GCSE Religious Studies (2017)

The CCEA GCSE Religious Studies specification encourages students to develop an enquiring, critical and reflective approach. They explore religions and beliefs, reflecting on and responding personally to fundamental questions.

This specification is unitised, so it’s possible to take part of the assessment at the end of the first year of study.

This qualification builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills developed through Religious Education in the Northern Ireland Curriculum.

Full course students complete two units. Short Course students complete one. For prohibited combinations and further information, please see the specification.

The specification has a total of nine units.

  • Unit 1: The Christian Church through a Study of the Catholic Church and the Protestant Church
  • Unit 2: The Christian Church with a Focus on EITHER the Catholic Church OR the Protestant Church
  • Unit 3: The Revelation of God and the Christian Church
  • Unit 4: Christianity through a Study of the Gospel of Matthew
  • Unit 5: Christianity through a Study of the Gospel of Mark
  • Unit 6: An Introduction to Christian Ethics
  • Unit 7: An Introduction to Philosophy of Religion
  • Unit 8: Islam
  • Unit 9: Judaism.

Current Specification

First teaching: from September 2017
First assessment: from Summer 2018
First award: from Summer 2019
QAN full course: 603/1248/8
QAN short course: 603/1249/X
Subject code: 4610
Guided learning hours: 120
Qualification level: 1/2

Skills developed through our GCSE Religious Studies

This specification supports the Northern Ireland Curriculum at Key Stage 4 and gives students further opportunities to achieve their potential and develop skills for life.

Students continue to develop the Cross-Curricular Skills and the Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities.

Religious Studies helps students to develop skills that are useful in the workplace and in future study. These include developing an enquiring, critical and reflective approach. They contribute to discussions and debates, interpret and analyse mathematical data and use ICT to access, manage, select and present information. They also identify and analyse relationships and patterns, evaluate from multiple perspectives, form opinions and justify their views.

For more information on this specification contact:

Donna Finlay
Subject Officer
(028) 9590 6694
Arlene Ashfield
Specification Support Officer
(028) 9590 6678