Specification Map & Revision Checklist

This lesson maps out the entire AQA GCSE Religious Studies A specification (8062), identifies high-frequency exam topics based on past papers, provides a complete revision checklist, and gives you evidence-based revision strategies. Use this lesson as your revision planning tool — audit your knowledge, identify weak areas, and create a targeted revision schedule.

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AQA RS A Specification Structure: The Big Picture

The AQA GCSE Religious Studies A specification is divided into two components, each assessed by a separate exam paper.

Component	Paper	Content	Marks	Time	Weighting
Component 1	Paper 1	The Study of Religions: Beliefs, Teachings, and Practices	96 marks	1 hour 45 minutes	50%
Component 2	Paper 2	Thematic Studies	96 marks	1 hour 45 minutes	50%

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Component 1: The Study of Religions (Paper 1)

Component 1 requires you to study two religions in depth. The most common combination is Christianity and Islam, though Judaism is also available as a second religion option.

Christianity: Beliefs and Teachings

Topic Area	Key Content
The nature of God	God as omnipotent, omnibenevolent, and just; the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); the oneness of God
God as Trinity	God the Father (Creator), God the Son (Jesus — incarnation), God the Holy Spirit (presence of God in the world); how the Trinity is expressed in worship and the Nicene Creed
Creation	Genesis 1 and 2; the role of the Word (Logos — John 1:1-3); the significance of creation for Christians today; stewardship and dominion
The incarnation	Jesus as the Son of God made human; John 1:14 — "The Word became flesh"; the significance of the incarnation for salvation
The crucifixion	Jesus' death on the cross; atonement; redemption; the significance of the crucifixion for Christians — salvation from sin
The resurrection and ascension	Bodily resurrection; significance for Christian belief in life after death; the ascension and the promise of Jesus' return
Afterlife and judgement	Heaven, hell, purgatory (Catholic belief); the Day of Judgement; differing Christian views on what happens after death
Sin and salvation	Original sin; the role of Christ in salvation; grace; the Law (Old Testament); Spirit (New Testament); the concept of atonement
The problem of evil and suffering	Natural and moral evil; the inconsistent triad (omnipotent, omnibenevolent, evil exists); theodicies (free will defence, soul-making); how Christians respond to suffering through prayer, action, and faith

Christianity: Practices

Topic Area	Key Content
Worship	Liturgical worship (set prayers, readings, structure — e.g. Catholic Mass); non-liturgical worship (free, unscripted — e.g. Quaker meetings); informal worship; private prayer
Prayer	The Lord's Prayer; set prayers vs. informal prayers; the purpose and significance of prayer; prayer in different denominations
The sacraments	Catholic and Orthodox: seven sacraments; Protestant: usually two (baptism and Eucharist); the role of sacraments in Christian life
Baptism	Infant baptism (Catholic, Anglican, Methodist); believers' baptism (Baptist); the significance of baptism as initiation into the Church
Eucharist / Holy Communion	Transubstantiation (Catholic); consubstantiation (Lutheran); memorial/symbolic (many Protestants); the significance of the Eucharist in different traditions
Pilgrimage	Lourdes (Catholic — healing); Iona (ecumenical — spiritual renewal); the significance and purpose of pilgrimage for Christians today
Celebrations	Christmas (incarnation); Easter (resurrection); the significance of these festivals for Christians today
The role of the Church in the local community	Food banks, Street Pastors, parish support, community outreach, social action
Mission and evangelism	The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19 — "Go and make disciples of all nations"); how and why Christians spread their faith; the role of mission in the modern world
The worldwide Church	Church growth; reconciliation (e.g. Corrymeela Community in Northern Ireland); persecution of Christians; the work of organisations like Christian Aid, Tearfund, CAFOD

Islam: Beliefs and Teachings

Topic Area	Key Content
The Six Articles of Faith (Sunni)	Belief in Allah, angels, holy books, prophets, the Day of Judgement, predestination (al-Qadr)
The Five Roots of Usul ad-Din (Shi'a)	Tawhid (oneness of God), Adalat (justice of God), Nubuwwah (prophethood), Imamate (leadership), Mi'ad (Day of Judgement and Resurrection)
Tawhid	The absolute oneness of God; Surah 112 (Al-Ikhlas); the rejection of shirk (associating anything with God)
The nature of Allah	The 99 Names of Allah; Allah as immanent and transcendent; omnipotent; merciful (Al-Rahman, Al-Rahim); just (Al-Adl)
Angels (Malaikah)	Jibril (revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad); Mika'il (angel of mercy, provides sustenance); Izra'il (angel of death); their role as messengers of Allah
Predestination (al-Qadr)	Allah's foreknowledge and decree; the tension between predestination and free will; how this relates to the Day of Judgement
Akhirah (life after death)	The Day of Judgement; Barzakh (the barrier/waiting period after death); the scales of justice; Jannah (paradise); Jahannam (hell)
Risalah (prophethood)	Adam as the first prophet; Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice Isma'il; Musa receiving the Torah; Muhammad as the Seal of the Prophets (Surah 33:40)
The holy books	The Qur'an as the final, uncorrupted revelation; the Torah (Tawrat), Psalms (Zabur), Gospel (Injil), Scrolls of Abraham (Suhuf)

Islam: Practices

Topic Area	Key Content
The Five Pillars (Sunni)	Shahadah, Salah, Zakah, Sawm, Hajj
The Ten Obligatory Acts (Shi'a)	Salah, Sawm, Zakah, Khums, Hajj, Jihad, Amr-bil-Maroof (commanding what is good), Nahi Anil Munkar (forbidding what is evil), Tawalla (love for the friends of God), Tabarra (disassociation from the enemies of God)
Shahadah	The declaration of faith; its significance in conversion and daily life; the meaning of the two parts
Salah	Five daily prayers; the movements (rak'ahs); wudu (ablution); the significance of prayer direction (qibla); Jummah (Friday) prayers
Sawm	Fasting during Ramadan; who is exempt (the elderly, the ill, pregnant women, travellers); the spiritual significance of self-discipline and empathy with the poor
Zakah	The 2.5% charitable tax on savings; the difference between Zakah and Sadaqah (voluntary charity); Khums (Shi'a — one-fifth tax on surplus income)
Hajj	The pilgrimage to Makkah; the rituals (Tawaf around the Ka'bah, Sa'y between Safa and Marwah, standing at Arafat, stoning the Jamarat); significance of Hajj in Muslim life
Jihad	Greater jihad (inner spiritual struggle — the struggle to be a better Muslim and follow Allah's will); lesser jihad (physical struggle in defence of Islam — with strict conditions including lawful authority, just cause, last resort, proportionality); the distinction between the two
Festivals	Id-ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice — commemorating Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice Isma'il); Id-ul-Fitr (end of Ramadan — celebration, charity, community); Ashura (Shi'a commemoration of the martyrdom of Husayn at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE)

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Component 2: Thematic Studies (Paper 2)

Component 2 covers four themes that apply religious and non-religious perspectives to contemporary moral and ethical issues.

Theme A: Relationships and Families

Topic Area	Key Content
Sexual relationships	Sex before marriage (Christian and Islamic views); adultery; homosexuality (contrasting Christian views — Catholic, evangelical, liberal; Islamic views)
Contraception	Catholic opposition (Humanae Vitae 1968 — Pope Paul VI; natural law); Protestant acceptance (most denominations); Islamic views (generally permitted within marriage for family planning)
Marriage	The purpose of marriage (Christian: union before God, procreation, companionship; Islamic: Nikah, mahr, rights and responsibilities); same-sex marriage (contrasting views across denominations)
Divorce	Catholic teaching (annulment — the marriage was never valid; the indissolubility of marriage); Protestant acceptance (with conditions); Islamic divorce (talaq — the husband's right; khula — the wife's right)
Families	The role of the family in religious life; the purpose of the family; different family structures; the role of parents in religious upbringing
Gender equality	Christian views (Galatians 3:28 — "There is neither male nor female"); the ordination of women (contrasting denominational views — Catholic Church does not ordain women; Church of England does); Islamic views on gender roles and equality before Allah

Theme B: Religion and Life

Topic Area	Key Content
Origins of the universe	Religious creation accounts (Genesis, Qur'an); the Big Bang theory; the relationship between science and religion; compatibility and conflict
Value of the world	The environment as God's creation; stewardship (Christian — Genesis 2:15 "to work it and take care of it"); khalifah (Islamic — Surah 6:165); dominion; sustainability
Use and abuse of the environment	Pollution, deforestation, climate change; religious responses; the duty of care for creation; practical Christian and Muslim responses
Use and abuse of animals	Animal testing, factory farming, vegetarianism; religious views on the status of animals; dominion vs. stewardship; Islamic halal requirements
Abortion	The sanctity of life; when life begins (contrasting views — at conception, at viability, at ensoulment); situation ethics; quality of life; Christian and Islamic perspectives
Euthanasia	Voluntary, non-voluntary, passive, active euthanasia; the sanctity of life; compassion; the hospice movement; religious and non-religious perspectives
Death and the afterlife	Christian views (heaven, hell, purgatory, judgement); Islamic views (Akhirah, Barzakh, Jannah, Jahannam); non-religious views (humanist, atheist — no afterlife)

Theme C: The Existence of God and Revelation

Topic Area	Key Content
The Design argument	William Paley's watchmaker analogy; the argument from complexity and order in nature; challenges (evolution, apparent flaws in design, David Hume's objections)
The First Cause (Cosmological) argument	Thomas Aquinas' argument from the Five Ways; everything has a cause; God as the uncaused cause; challenges (infinite regress, who caused God?, the Big Bang as a natural first cause)
The argument from miracles	Definitions of miracles; examples (biblical miracles — Jesus' healing, resurrection; modern claimed miracles — Lourdes); challenges (science, coincidence, David Hume's argument against miracles)
Religious experience	Numinous experience (sense of God's presence); conversion experience; prayer; mystical experience; how religious experience can lead to or support belief in God
The problem of evil and suffering	Natural evil, moral evil; the inconsistent triad; the free will defence (God gave humans free will, which they misuse); Irenaeus' soul-making theodicy (suffering builds character); how the existence of evil and suffering challenges belief in an omnipotent, omnibenevolent God
Atheist and theist arguments	Reasons for belief (upbringing, experience, design, comfort); reasons for non-belief (evil, science, lack of evidence); agnosticism (the position that we cannot know whether God exists)
Special and general revelation	Special revelation (direct communication from God — scripture, prophets, miracles, visions); general revelation (indirect — nature, conscience, the moral argument, the beauty of the world)

Theme D: Religion, Peace and Conflict

Topic Area	Key Content
Violence and terrorism	Religious views on violence; terrorism and its causes; the difference between religious extremism and mainstream belief; why some people turn to terrorism
Reasons for war	Self-defence, protecting the innocent, stopping injustice, defending national sovereignty; religious views on when war is justified
Just war theory	St Thomas Aquinas' criteria (just cause, lawful authority, right intention, last resort, proportionality, reasonable chance of success); application to modern conflicts
Holy war	The concept of holy war in Christianity (Crusades — historical context) and Islam (lesser jihad with strict conditions — must be declared by a legitimate authority, must be in self-defence, must protect civilians); contrasting views on whether holy war is ever justified
Pacifism	Religious pacifism (Quakers — "the peace testimony"; some interpretations of Jesus' teaching — "turn the other cheek" Matthew 5:39); selective pacifism; absolute pacifism; the effectiveness of non-violent resistance (e.g. Martin Luther King Jr.)
Weapons of mass destruction	Nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, biological weapons; religious views on WMDs (indiscriminate killing contradicts just war principles; the sanctity of life; destruction of God's creation)
The role of religion in peacemaking	Religious organisations working for peace (e.g. Pax Christi — Catholic peace movement; Muslim Peace Fellowship; Corrymeela Community); reconciliation (e.g. Desmond Tutu and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa)
Forgiveness and reconciliation	Christian teaching on forgiveness (the Lord's Prayer — "Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us"; the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant — Matthew 18:21-35); Islamic teaching on forgiveness (Allah as Al-Ghafur — the Most Forgiving; Surah 42:40 — forgiveness is better than revenge); the role of forgiveness in peacemaking; challenges to forgiveness

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High-Frequency Exam Topics Based on Past Papers

Analysis of past AQA GCSE RS A papers reveals that certain topics appear more frequently than others. While you must revise everything, these are the topics that have been examined most often and are most likely to appear.

Paper 1: Christianity — Most Frequently Examined

Topic	Frequency	Common Question Focus
The Trinity / nature of God	Very High	The significance of the Trinity for Christians; whether the Trinity makes sense; the relationship between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
The problem of evil and suffering	Very High	Whether evil and suffering disprove God's existence; how Christians respond to suffering
Resurrection and afterlife	High	The significance of the resurrection for Christian faith; contrasting beliefs about heaven, hell, and purgatory
Eucharist / Holy Communion	High	The significance of the Eucharist; contrasting views on its meaning (transubstantiation vs. symbolic/memorial)
Mission and evangelism	High	Whether Christians should try to convert others; the role of mission in the modern world
Prayer and worship	High	The purpose and significance of prayer; contrasting forms of worship (liturgical vs. non-liturgical)

Paper 1: Islam — Most Frequently Examined

Topic	Frequency	Common Question Focus
Tawhid and the nature of Allah	Very High	The significance of Tawhid; how belief in one God shapes Muslim life
The Five Pillars / Ten Obligatory Acts	Very High	The importance of individual pillars; contrasting Sunni and Shi'a practices; which pillar is most important
Jihad	High	Greater vs. lesser jihad; whether jihad is ever violent; misconceptions about jihad; the strict conditions for lesser jihad
Akhirah and judgement	High	How belief in the afterlife motivates moral behaviour; the Day of Judgement; Jannah and Jahannam
Hajj	High	The significance of Hajj rituals; how Hajj connects Muslims to the Ummah; whether Hajj should be compulsory

Paper 2: Thematic Studies — Most Frequently Examined

Theme	Hot Topic	Common Question Focus
A: Relationships and Families	Same-sex marriage / homosexuality	Contrasting religious views; whether religious teachings on sexuality are relevant today
A: Relationships and Families	Divorce	Whether divorce is ever acceptable; contrasting Catholic and Protestant views; Islamic views on talaq and khula
B: Religion and Life	Abortion	The sanctity of life; when life begins; situation ethics vs. natural law
B: Religion and Life	Euthanasia	Whether euthanasia can ever be compassionate; the sanctity of life vs. quality of life; the hospice movement as an alternative
B: Religion and Life	Environment / stewardship	Whether humans are damaging God's creation; the concepts of stewardship and khalifah; practical religious responses
C: Existence of God	The problem of evil	Whether evil disproves God; the free will defence; the inconsistent triad; natural vs. moral evil
C: Existence of God	The Design argument	Whether design proves God's existence; challenges from evolution and apparent flaws in the natural world
D: Peace and Conflict	Just war theory	Whether any war can be "just"; application to modern conflicts; the criteria of just war
D: Peace and Conflict	Forgiveness and reconciliation	Whether forgiveness is always possible; real-world examples of reconciliation; the limits of forgiveness

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Revision Checklist

Use this checklist to audit your revision. For each topic, rate your confidence (1 = I know nothing, 5 = I could teach this) and prioritise low-scoring areas.

Paper 1: Christianity Checklist