A Level Religious Studies will equip you with an excellent range of transferable skills that are highly valued by employers and post-18 education providers alike. For all students who are interested in philosophy (studying the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence) and comparative ethics (involving the empirical study of the moral beliefs and practices of different peoples and cultures in various places and times) our Religious Studies course will provide you with the opportunity to ask “the big questions” and develop your persuasive writing skills.
As well as providing a respected ‘stand-alone’ qualification that will showcase your evaluation and communication skills, Religious Studies complements the other humanities, including History, Sociology, Psychology, Geography and English, while emphasising your diversity as an academic when taken with sciences such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
Both the AS and full A Level qualifications comprise three units focused on, Philosophy, Ethics and New Testament Studies respectively.
The AS course involves three 60-minute assessments at the end of Year 12, each of equal weighting and the full A Level involves three 120-minute assessments at the end of Year 13, each of equal weighting towards the final grade.
You will find Religious Studies at A Level very accessible if you have a good basic understanding of the major world religions covered as part of our GCSE RS course, and good writing skills. Good prior performance in an essay-based GCSE such as English is an advantage, and you will have already discovered the transferability of your communication skills gained through your GCSE RS to your wider literary studies. Your desire to broaden your knowledge and understanding of philosophy, ethics and religion is paramount!
This is a highly engaging subject and you can expect your classes to involve a considerable amount of lively discussion and debate. Amongst the important life skills that employers look for, this course will testify to your willingness and ability to share ideas effectively and to listen empathetically to the views of others. You will develop skills of critical evaluation and analysis which you will practise within discussions and in essay-writing. Taking this subject is a unique way to develop your emotional intelligence, which will prove incredibly useful during application and interview processes in the future.
From essay writing and debating with confidence, to developing analysis of text and ideas and empathising with other viewpoints; the skills that you will evidence through A Level Religious Studies are sought after for a range of University degrees, including Humanities, English, and Psychology. This subject will also lead to a range of challenging and rewarding job opportunities, in the fields of education, research, journalism, counselling and in people-facing careers where excellent communication skills are imperative.
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