The Religious Studies ladder
GCSE Religious Studies
AQA's Specification A (the most common) studies two religions in depth, typically Christianity plus one of Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, or Sikhism. Topics include beliefs and teachings (the nature of God, key practices, sources of authority) and thematic ethical questions (relationships and families; religion and life; religion, peace and conflict; religion, crime and punishment; religion, human rights and social justice).
Two papers, both essay-format with 12-mark evaluative questions as the highest-mark items. Students need to present religious teachings accurately, apply them to ethical questions, and engage with non-religious viewpoints.
A-level Religious Studies
Three papers. Philosophy of Religion covers arguments for the existence of God (ontological, cosmological, teleological, moral), the problem of evil, religious experience, religious language (verification and falsification debates), the mind-body problem, and life after death. Religion and Ethics covers normative ethical theories (utilitarianism, Kantian deontology, natural law, virtue ethics, situation ethics) and meta-ethics (naturalism, intuitionism, emotivism), applied to ethical issues such as sexual ethics, business ethics, euthanasia, war, and conscience. Developments in [Religion] Thought is an in-depth study of one tradition, typically Christianity for most schools, covering theological developments, historical thinkers (Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin, Bonhoeffer), modern thinkers (liberation theology, feminist theology, postmodern theology), and contemporary questions.
What tutoring focuses on
Argument structure
Religious Studies essays are argumentative. Strong essays open with a clear thesis, structure paragraphs each presenting and evaluating a position, consider counter-arguments, and reach a substantiated conclusion. Tutors coach explicit essay frameworks; many students drift into descriptive content without sustained argumentative structure.
Named-philosopher and named-thinker recall
Mark schemes reward specific citation. Plato's analogy of the cave for theory of forms; Aristotle on virtue ethics; Aquinas on natural law and the Five Ways; Hume on miracles and the problem of evil; Kant on the categorical imperative; Mill on utilitarianism's higher and lower pleasures; Wittgenstein on religious language; Hick on John Hick's theodicy. Tutors build systematic recall practice.
12-mark and 15-mark evaluation
Evaluation depth is the differentiator at top grades. Tutors drill the discipline: present the strongest form of each position before critiquing, consider implications, weigh factors, integrate named thinkers, and reach a nuanced conclusion. The mark scheme reliably rewards explicit evaluation.
Cross-perspective integration
Strong A-level Religious Studies essays integrate philosophy, ethics, and theology fluently: using Aquinas's natural law in an ethics question, or applying Hume's critique of miracles in a religious experience question. Tutors coach this synoptic cross-application; A-level Philosophy overlaps meaningfully with the philosophy-of-religion content.
Choosing a Religious Studies tutor
Confirm the board: AQA, OCR (slightly more philosophy-leaning), Edexcel, and WJEC Eduqas all have specifications that differ in topic emphasis. Confirm religion choices at GCSE; the second religion (Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism) varies between schools. Confirm the developments-in-thought tradition at A-level (usually Christianity, but can be Islam or another tradition). For students taking RS for university (Theology, Philosophy, Law, PPE), tutors with philosophy or theology degree backgrounds add value beyond exam coaching. Strong tutors lead with argument structure, not content recall.