Pearson EdexcelInternational GCSE61 resources
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Religious Studies Past Papers & Mark Schemes
Free Edexcel iGCSE Religious Studies (4RS1) past papers, mark schemes & examiner reports. Beliefs, practices, and ethics. 55 resources.
📅January and June, multiple years📄61 resources available✅Free to download
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Year
61 of 61 resources — page 1 of 3
June 2017
6 files✅
A-Level Religious Studies – Mark scheme – Paper 1 – June 2017
Mark Scheme
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A-Level Religious Studies – Mark scheme – Paper 2 – June 2017
Mark Scheme
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A-Level Religious Studies – Question paper – Paper 1 – June 2017
Question Paper
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A-Level Religious Studies – Question paper – Paper 2 – June 2017
Question Paper
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A-Level Religious Studies – Examiner report – Paper 1 – June 2017
Examiner Report
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A-Level Religious Studies – Examiner report – Paper 2 – June 2017
Examiner Report
June 2016
1 file📄
International GCSE Religious Studies – Question paper – Paper 1 – June 2016
Question Paper
June 2015
3 filesJune 2014
3 filesJune 2013
3 filesJune 2012
3 filesJune 2011
2 filesJune 2009
1 file📄
International GCSE Religious Studies – Question paper – Paper 2 – June 2009
Question Paper
International GCSE Religious Studies: Theology, Philosophy, and Ethical Debate Across World Religions
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Religious Studies (specification 4RS1) engages students with the beliefs, practices, and ethical frameworks of major world religions. The qualification is assessed through two written papers, each examining a different religion chosen by the school from a range of options.
Paper 1 (1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks, 50%) and Paper 2 (1 hour 30 minutes, 80 marks, 50%) each focus on one religion. Options include Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Sikhism. Within each paper, students study core beliefs and teachings, practices and worship, and contemporary ethical issues viewed through the lens of that religion's moral framework.
Questions range from short-answer factual recall to extended-response evaluative writing. The highest-tariff questions (12 marks) present a philosophical or ethical statement — such as 'The existence of suffering proves God does not exist' — and ask students to evaluate it from multiple perspectives, including religious and non-religious viewpoints.
The 55-resource archive spans multiple sessions and provides substantial material for practising both factual recall and evaluative essay writing.
Exam Paper Structure
Paper 1No calculator
Religion 1
⏱ 1 hour 30 minutes🎯 80 marks📊 50% of grade
Core beliefs and teachingsPractices and worshipEthical and philosophical issues
Paper 2No calculator
Religion 2
⏱ 1 hour 30 minutes🎯 80 marks📊 50% of grade
Core beliefs and teachingsPractices and worshipEthical and philosophical issues
Key Information
| Exam Board | Pearson Edexcel |
| Specification Code | 4RS1 |
| Qualification | International GCSE |
| Grading Scale | 9–1 |
| Assessment Type | 2 written exams (no coursework) |
| Tiers | No tiers |
| Number Of Papers | 2 |
| Exam Duration | 1 hour 30 minutes per paper |
| Total Marks | 160 (80 per paper) |
| Calculator Status | Not applicable |
| Available Sessions | January and June, multiple years |
| Total Resources | 55 |
Key Topics in Religious Studies
Topics you need to know
Beliefs about God and the nature of realitySacred texts and their authorityWorship, prayer, and pilgrimageRites of passage and festivalsEthics: sanctity of life, war, justicePhilosophy of religion: existence of God, problem of evilReligion and scienceHuman rights and social justice
Exam Command Words
| Command word | What the examiner expects |
|---|---|
| Outline | Give a brief account of the main features |
| Explain | Give reasons for beliefs, practices, or teachings |
| Analyse | Examine a religious or ethical issue, exploring different dimensions |
| Evaluate | Consider multiple viewpoints and reach a supported personal judgement |
| Do you agree | Present arguments for and against, reaching a reasoned conclusion |
| Give two examples | Provide two specific instances from religious teaching or practice |
Typical Grade Boundaries
| Grade | Approximate mark needed |
|---|---|
| 9 | 77–87% |
| 8 | 67–76% |
| 7 | 57–66% |
| 6 | 47–56% |
| 5 | 37–46% |
| 4 | 27–36% |
| 3 | 19–26% |
| 2 | 12–18% |
| 1 | 5–11% |
⚠️ Typical grade boundaries across both papers (160 total marks). Boundaries vary by session — check Pearson's website.
Theological Knowledge and Philosophical Evaluation: Two Skills for iGCSE Religious Studies
Religious Studies at iGCSE demands two distinct skill sets, and you should practise them separately. The first is factual recall of beliefs, teachings, scriptures, and practices. Create topic summary sheets for each religion: key beliefs (e.g. the Five Pillars, the Trinity, the Four Noble Truths), sacred texts (with specific chapter and verse references), and practices (worship, festivals, rites of passage). Test yourself using cover-and-recall techniques.
The second skill is evaluative argument. The 12-mark questions require a structured response presenting at least two viewpoints. A strong approach: one paragraph arguing in favour of the statement with religious evidence, one paragraph arguing against with different religious or philosophical evidence, and a conclusion that weighs the arguments and offers a personal judgement. Always include a non-religious perspective — secular humanism, atheism, or scientific reasoning — alongside the religious viewpoints.
Specific scriptural references strengthen both factual and evaluative answers enormously. Rather than writing 'Christians believe in forgiveness', write 'Jesus taught forgiveness in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32), demonstrating that reconciliation is central to Christian ethics.' This precision is what separates top-grade from mid-grade responses.
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