Official past papers

AQA GCSE & IGCSE Religious Studies

8063

Specification 8063. "Paper" and "Mark scheme" open the exam board's official PDF directly — we don't host any files.

About this qualification

AQA GCSE Religious Studies B (8063)

AQA GCSE Religious Studies B (8063) is a linear qualification with two written papers, each lasting 1 hour 45 minutes and worth 50% of the GCSE. Component 1, Catholic Christianity, is common to all students and covers six topics from creation to eschatology: 96 marks plus 3 for spelling, punctuation and grammar. Component 2, Perspectives on faith, is 96 marks plus 6 for SPaG and combines Islam (2X) or Judaism (2Y) with either two religious, philosophical and ethical themes (2A) or two St Mark's Gospel textual themes (2B), each sat as a separate booklet. Every question has five parts worth 1, 2, 4, 5 and 12 marks.

Paper	What it covers	Time	Marks	Weight
8063/1 Paper 1: Catholic Christianity	Component 1, common to both routes: Catholic beliefs, teachings, practices, sources of authority and forms of expression across six topics (creation, incarnation, the Triune God, redemption, church, and eschatology). Four five-part questions, each set on one topic and worth 24 marks (1, 2, 4, 5 and 12): 96 marks plus 3 for spelling, punctuation and grammar, assessed in the 12-mark questions.	1h 45m	99	50%
8063/2A Paper 2A: Perspectives on faith – Themes	Component 2, non-textual route booklet: two religious, philosophical and ethical themes chosen from A, religion, relationships and families; B, religion, peace and conflict; C, religion, human rights and social justice. One five-part question per theme worth 24 marks: 48 marks. Sat in the same 1 hour 45 minute session as the Islam (2X) or Judaism (2Y) booklet, about 50 minutes advised for each.	c. 50m (of the 1h 45m Paper 2)	48	Half of Paper 2 (50% of GCSE)
8063/2B Paper 2B: Perspectives on faith – Textual studies	Component 2, textual studies route booklet: both textual themes, D, St Mark's Gospel – the life of Jesus, and E, St Mark's Gospel as a source of spiritual truth. One five-part question per theme worth 24 marks: 48 marks. Sat in the same 1 hour 45 minute session as the Islam (2X) or Judaism (2Y) booklet, about 50 minutes advised for each.	c. 50m (of the 1h 45m Paper 2)	48	Half of Paper 2 (50% of GCSE)
8063/2X Paper 2X: Perspectives on faith – Islam	Component 2 religion booklet on Islam: two five-part questions, on beliefs and on practices, each worth 24 marks (1, 2, 4, 5 and 12): 48 marks plus 6 for spelling, punctuation and grammar. Sat in the same 1 hour 45 minute session as either the Themes (2A) or Textual studies (2B) booklet, about 50 minutes advised for each.	c. 50m (of the 1h 45m Paper 2)	54	Half of Paper 2 (50% of GCSE)
8063/2Y Paper 2Y: Perspectives on faith – Judaism	Component 2 religion booklet on Judaism: two five-part questions, on beliefs and on practices, each worth 24 marks (1, 2, 4, 5 and 12): 48 marks plus 6 for spelling, punctuation and grammar. Sat in the same 1 hour 45 minute session as either the Themes (2A) or Textual studies (2B) booklet, about 50 minutes advised for each.	c. 50m (of the 1h 45m Paper 2)	54	Half of Paper 2 (50% of GCSE)

Official specification · verified October 2026 ↗

AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062)

AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062) is a linear qualification with two written papers, each lasting 1 hour 45 minutes and worth 50% of the GCSE. Component 1 tests the beliefs, teachings and practices of two religions chosen from Buddhism, Christianity, Catholic Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism: 96 marks plus 6 for spelling, punctuation and grammar, sat as two religion booklets (papers 11–17). Component 2 is thematic studies, 96 marks plus 3 for SPaG: either four religious, philosophical and ethical themes (Paper 2A) or two such themes plus two St Mark's Gospel textual themes (Paper 2B). Every question has five parts worth 1, 1, 4, 6 and 12 marks.

Paper	What it covers	Time	Marks	Weight
8062/11 Paper 1 option: Buddhism	Component 1 (The study of religions: beliefs, teachings and practices) booklet for Buddhism. Students take two religion booklets in the same 1 hour 45 minute sitting (about 50 minutes advised for each); Christianity and Catholic Christianity cannot be combined. Two five-part questions, on beliefs and teachings and on practices, each worth 24 marks (1, 1, 4, 6 and 12): 48 marks plus 3 for spelling, punctuation and grammar, assessed in the 12-mark beliefs question.	c. 50m (of the 1h 45m Paper 1)	51	Half of Paper 1 (50% of GCSE)
8062/12 Paper 1 option: Catholic Christianity	Component 1 (The study of religions: beliefs, teachings and practices) booklet for Catholic Christianity. Students take two religion booklets in the same 1 hour 45 minute sitting (about 50 minutes advised for each); Christianity and Catholic Christianity cannot be combined. Two five-part questions, on beliefs and teachings and on practices, each worth 24 marks (1, 1, 4, 6 and 12): 48 marks plus 3 for spelling, punctuation and grammar, assessed in the 12-mark beliefs question.	c. 50m (of the 1h 45m Paper 1)	51	Half of Paper 1 (50% of GCSE)
8062/13 Paper 1 option: Christianity	Component 1 (The study of religions: beliefs, teachings and practices) booklet for Christianity. Students take two religion booklets in the same 1 hour 45 minute sitting (about 50 minutes advised for each); Christianity and Catholic Christianity cannot be combined. Two five-part questions, on beliefs and teachings and on practices, each worth 24 marks (1, 1, 4, 6 and 12): 48 marks plus 3 for spelling, punctuation and grammar, assessed in the 12-mark beliefs question.	c. 50m (of the 1h 45m Paper 1)	51	Half of Paper 1 (50% of GCSE)
8062/14 Paper 1 option: Hinduism	Component 1 (The study of religions: beliefs, teachings and practices) booklet for Hinduism. Students take two religion booklets in the same 1 hour 45 minute sitting (about 50 minutes advised for each); Christianity and Catholic Christianity cannot be combined. Two five-part questions, on beliefs and teachings and on practices, each worth 24 marks (1, 1, 4, 6 and 12): 48 marks plus 3 for spelling, punctuation and grammar, assessed in the 12-mark beliefs question.	c. 50m (of the 1h 45m Paper 1)	51	Half of Paper 1 (50% of GCSE)
8062/15 Paper 1 option: Islam	Component 1 (The study of religions: beliefs, teachings and practices) booklet for Islam. Students take two religion booklets in the same 1 hour 45 minute sitting (about 50 minutes advised for each); Christianity and Catholic Christianity cannot be combined. Two five-part questions, on beliefs and teachings and on practices, each worth 24 marks (1, 1, 4, 6 and 12): 48 marks plus 3 for spelling, punctuation and grammar, assessed in the 12-mark beliefs question.	c. 50m (of the 1h 45m Paper 1)	51	Half of Paper 1 (50% of GCSE)
8062/16 Paper 1 option: Judaism	Component 1 (The study of religions: beliefs, teachings and practices) booklet for Judaism. Students take two religion booklets in the same 1 hour 45 minute sitting (about 50 minutes advised for each); Christianity and Catholic Christianity cannot be combined. Two five-part questions, on beliefs and teachings and on practices, each worth 24 marks (1, 1, 4, 6 and 12): 48 marks plus 3 for spelling, punctuation and grammar, assessed in the 12-mark beliefs question.	c. 50m (of the 1h 45m Paper 1)	51	Half of Paper 1 (50% of GCSE)
8062/17 Paper 1 option: Sikhism	Component 1 (The study of religions: beliefs, teachings and practices) booklet for Sikhism. Students take two religion booklets in the same 1 hour 45 minute sitting (about 50 minutes advised for each); Christianity and Catholic Christianity cannot be combined. Two five-part questions, on beliefs and teachings and on practices, each worth 24 marks (1, 1, 4, 6 and 12): 48 marks plus 3 for spelling, punctuation and grammar, assessed in the 12-mark beliefs question.	c. 50m (of the 1h 45m Paper 1)	51	Half of Paper 1 (50% of GCSE)
8062/2A Paper 2A: Thematic studies	Component 2, non-textual route: four religious, philosophical and ethical themes chosen from A–F (relationships and families; religion and life; the existence of God and revelation; religion, peace and conflict; religion, crime and punishment; religion, human rights and social justice). One five-part question per theme worth 24 marks (1, 1, 4, 6 and 12): 96 marks plus 3 for spelling, punctuation and grammar.	1h 45m	99	50%
8062/2B Paper 2B: Thematic studies (including textual studies)	Component 2, textual studies route: two religious, philosophical and ethical themes chosen from A–F (Section A) plus both textual studies themes (Section B): G, St Mark's Gospel – the life of Jesus, and H, St Mark's Gospel as a source of religious, moral and spiritual truths. Each theme is one five-part question worth 24 marks: 96 marks plus 3 for spelling, punctuation and grammar. Students on this route answer on Christianity or Catholic Christianity plus one other religion in Paper 1.	1h 45m	99	50%

Official specification · verified October 2026 ↗

June 202514 papers

8063/1Paper 1 (Catholic Christianity)

AQA GCSE & IGCSE Religious Studies

AQA GCSE Religious Studies B (8063)

AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062)

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