AQA GCSE Religious Studies A sample questions and answers (8062)
Guide overview All 15 topics Sample questions Papers and weighting Look inside Questions and answers
45 sample questions and answers
Taken from every topic of AQA GCSE Religious Studies A, specification 8062. The full guide has 1,734.
Paper 1
Buddhism
137 questions in the guide, across 10 subtopics. More from this topic
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The life of the Buddha
Name the Four Sights that Siddhattha saw outside the palace.
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Siddhattha saw an old man, a sick man and a corpse. The fourth sight was a holy man who had given up all possessions. -
The Dhamma and the Three Marks of Existence
How does dependent arising explain the cycle of rebirth?
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Ignorance leads to craving, craving leads to grasping, and grasping leads to another birth. A break in one link of the chain ends the whole cycle. -
The human personality and human destiny
How do the Five Aggregates support the teaching of anatta?
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A person is only the five aggregates working together, with no extra self behind them. Each aggregate changes constantly, so no permanent person can be found.
Paper 1
Christianity
136 questions in the guide, across 10 subtopics. More from this topic
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The nature of God and the problem of evil
What do Christians mean when they say God is immanent?
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Immanent means present and active within the world. Christians believe God stays close to people and involved in their lives. -
The Trinity and the role of Word and Spirit in creation
Which verse commands baptism in the name of all three persons of the Trinity?
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Matthew 28:19 commands baptism "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". -
The incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension
Give one reason the incarnation matters to Christians.
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The incarnation shows that God understands human life from the inside. Christians also believe only a truly human and truly divine saviour could reconcile people to God.
Paper 1
Catholic Christianity
136 questions in the guide, across 10 subtopics. More from this topic
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The Trinity and the Nicene Creed
Whose teaching did the Council of Nicaea reject?
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Arius taught that the Son was created by the Father and was not eternal. The council rejected that teaching and declared the Son fully divine. -
Creation, human dignity and stewardship
What does creation out of nothing mean?
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Creation ex nihilo means God made everything from nothing at all. God did not shape material that already existed. -
The incarnation and redemption
What did the Council of Chalcedon decide about the natures of Christ?
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Chalcedon taught in 451 CE that Christ is one person in two natures. The divine and human natures are united without being mixed or confused.
Paper 1
Hinduism
136 questions in the guide, across 10 subtopics. More from this topic
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Brahman and the three features of the divine
What are the spiritual worlds in Hindu belief?
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The spiritual worlds are eternal realms where God is directly present. Vaishnavas name Vaikuntha and Shaivas name Kailasa as such realms. -
The Tri-murti, the deities and avatara
Who is Ganesha and what is he known for?
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Ganesha is the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati. Hindus pray to Ganesha to remove obstacles at the start of anything new. -
Matter, maya and Hindu cosmology
What does tamas mean?
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Tamas is the quality of darkness, ignorance and inertia. A tamasic person is lazy, confused or destructive.
Paper 1
Islam
139 questions in the guide, across 10 subtopics. More from this topic
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Tawhid and the six articles of faith
Why do Muslims treat shirk so seriously?
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Shirk denies the one truth on which Islam rests. Qur'an 4:48 teaches that God forgives every sin except unrepented shirk. -
The nature of God: mercy, justice and Adalat
How does belief in God's justice affect Muslim attitudes to the Day of Judgement?
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Muslims trust that God will judge every person fairly. Nobody will be punished for something they had no power to avoid. -
Angels, predestination and human freedom
What is the role of Mika'il?
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Mika'il is the angel of sustenance. Muslims believe Mika'il is responsible for rain, food and the provision that keeps life going.
Paper 1
Judaism
140 questions in the guide, across 10 subtopics. More from this topic
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The nature of God and the Shekhinah
What does it mean to call God the Law-Giver?
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God gave the Torah and its mitzvot to the Jewish people at Sinai. Jewish law is understood as God's instruction rather than human invention. -
The Messiah, judgement and life after death
What is the Orthodox Jewish view of the Messiah?
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Orthodox Jews expect a personal Messiah sent by God. Belief in the Messiah is one of Maimonides' thirteen principles of faith. -
The Covenant with Abraham and the Covenant at Sinai
Which sign of the covenant with Abraham is still kept today?
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Brit Milah, the circumcision of a baby boy on the eighth day, continues the sign. Genesis 17 records the command given to Abraham.
Paper 1
Sikhism
138 questions in the guide, across 10 subtopics. More from this topic
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The Mool Mantar and the nature of God
What is meant by describing God as Karta Purakh?
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Karta Purakh means 'the Creator Being'. Sikhs believe God made the whole universe and was made by nothing. -
God as Creator and God's relationship with creation
What do the Sikh terms nirgun and sargun mean?
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Nirgun describes God without attributes, beyond form and beyond creation. Sargun describes God with attributes, present within creation. -
Human life, the Sikh virtues and living as a gurmukh
Why is humility, or nimrata, important to a Sikh?
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Humility keeps a Sikh from pride, which Sikh teaching treats as the main barrier to God. A humble person can serve others without wanting praise.
Paper 2
Theme a: Relationships and Families
97 questions in the guide, across 7 subtopics. More from this topic
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Human sexuality and homosexual relationships
What does the Roman Catholic Church teach about homosexual people and homosexual acts?
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Catholic teaching holds that homosexual acts are wrong but that a homosexual orientation is not itself a sin. The Catechism says gay people must be treated with respect, compassion and sensitivity. -
Human sexuality and homosexual relationships
What do humanists say about homosexual relationships?
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Humanists argue that a relationship is good if it is consensual, honest and harms nobody. Humanists therefore see no moral difference between a same-sex and an opposite-sex relationship. -
Sex before and outside marriage
What is the traditional Christian teaching about when sex is right?
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Traditional Christian teaching is that sex belongs only within marriage. Sex is understood as a gift from God that expresses lifelong commitment.
Paper 2
Theme B: Religion and Life
93 questions in the guide, across 7 subtopics. More from this topic
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The origins of the universe
What is meant by the Big Bang theory?
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The Big Bang theory states that the universe began from a single extremely hot, dense point. Space has been expanding ever since. -
The origins of the universe
What does the Qur'an teach about how the universe began?
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Surah 21:30 teaches that the heavens and the earth were once joined together and were then separated by Allah. Many Muslims see this as fitting the Big Bang. -
Stewardship, dominion and the value of the world
Explain the difference between dominion and stewardship.
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Dominion gives human beings authority over creation. Stewardship makes that authority a responsibility to care for creation on God's behalf.
Paper 2
Theme C: the Existence of God and Revelation
95 questions in the guide, across 7 subtopics. More from this topic
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The Design argument
Give two examples of apparent design in nature.
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The human eye and the orbits of the planets are common examples. Each example shows parts working together for a purpose. -
The Design argument
Which biologist called natural selection a blind watchmaker?
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Richard Dawkins used the phrase in his book The Blind Watchmaker in 1986. Dawkins argued that natural selection has no purpose and no foresight. -
The First Cause argument
What is meant by an infinite regress?
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An infinite regress is a chain of causes going back for ever with no starting point. Aquinas argued that such a chain could never get started.
Paper 2
Theme D: Religion, Peace and Conflict
96 questions in the guide, across 7 subtopics. More from this topic
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Peace, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation
Which teaching of Jesus blesses peacemakers?
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Matthew 5:9 records Jesus calling peacemakers blessed and children of God. Christians treat peace-making as a duty rather than an option. -
Peace, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation
Why is justice important to religious believers?
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God is described as just, so believers try to reflect that character. Injustice such as poverty or oppression is treated as an offence against God. -
Violence, violent protest and terrorism
Which incident is used to argue that Jesus accepted some use of force?
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Mark 11:15-17 describes Jesus overturning the tables of the money changers in the Temple. Scholars point out that Jesus damaged property rather than harming people.
Paper 2
Theme E: Religion, Crime and Punishment
92 questions in the guide, across 7 subtopics. More from this topic
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Good, evil and intention
Explain the Christian idea of original sin.
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Original sin is the flawed nature that Christians believe all people inherit from Adam and Eve. Augustine argued that human beings cannot overcome it without God's grace. -
Good, evil and intention
Give one argument that it can sometimes be good to cause suffering.
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Some believers argue that suffering is justified when it produces a greater good, such as surgery that saves a life. Punishment that reforms an offender is defended in the same way. -
Reasons for crime
How is addiction a cause of crime?
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Addiction to drugs or alcohol can drive a person to steal to pay for the next supply. Judgement and self-control are weakened by the substance itself.
Paper 2
Theme F: Religion, Human Rights and Social Justice
91 questions in the guide, across 7 subtopics. More from this topic
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Prejudice, discrimination and equality
Which Christian teaching is most often quoted in support of equality?
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Paul wrote that there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female (Galatians 3:28). All believers are one in Christ Jesus, according to that verse. -
Prejudice, discrimination and equality
Is positive discrimination lawful in Britain?
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Positive discrimination is generally unlawful under the Equality Act 2010. Positive action is allowed, which means encouraging or training under-represented groups without handing them the job automatically. -
The status of women in religion
Why does the Roman Catholic Church ordain only men?
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Catholic teaching holds that Jesus chose twelve men as apostles and that a priest acts in the person of Christ. The Church states that it has no authority to ordain women.
Paper 2
Theme G: St Mark’s Gospel: the Life of Jesus
104 questions in the guide, across 7 subtopics. More from this topic
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John the Baptist, the baptism and the temptation
What happened at Jesus' baptism in Mark 1:9-11?
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Jesus was baptised by John in the Jordan, and as he came out of the water the heavens were torn open and the Spirit descended like a dove. A voice from heaven said, "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." -
John the Baptist, the baptism and the temptation
How does Mark's account of the temptation differ from Matthew's and Luke's?
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Mark gives only two verses and names none of the temptations. Matthew and Luke describe three specific temptations and Jesus' replies. -
Early miracles and the rejection at Nazareth
What did Jesus say when told the girl had died?
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Jesus told Jairus not to be afraid but only to believe. Peter, James and John went with him to the house.
Paper 2
Theme H: St Mark’s Gospel as a Source of Religious, Moral and Spiritual Truths
104 questions in the guide, across 7 subtopics. More from this topic
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The parables of the Kingdom
What do the path and the rocky ground represent?
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The path is people from whom Satan takes the word away at once. The rocky ground is people who receive it with joy but fall away when trouble or persecution comes. -
The parables of the Kingdom
What does the mustard seed teach about the Kingdom?
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The kingdom begins very small and becomes something great. The birds sheltering suggest that many will find a place in it. -
Entering the Kingdom: children, wealth and the greatest commandment
What did Jesus tell the rich man to do?
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Jesus looked at him and loved him, then said one thing was lacking: sell everything, give to the poor, and come and follow. The man went away sad, because he had great wealth.
AQA GCSE Religious Studies A Active Recall Guide
The other 1,689 questions, with the answers printed after each section.