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100+ Free A-Level Religious Studies Practice Questions

Pass your A-Level Religious Studies (Philosophy, Ethics, Christianity) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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John Hick's soul-making theodicy is most directly developed from the work of:

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: A-Level Religious Studies Exam

A*-E

Grading scale

Ofqual

3 papers

AQA 7062 assessment structure

AQA specification

240 marks

AQA total marks (80 per paper)

AQA 7062 specification

100

Free practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

AQA, Edexcel, OCR A-Level Religious Studies is assessed through three linear written papers (essay-style) covering Philosophy of Religion, Religious Ethics, and the in-depth Study of a Religion (most commonly Christianity), graded A*-E on the 2026 specifications.

Sample A-Level Religious Studies Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your A-Level Religious Studies exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which scholar formulated the ontological argument that 'God is that than which no greater can be conceived'?
A.Anselm of Canterbury
B.Thomas Aquinas
C.William Paley
D.Immanuel Kant
Explanation: Anselm presented the ontological argument in Proslogion (1078), defining God as 'that than which no greater can be conceived' and arguing that such a being must exist in reality, not just in the mind, because existence in reality is greater than existence in the mind alone.
2Kant's central objection to the ontological argument was that:
A.Existence is not a predicate
B.God is necessarily greater than humans
C.The argument relies on faith not reason
D.There is no real distinction between essence and existence
Explanation: In Critique of Pure Reason, Kant argues that 'existence' adds nothing to the concept of a thing — saying a triangle 'exists' does not give it an extra property. Therefore, defining God as having necessary existence does not by itself prove He exists.
3Gaunilo's 'Lost Island' objection attempts to refute Anselm's argument by showing that:
A.The same logic could prove a perfect island exists
B.Islands are physical, but God is not
C.God is greater than any island can be
D.Anselm contradicts himself about perfection
Explanation: Gaunilo (a contemporary monk) parodied Anselm by claiming that if we defined the most perfect island and said it must exist in reality, we would absurdly prove the existence of such an island. He used this reductio ad absurdum to suggest Anselm's reasoning is flawed.
4Aquinas's Second Way (the cosmological argument from causation) concludes that there must be:
A.An uncaused first cause
B.An eternal universe
C.A necessary moral law
D.A purposeful designer
Explanation: In Summa Theologica, Aquinas argues that every effect has a cause; an infinite regress of causes is impossible; therefore there must be a first uncaused cause, which everyone understands to be God.
5Hume's main objection to the cosmological argument is that:
A.We have no experience of universes being caused
B.Causes are always physical objects
C.Infinite regress is logically impossible
D.God cannot be a cause of Himself
Explanation: In Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, Hume argues we have experience of causation only within the universe and cannot legitimately extend it to the universe as a whole. The 'Fallacy of Composition' is also relevant — what is true of parts may not be true of the whole.
6William Paley's watchmaker analogy is an example of which type of argument?
A.Teleological (design)
B.Cosmological
C.Ontological
D.Moral
Explanation: In Natural Theology (1802), Paley argues that finding a watch on a heath implies a watchmaker because of its intricate parts working for a purpose. By analogy, the complexity and purpose in nature imply a divine designer — God.
7Which of Hume's objections most directly undermines Paley's analogy from design?
A.The universe is not sufficiently similar to a machine
B.Watches do not contain conscious beings
C.God cannot be inferred from finite evidence
D.Design only proves a finite designer
Explanation: Hume argues the analogy between the universe and a machine like a watch is weak — the universe might more closely resemble a vegetable or an animal, in which case design is not an apt explanation. A weak analogy yields a weak conclusion.
8Kant's moral argument concludes that God must exist as the condition for:
A.The summum bonum — uniting virtue and happiness
B.The categorical imperative to be valid
C.Moral duty to be universal
D.Conscience to function reliably
Explanation: Kant argued that morality requires us to pursue the summum bonum (highest good): a state where virtue is rewarded with happiness. Since this is not achieved in this life, God and immortality must be postulated to make the moral law coherent.
9Augustine's theodicy explains evil primarily as:
A.A privation of good caused by the Fall
B.A necessary stage of soul-making
C.A divine test of faith
D.An illusion of the material world
Explanation: Augustine argued that evil is privatio boni — a privation or absence of good — not a substance God created. Moral evil entered through the misuse of free will by angels and Adam, with all humanity 'seminally present' in Adam sharing the guilt of original sin.
10A key criticism of Augustine's theodicy is that it conflicts with which scientific view?
A.Evolution and the absence of a literal Fall
B.The conservation of energy
C.Quantum indeterminacy
D.Heliocentrism
Explanation: Augustine's theodicy requires a literal Adam and Eve and a Fall that introduced suffering and death. Evolutionary biology shows death and suffering long predate humans, undermining the historical foundation Augustine relies on.

About the A-Level Religious Studies Exam

A-Level Religious Studies is offered by AQA (7062), OCR (H573) and Edexcel (9RS0). The AQA course is assessed through three 3-hour papers covering Philosophy of Religion, Religious Ethics, and the Study of Religion (with optional Dialogues). OCR uses the same tripartite structure (Philosophy, Ethics, Developments in Religious Thought), and Edexcel offers Paper 1 Philosophy plus Paper 2 Ethics plus a third paper on New Testament or a chosen religion.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

9 hours total across 3 papers (3 hours each on AQA)

Passing Score

Grade E is the minimum pass, Grades A*-E count as a pass (A*-A-B-C-D-E)

Exam Fee

£75-£130 per subject (school-set entry fee) (AQA, Edexcel, OCR)

A-Level Religious Studies Exam Content Outline

~30%

Philosophy of Religion

Arguments for God's existence (ontological, cosmological, teleological, moral), the problem of evil (Augustine, Irenaeus, Hick), religious experience (James, Otto), religious language (verification, falsification, analogy, symbol, Wittgenstein)

~30%

Religious Ethics

Natural law (Aquinas), situation ethics (Fletcher), utilitarianism (Bentham, Mill), Kantian ethics, virtue ethics (Aristotle), meta-ethics (naturalism, intuitionism, emotivism), conscience (Aquinas, Freud, Newman), applied ethics (euthanasia, business, sexual ethics)

~30%

Study of Religion: Christianity

Augustine on human nature, death and the afterlife, knowledge of God's existence, person of Jesus Christ, Christian moral principles and action, religious pluralism and theology, gender and theology, liberation theology, Christianity and science

~10%

Dialogues

Dialogues between Christianity and philosophy of religion, and between Christianity and religious ethics (AQA 7062 Sections C and D of Paper 2A)

How to Pass the A-Level Religious Studies Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Grade E is the minimum pass, Grades A*-E count as a pass (A*-A-B-C-D-E)
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 9 hours total across 3 papers (3 hours each on AQA)
  • Exam fee: £75-£130 per subject (school-set entry fee)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

A-Level Religious Studies Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorise specific scholars, quotes, and technical vocabulary — examiners reward precise attribution (Aquinas's Five Ways, Hume's objections, Hick's soul-making)
2Practise structured essays with clear AO1/AO2 split: explain a view (AO1), then critically evaluate it with named opposing scholars (AO2)
3Build comparison tables across ethical theories — e.g. how natural law, utilitarianism, Kantian and situation ethics each treat euthanasia
4Use past paper essay questions and examiner reports each summer to see how A* answers reach a sustained justified conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

What exam boards offer A-Level Religious Studies?

AQA (7062), OCR (H573), and Edexcel/Pearson (9RS0) all offer A-Level Religious Studies. All boards include Philosophy of Religion and Religious Ethics; the third component is the in-depth Study of a Religion (most candidates study Christianity).

How is A-Level Religious Studies assessed?

AQA assesses through three 3-hour written papers totalling 240 marks. Each paper requires extended essay responses (typically three 50-mark essays from a choice). There is no coursework or non-examined assessment component.

Which religion can I study for the third paper?

On AQA Paper 2 you choose one of: 2A Christianity, 2B Islam, 2C Hinduism, 2D Buddhism, 2E Judaism, or 2F Sikhism. Christianity is by far the most popular option in UK schools.

How is A-Level Religious Studies graded?

A-Levels are graded A*-E, with A* the highest grade and E the minimum pass. Mark schemes weight AO1 (knowledge and understanding) at about 40% and AO2 (analysis and evaluation) at about 60% for most essay questions.