AQA GCSE Religious Studies A Past Papers

No structural changes — the 2026 adjustments remain identical for 2027 and onwards. Core subject content and specifications are unchanged. Key format to know for 2027: each section follows a 1, 1, 4, 6, 12 mark pattern (changed from old 1, 2, 4, 5, 12). Updates: two separate 1-mark questions (multiple choice + short response) replace old 2-mark questions for precise factual recall;;4-mark questions use clearer phrasing ("different" instead of "contrasting"); 6-mark questions (up from 5 marks) now explicitly weight identification and application of religious authority sources (sacred texts) more heavily; 12-mark questions unchanged, still focusing on balanced evaluation and justified conclusions with SPaG marks. Practice tip: Ensure 2027 past papers and mocks use the updated 1, 1, 4, 6, 12 mark allocation, not pre-2026 layouts

Core subject content and topics were last overhauled September 2016 (first assessment 2018) when GCSEs moved to the linear 9–1 grading system — these haven't changed since. The major recent structural assessment change came Summer 2026: the exam mark allocation shifted from 2-mark and 5-mark questions to a 1, 1, 4, 6, 12 pattern.

8062 (Specification A which is the most common) covers two world religions plus contemporary ethical/philosophical themes (war, crime, relationships); 8063 (Specification B) focuses on Catholic Christianity with Judaism or Islam, emphasizing philosophy and ethics differently. To identify yours: if your materials cover general ethics (Themes A–F) alongside two religions, you're on 8062. Multi-letter codes like 8062MA break down: 8062 = base Spec A; M = religion pair (e.g., Christianity & Islam; N = Christianity & Judaism; B = Christianity & Buddhism); final letter = route (A = standard ethics Themes A–F; B = textual studies with St Mark's Gospel). Most common is 8062MA (Christianity & Islam, standard ethics). To confirm your code: (1) Check Paper 1 textbooks for the two religions; (2) Check Paper 2 — are you studying St Mark's Gospel or Themes A–F?; (3) Use 8062 for revision guides and past papers; your school handles the precise multi-letter suffix on final exam entry.