GCSE Religious Studies
Religious Studies is almost entirely a literacy GCSE: learners interpret sacred texts, use specialist religious and philosophical terms, compare religious and non-religious perspectives, and write extended evaluative answers, with AO3 judgement worth 36% of the qualification. The only numeracy is interpreting statistics on religious belief and human rights in the two NEAs. The biggest thing Key Stage 3 can build is well-structured written argument that weighs different views and reaches a justified judgement.
- Awarding body
- WJEC
- Level
- Level 1 and Level 2
- First taught
- September 2025
- Amount of literacy work
- High
- Amount of numeracy work
- Low
- Specification
- Open the specification
How this qualification is assessed
- Unit 1: Religious and non-religious beliefs, teachings and practices: Written examination 1 hour 15 minutes, 30%
- Unit 2: Religion and relationships: Non-examination assessment 6 hours, 20%
- Unit 3: Roles, rights and responsibilities: Written examination 1 hour 15 minutes, 30%
- Unit 4: Religion and human rights: Non-examination assessment 6 hours, 20%
Skills that use Interpreting data
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Interpreting statistics on religion and human rights
Unit 2 asks for a basic understanding of the changing landscape of religious belief, and the specification ticks statistics for Units 2 and 4 only, so learners should read census and survey data on belief and human rights sensibly.
Numeracy: Interpreting data
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils read a pie chart of religious belief in their class survey and say which group is largest.
- Year 8
- Pupils compare 2011 and 2021 census figures on religion in Rhondda Cynon Taf and describe the change in one sentence.
- Year 9
- Pupils interpret a graph of changing marriage and civil partnership numbers in Wales and discuss what it can and cannot tell us about religious belief.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Unit 2, Section 2.1.2, page 45; Appendix A, page 93
“the changing landscape of religious belief in the context”
Progression step 3
I can extract and interpret information from an increasing range of diagrams, timetables and graphs (including pie charts).
I can draw conclusions from data and recognise that some conclusions may be misleading or uncertain.
Progression step 4
I can interpret graphs that describe real-life situations, including those used in the media, recognising that some graphs may be misleading.
I can interpret mathematical information; drawing inferences from graphs, diagrams and data, including discussion on limitations of data.
Progression step 5
I can interpret graphs that describe real-life situations, including those used in the media, recognising that some graphs may be misleading.
I can draw conclusions from data and recognise that some conclusions may be misleading or uncertain.
Good to know
- The specification awards no separate marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar; assessment detail is left to the Assessment Pack: "The Assessment Pack will include all detailed information relating to assessment." (page 84).
- Both examinations are 1 hour 15 minutes for 60 marks with extended answers: "Questions requiring objective responses, questions that require short and extended answers." (page 5).
- NEA work may be handwritten or typed: "Assessments must be submitted digitally (they may be handwritten and scanned or completed digitally)." (pages 85 and 86).
- Evaluation carries most weight: AO3 is 36% of the qualification, against 20% for AO1 knowledge (page 84).
- No calculator or numerical work is required; Appendix A ticks numeracy only for statistics in Units 2 and 4 (page 93).
Links with other qualifications
Evaluative writing that weighs viewpoints and reaches a justified judgement is shared with History and English Language and Literature, so a common paragraph structure in Years 7 to 9 would help all three.
Source: WJEC GCSE Religious Studies specification, Version 5, September 2026, teaching from 2025, for award from 2027.