How to Revise iGCSE Religious Studies

Revise iGCSE Religious Studies with practice on world religions, philosophy, ethics, and textual analysis.

Revision Strategy

Revising Religious Studies requires you to balance factual recall with analytical skills. You need to remember specific dates, events, facts, and examples, but the marks are awarded for how you use this knowledge to construct arguments and evaluate evidence. Avoid the trap of spending all your time memorising facts without practising how to deploy them in essays and structured answers.

Source analysis and essay writing are central to Religious Studies exams, so practise these skills regularly. For sources, develop a consistent approach: consider who created it, when, why, and what perspective it represents. For essays, plan your argument before you start writing and make sure every paragraph has a clear point supported by specific evidence.

Case studies and specific examples are what separate strong answers from weak ones in Religious Studies. Learn three or four precise details for each major topic — specific names, dates, statistics, or places — and practise weaving them into your answers. Vague generalisations will not earn top marks, but precise, well-deployed evidence demonstrates genuine understanding.

Study Tips for iGCSE Religious Studies

✓ Learn specific religious teachings, texts and quotations for each topic. iGCSE Religious Studies examiners reward answers that reference specific scriptures, doctrines or religious authorities.
✓ Practice answering evaluation questions by presenting multiple viewpoints (including religious and secular perspectives) and reaching a reasoned personal conclusion.
✓ Create comparison tables when studying similar themes across different religions. Understanding both similarities and differences is frequently tested.
✓ Study the application of religious principles to modern ethical issues (medical ethics, environmental responsibility, social justice) as these are common exam topics.

Exam Tips for iGCSE Religious Studies

✓ In evaluation questions, always include at least two different perspectives and make your own reasoned judgement. One-sided answers cannot access the highest marks.
✓ Use specific religious vocabulary and terminology. Referring to concepts by their proper names (e.g. ahimsa, agape, ummah, karma) demonstrates depth of understanding.
✓ Structure your answers clearly and directly address the question. Avoid writing everything you know about a topic when only a specific aspect is being asked about.

Topics to Cover

8 topics in iGCSE Religious Studies

Christianity

Islam

Hinduism

Buddhism

Ethics

Philosophy of Religion

Textual Analysis

Contemporary Issues

Available Exam Boards

iGCSE Religious Studies specification guides for each exam board

Cambridge International

Frequently Asked Questions

Which religions are studied in iGCSE Religious Studies? +

The Cambridge International syllabus offers options covering Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. Schools typically select one or two religions to study in depth, along with thematic and ethical topics.

Do I need to be religious to study iGCSE Religious Studies? +

No. The qualification is academic, not devotional. It develops your ability to understand, analyse and evaluate religious and ethical perspectives regardless of your own beliefs. Students of all faiths and none study the subject successfully.

Is iGCSE Religious Studies a respected qualification? +

Yes. Universities recognise it as evidence of analytical thinking, evaluative writing and the ability to engage with complex ideas. It is particularly valued for humanities, social science and law applications.

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