CCEA GCSE religious studies (581) Past Papers 2026

The Christian Church through a Study of the Catholic Church and One Protestant Church

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

The Christian Church with a Focus on the Catholic Church (2a) or the Protestant Church (2b)

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Christianity through a Study of the Gospel of Matthew (Unit 4) or the Gospel of Mark (Unit 5)

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Unit 3 (Revelation of God), Unit 6 (Christian Ethics), Unit 7 (Philosophy of Religion), Unit 8 (Islam), Unit 9 (Judaism)

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Integrating religious teaching into AO2 evaluation answers — the universal limiter

Across every unit in 2023, 2024, and 2025, the chief examiner identified the absence of religious teaching as the single most common reason for marks being capped at Level 2. Candidates who included secular arguments only (abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment) without citing scripture or Church teaching consistently scored in the lower bands. This pattern was noted in Units 1, 2a, 2b, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

Unit 1, Unit 2a, Unit 2b, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6, Unit 7, Unit 8, Unit 9

Philosophy of Religion (Unit 7) — key terms: transcendence, providence, reincarnation versus resurrection

In 2024 and 2025, examiners reported that 'transcendence' was consistently misunderstood or defined as 'unknowable'; 'God's providence' left many responses blank or incorrect; 'reincarnation' and 'resurrection' were confused in multiple scripts. Candidates who understood precise philosophical terminology — omnipotent, immanence, First Cause, inconsistent triad, theodicy — regularly accessed the higher bands, while those without this vocabulary stalled at Level 1 or 2.

Unit 7

Christian Ethics (Unit 6) — failing to address the specific ethical dimension specified

In 2023 and 2024, candidates answering euthanasia questions often argued about the right to die without addressing the question's specific focus on 'dignity'. Candidates answering fertility treatment questions argued about IVF generally without addressing the 'money' component. Questions on pacifism produced descriptions of types of pacifism rather than explaining 'why some Christians are pacifist'. Misreading the precise focus of the question was the most common error in Unit 6 across all three years.

Unit 6

Catholic Church (Unit 2a) — Pauline theology, ordination, and community cohesion

In 2024, there were 'a significant number of non-responses' to questions on Pauline theology and the Body of Christ. In both 2024 and 2025, candidates struggled to define 'community cohesion' and explain the Catholic Church's role in it. Questions on ordination, its importance, and the symbolism of its rites produced limited answers with many candidates confusing ordination symbols with baptism symbols. These topics require targeted revision of their specific theological content.

Unit 2a

Gospel units (4 and 5) — confusing similar stories, and not citing Gospel references in 10-mark answers

Story confusion was flagged in every report for Units 4 and 5: the healing of the man with a paralysed hand confused with the paralysed man lowered through the roof; the trial before Pilate confused with the trial before the Sanhedrin; the man with an evil spirit confused with the boy with an evil spirit; the call of the first disciples confused with the request of James and John. Additionally, in 2024 and 2025, examiners explicitly stated that 10-mark evaluation answers were capped at Level 2 for lacking Gospel references.

Unit 4, Unit 5

Judaism (Unit 9) — specific festivals, ceremonies, and the role of women

In 2024, 'a significant number of candidates were unfamiliar with the name given to the ceremony marking the end of the Sabbath.' In 2025, 'a significant number of candidates were unfamiliar with the Rosh Hashana festival and its importance.' The role of the Chazan was unknown to some candidates in 2025. Questions on Bar/Bat Mitzvah frequently produced accounts of importance rather than description of the ceremony. Candidates also failed to engage with Jewish-specific beliefs when evaluating personal or family issues.

Unit 9

Extended writing and development of points — accessing Levels 3, 4, 5 in high-tariff questions

Across all units and all three years, examiners noted that 'listing points without development' was a near-universal barrier to higher levels. In 2025, the overall conclusion stated: 'Responses that were general, narrative-based or lacked focus struggled to move beyond the lower levels.' Only candidates who developed each point with explanation, evidence, and application to Christians today consistently accessed Levels 3, 4, and 5.

Unit 1, Unit 2a, Unit 2b, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6, Unit 7, Unit 8, Unit 9

Ascension of Jesus and lesser-studied Church festivals — knowledge gaps

In 2025, examiners noted that 'candidates showed a lack of understanding in relation to the Ascension of Jesus' in Unit 1, and that in Unit 2a 'answers often lacked basic knowledge of the Ascension and its significance as a key church festival.' Unit 2b reported that some candidates 'were unaware of this Church festival' regarding the Epiphany. Centres should remind candidates that all festivals and events listed in the specification are assessable, not just the most prominent ones.

Unit 1, Unit 2a, Unit 2b