E.1.5 The nature of the individual and life within Hinduism
- 2E.1.6 The purpose of human life for Hindus
- 2E.1.7 Hindu responses to suffering, knowledge and ignorance
- 2E.1.8 Hindu cosmology
- 2E.2 Practices
- 2E.2.1 The nature and purpose of Hindu yoga
- 2E.2.2 Focuses of worship and representations of the divine
- 2E.2.3 The importance of Hindu places of worship
- 2E.2.4 The nature and purpose of prayer in the temple and the home
- 2E.2.5 Hindu sacred festivals
- 2E.2.6 Hindu pilgrimage
- 2E.2.7 Hindu environmental projects
- 2E.2.8 Hindu charity work
- 2F Judaism
- 2F.1 Beliefs and Teachings
- 2F.1.1 The nature of the Almighty
- 2F.1.2 The nature and importance of Shekhinah
- 2F.1.3 The nature and purpose of the Messiah
- 2F.1.4 The covenant with Abraham and his descendants
- 2F.1.5 The Covenant at Sinai
- 2F.1.6 Sanctity of life
- 2F.1.7 Moral principles and the Mitzvot
- 2F.1.8 Jewish beliefs about life after death
- 2F.2 Practices
- 2F.2.1 The nature and purpose of Jewish public acts of worship
- 2F.2.2 The Tenakh and the Talmud
- 2F.2.3 Jewish prayer at home and in private
- 2F.2.4 The Shema and the Amidah
- 2F.2.5 The importance of ritual for Jews today
- 2F.2.6 The nature, features, history and purpose of celebrating Shabbat
- 2F.2.7 Jewish festivals
- 2F.2.8 Features of the synagogue
- 2G Sikhism
- 2G.1 Beliefs and Teachings
- 2G.1.1 The nature of God
- 2G.1.2 God as Creator
- 2G.1.3 The nature of human life
- 2G.1.4 Sikh beliefs about life after death
- 2G.1.5 Purpose of life
- 2G.1.6 The oneness of humanity
- 2G.1.7 Sewa (service to others)
- 2G.1.8 Sangat
- 2G.2 Practices
- 2G.2.1 Features of the gurdwara
- 2G.2.2 The gurdwara
- 2G.2.3 Langar
- 2G.2.4 Nam Japna – meditating on the name of God
- 2G.2.5 Prayer, including reference to Guru Granth Sahib 305
- 2G.2.6 Akhand path (continuous 48-hour reading of the Guru Granth Sahib)
- 2G.2.7 Gurpurbs and commemorations
- 2G.2.8 Birth and naming rituals and ceremonies
3 Philosophy and Ethics
- 3A Catholic Christianity
- 3A.1 Arguments for the Existence of God
- 3A.1.1 Revelation as proof of the existence of God
- 3A.1.2 Visions as proof of the existence of God
- 3A.1.3 Miracles as proof of the existence of God
- 3A.1.4 Catholic attitudes to religious experience
- 3A.1.5 Design argument
- 3A.1.6 Cosmological argument
- 3A.1.7 Issues raised by the existence of suffering and God as all-loving
- 3A.1.8 Catholic solutions to the problem of suffering
- 3A.2 Religious Teachings on Relationships and Families in the 21st Century
- 3A.2.1 The importance and purpose of marriage for Catholics
- 3A.2.2 Catholic teaching about the importance of sexual relationships
- 3A.2.3 Catholic teaching about the purpose and importance of families
- 3A.2.4 Support for the family in the local Catholic parish
- 3A.2.5 Catholic teaching on family planning and the regulation of births
- 3A.2.6 Catholic teaching about divorce, annulment and remarriage
- 3A.2.7 Catholic teaching about the equality of men and women in the family
- 3A.2.8 Catholic teachings about gender prejudice and discrimination
- 3B Christianity
- 3B.1 Arguments for the Existence of God
- 3B.1.1 Revelation as proof of God
- 3B.1.2 Visions as proof of the existence of God
- 3B.1.3 Miracles as proof of the existence of God
- 3B.1.4 Christian attitudes to religious experience
- 3B.1.5 Christian teaching about prayers
- 3B.1.6 Design argument
- 3B.1.7 Cosmological argument
- 3B.1.8 Religious upbringing
- 3B.2 Religious Teachings on Relationships and Families in the 21st Century
- 3B.2.1 The importance and purpose of marriage for Christians
- 3B.2.2 Christian teachings about the nature and importance of sexual relationships
- 3B.2.3 Christian teachings about the purpose and importance of the family
- 3B.2.4 Support for the family in the local parish
- 3B.2.5 Christian teaching about family planning and regulation of births
- 3B.2.6 Christian teachings and attitudes towards divorce and remarriage
- 3B.2.7 Christian teaching about the equality of men and women in the family
- 3B.2.8 Christian teachings about gender prejudice and discrimination
- 3C Islam
- 3C.1 Arguments for the Existence of Allah
- 3C.1.1 Revelation as proof of Allah
- 3C.1.2 Visions as proof of the existence of Allah
- 3C.1.3 Miracles as proof of the existence of Allah
- 3C.1.4 Muslim attitudes to religious experience
- 3C.1.5 Design argument
- 3C.1.6 Cosmological argument
- 3C.1.7 Suffering and Allah as compassionate
- 3C.1.8 Muslim solutions to the problem of suffering
- 3C.2 Religious Teachings on Relationships and Families in the 21st Century
- 3C.2.1 The importance and purpose of marriage in Islam
- 3C.2.2 Muslim teaching about the importance of sexual relationships
- 3C.2.3 Muslim teaching about the purpose and importance of the family
- 3C.2.4 Support for the family in the ummah
- 3C.2.5 Muslim teaching on contraception
- 3C.2.6 Muslim teaching about divorce
- 3C.2.7 Muslim teaching about the equality of men and women in the family
- 3C.2.8 Muslim teachings about gender prejudice and discrimination
4 Textual Studies
- 4A Mark’s Gospel
- 4A.1 Who is Jesus?
- 4A.1.1 The Messiah and the Son of Man
- 4A.1.2 The baptism of Jesus (Mark 1:2–11)
- 4A.1.3 Nature miracles in Mark’s Gospel
- 4A.1.4 The healing miracles in Mark’s Gospel
- 4A.1.5 Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi (Mark 8:27–33)
- 4A.1.6 The transfiguration (Mark 9:1–10)
- 4A.1.7 The conflicts of Jesus in Mark’s Gospel
- 4A.1.8 The last days of Jesus’ life
- 4A.2 The Nature of Discipleship
- 4A.2.1 The call of the first disciples (Mark 1:14–20, 2:13–17)
- 4A.2.2 Parables
- 4A.2.3 The story of the rich man (Mark 10:17–31)
- 4A.2.4 The spirit cast out of the boy (Mark 9:14–29)
- 4A.2.5 Jesus’ teachings on service (Mark 10:41–45)
- 4A.2.6 Peter’s denial (Mark 14:66–72)
- 4A.2.7 Women in the ministry of Jesus as shown in Mark’s Gospel
- 4A.2.8 Discipleship in the 21st century
- 4B The Qur’an
- 4B.1 Beliefs and Teachings of Islam
- 4B.1.1 The importance of Allah in Surah al-Fatiha
- 4B.1.2 The oneness of Allah in Surah al-Anaam (6:13–24)
- 4B.1.3 The 99 beautiful names of Allah
- 4B.1.4 The nature of believers in Surah al-Baqarah
- 4B.1.5 Creation in the Qur’an
- 4B.1.6 Justice (Surah An-Nisa 4:105–135)
- 4B.1.7 Shirk
- 4B.1.8 Shari’ah law
- 4B.2 Lives of the Prophets and Others
- 4B.2.1 The Prophet Nuh
- 4B.2.2 The Prophet Ibrahim
- 4B.2.3 The Prophet Ismail
- 4B.2.4 The Prophet Yusuf
- 4B.2.5 The Prophet Dawud
- 4B.2.6 Maryam
- 4B.2.7 The Prophet Isa
- 4B.2.8 Muhammad's preaching of Islam