Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 International GCSE
May–June 2022 Assessment Window
Syllabus
reference 4RS1
Religious Studies
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Advance Information
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• For each paper, the information listed in the tables shows the major focus of the
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4RS1/01
PAPER 1: Beliefs and Values
The content requirements for two of the four sections on the paper will be provided,
delineated by question number.
Section 1: The Universe, Creation and the Place of Human Beings
Question 1
Topic Sub-topic
1.1 The Universe and the Religious and non-religious beliefs/teachings about the origin
Place of Human Beings of the universe and the place of human beings in it; religious
beliefs/teachings about its purpose.
1.3 Selfishness, Greed, (Differing) views about human responsibility for hatred,
Ignorance and Sin injustice, violence and war in the world;
and whether hatred, injustice, violence and war are inevitable
features of a world inhabited by human beings.
1.4 Free Will, Determinism Religious and non-religious beliefs/teachings about free will,
and Predestination determinism and predestination.
Whether determinism means that human beings’ choices and
actions cannot be free; the extent to which human beings
should be held responsible (and punished) for their actions.
1.5 Ultimate Reality Religious beliefs/teachings about the nature and character of
God. Monotheism and polytheism, and reasons why people
believe in one God or many gods.
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Question 2
Topic Sub-topic
1.1 The Universe and the Religious and non-religious beliefs/teachings about the origin
Place of Human Beings of the universe and the place of human beings in it; religious
beliefs/teachings about its purpose.
1.2 Human Nature and the (Differing) views about immortality and the soul; why some
Human Condition people believe that human beings have a soul, while others
do not; and why some people believe that the real world is
nothing more than the physical world (physicalism).
1.6 Belief, Uncertainty Arguments from the existence of the world to God as the
and Unbelief only possible explanation of its existence; arguments from
the appearance of design in the world to God as designer; the
search for meaning and purpose in life; the appeal to religious
authority; and such experiences as conversion.
1.7 The Problem of Evil and Attempts by religious people to explain why God created a
Suffering world containing suffering and/or allows it to continue; non-
religious explanations of the causes and existence of evil
and suffering in the world; and religious and non-religious
responses to the reality of evil and suffering, and views on
how to cope with them.
Section 2: Life and Death
Question 3
Topic Sub-topic
2.1 Death and Life After Religious beliefs/teachings about the nature of life after death;
Death linear and cyclical views of human existence; immortality of
the soul; resurrection; rebirth; judgement; and the law of cause
and effect in relation to life after death.
2.3 Sanctity of Life, Abortion The nature of abortion and euthanasia; current legal
and Euthanasia arrangements (in any named country) that permit or prohibit
them; differing attitudes to abortion and euthanasia among
religious and non-religious people and within particular
religious traditions.
2.5 Marriage and (Differing) religious and non-religious attitudes towards sex
Partnership outside marriage (pre-marital sex, promiscuity and adultery)
and to couples living together, including in long-term
relationships, without being married (cohabitation).
2.8 Childlessness and Religious and non-religious beliefs/teachings about, and the
Celibacy (differing) attitudes of religious and non-religious people to:
childlessness; decisions not to have children (and the reasons
for such decisions).
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Question 4
Topic Sub-topic
2.2 The Meaning and Purpose Non-religious ideas about the meaning and purpose of life.
of Life The view that questions about the meaning and purpose of
life get in the way of living it to the full and making the world
a better place.
2.5 Marriage and Religious and non-religious beliefs/teachings about, and the
Partnership (differing) attitudes of religious and non-religious people to:
marriage and its purposes; the importance and role of
marriage in religious communities and society.
2.6 Divorce and Religious and non-religious beliefs/teachings about, and the
Remarriage (differing) attitudes of religious and non-religious people to,
divorce and remarriage.
2.7 Family Structures Religious and non-religious beliefs/teachings about, and the
and Responsibilities (differing) attitudes of religious and non-religious people
to: family life and its importance; responsibilities within the
family, including those between different generations; the
rights of children; the changing nature of family life (nuclear,
extended, single-parent and reconstituted families).
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4RS1/02
PAPER 2: The Religious Community
Topic Sub-topic
Buddhism: Section 1 The teaching of the Dhammapada, the
Origins and their impact on the community importance of the sangha, the life of the
Buddha
Christianity: Section 1 The authority of the Bible, the nature of
Origins and their impact on the community authority within Christian denominations,
attitudes to ordained ministry
Hinduism: Section 1 The importance of pujaris, the significance of
Origins and their impact on the community Rama, the influence of Ramanuja
Islam: Section 1 The importance of the Qur’an, the principles
Origins and their impact on the community of ijma and qiyya, the significance of the
Rightly Guided-Caliphs
Judaism: Section 1 The use and significance of the Mishnah,
Origins and their impact on the community the importance of rabbis, the importance of
Abraham
Sikhism: Section 1 Sources of guidance for Sikhs other than
Origins and their impact on the community the Guru Granth Sahib, the significance of
religious leaders, the significance of the
human Gurus
Topic Sub-topic
Buddhism: Section 2 The celebration of Nirvana Day, the
Celebration and Pilgrimage significance of pilgrimage to Kapilvastu and
Sarnath
Christianity: Section 2 The celebration of Christmas, pilgrimage
Celebration and Pilgrimage to Bethlehem and to places other than
Jerusalem and Bethlehem
Hinduism: Section 2 The celebration of Durga Puja, the
Celebration and Pilgrimage importance of the Ganges, the importance
of pilgrimage in Hinduism
Islam: Section 2 The celebration of Eid ul-Adha and its
Celebration and Pilgrimage meaning and importance, the significance of
Hajj, the significance of Makkah for Muslims
Judaism: Section 2 The celebration of Pesach, the significance of
Celebration and Pilgrimage Jerusalem, the significance of Masada
Sikhism: Section 2 The celebration gurpurbs, the significance
Celebration and Pilgrimage of Amritsar, the practice of pilgrimage in
Sikhism
END OF ADVANCE INFORMATION
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