If your religious studies GCSE is fast approaching, you’re probably wondering how to revise for it.
After all, RS – or RE – is a subject that doesn’t always have a right or wrong answer!
Don’t worry. Here, we’ll cover how to revise for RS GCSE so you can come away with a 9.
Psst! Our GCSE RS tutors are experts at bringing their subject to life and helping learners to boost their grades – start your search today.
How to revise RS/RE GCSE: 9 top tips
Looking at your GCSE RS revision notes and textbook, wondering where to begin?
These top tips will help you to start your revision off on the right foot.
Quick note: Depending on your education provider, you might call this course RS or RE (religious studies or religious education). They’re both the same thing!
1. Start now!
It’s never too soon to start your RS GCSE revision.
In fact, the sooner you begin revising, the more time you’ll have to get completely comfortable with the course content and exam structure.
Plus, if you leave yourself plenty of time, you’ll be able to revise little and often – which will be a lot more productive (and less stressful!) than trying to cram at the last minute.
An easy way to start is to take 10 minutes after each RE lesson to go over what you’ve learned in class.
Read through your notes, check you understand it all and maybe even try out a couple of practice questions.
This can save you lots of time later down the road. Plus, it’s a great way of spotting any areas where you could do with some extra help before you head off on study leave!
2. Know what to expect
It’s important to understand exactly what could come up in your RS GCSE exams.
That way, you can make sure you’re fully prepared, and that there won’t be any nasty surprises in the exam room.
Exactly what you’ll be assessed on will vary based on several different factors, including:
- Your exam board
- What route you take
- Whether you’re taking RS full or short course
So, we would always recommend finding the specification for your course and printing it off.
This will show you exactly what you can expect – including what you’ll be assessed on in each paper.
Then, you can make sure you have the right knowledge at the forefront of your mind when you head into the exam room.
3. Create a detailed revision timetable
A revision timetable will help you to keep your revision on track.
You’ll be able to make sure you’re dividing your time up fairly between all subjects and topics.
And you’ll be able to stress less knowing you have everything covered that could come up in the exam room.
- Check your exam schedule
- Calculate how much time you have to study
- Decide which subjects and topics you need to spend the most time on
- Allocate time to each subject and topic.
When it comes to your GCSE RS revision, colour coding can be a useful way to differentiate between different religions and units.
Oh, and don’t forget to schedule in regular breaks! Which brings us onto…
4. Pace yourself
There’s only so much a brain can assimilate in a day.
So, try not to cram.
Instead, divide your revision up into manageable chunks, schedule in lots of breaks and get plenty of fresh air and exercise.
Plus, plan things to look forward to so that you can enjoy a well-earned reward for working so hard.
Remember, revising little and often is typically the best way to help material to stick – and to avoid burning out.
“I would say don’t cram, take 20-minute study sessions then take a break. Look after yourself and try to stick to regular bedtimes, no computers late at night etc.
“Get some fresh air and exercise to help with pent-up energy or nerves too.”
– Katherine R, tutor
5. Learn key terms
Make sure that you know key terms related to the religions you’re studying, and how to spell them.
For instance, if you’re answering a question about Hinduism, instead of using the word ‘duty,’ you could use the term ‘dharma.’
This will show that you know your religion inside out.
Plus, you can gain some marks for SPAG!
A great way to memorise key terms is to stick post-it notes up around your home, or use flash cards – we’ll cover revision techniques in more detail later.
6. Memorise quotes
As well as key terms, you’ll need to learn a selection of quotes for each unit.
It can be easy to get overwhelmed, but you may not need to know as many quotes as you fear.
A good approach can be to produce a quotation sheet for each unit, containing no more than 15 quotes – the ones in the spec and few more from the textbook on each topic.
Another trick is to shorten quotes so that they’re only as long as they need to be to get across your point. The shorter your quotes are, the less you’ll need to remember!
As you’re selecting and learning quotes, it’s important to consider how you can use them to back up various points on each topic.
After all, there’s no point in learning quotes just for the sake of it. The whole purpose is to use them as evidence to back up the points you make in the exam room!
7. Work on structuring essay answers
When it comes to RS, it’s not enough just to learn the material.
You’ll also need to think beyond the facts to develop your own arguments and show an understanding of different points of view.
In order to do this successfully, you’ll need to be able to properly structure your answers to those longer essay-style questions.
Exactly what those questions look like will vary from exam board to exam board.
But, for those longer answers, you’ll generally want:
- An introduction
- Two points that support your argument (with a quote and example for each)
- One point that goes against it (with a quote and example)
- A conclusion
For instance, if you’re writing about abortion, you might make a point about the sanctity of human life, a point about how the Bible says it’s wrong and a point about the right to self determination.
You could then argue that points one and two are more important than point three to make your argument super strong – using phrases like ‘This is a strong/weak argument because…’
Top tip: Always make sure you show your understanding of the importance of a belief or practice – why is it practised? What is its purpose? This will set you up for success!
8. Regularly complete RS GCSE past papers
Practice makes perfect!
No matter what kind of learner you are, completing past papers and practice tests can be a huge boost to your revision.
They can…
- Familiarise you with the types of questions you might come across in the real thing
- Allow you to practise managing your time
- Give you valuable practice structuring essay-style answers
- Get you used to dealing with exam pressure
- Boost your confidence for the big day
- Reveal where you’re at in your learning
After completing a past paper, mock exam or practice test, always go through it to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses.
This way, you can tweak your revision schedule to focus on those areas that need it most.
Top tip: You can find past exam papers for your exam board right here on the Tutorful website! Browse past papers now.
9. Find a tutor
Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness!
If there’s anything you don’t quite ‘get,’ you need help marking past papers, or you simply want your own personal cheerleader to help you prepare for your exams, an RS GCSE tutor will be ready and waiting.
They’re experts at bringing their subject to life and will be able to explain difficult concepts in a way that clicks for you.
With tailored lesson plans that take into account your strengths, weaknesses and learning style, it’s a fantastic way to improve your grades.
In fact, 90% of Tutorful students improve by at least one grade – and many improve by even more!
Browse expert, vetted tutors, message free, and book instantly.
How to revise RE: 10 tried and tested revision techniques
Every student is different. So, it’s important to figure out your learning style and use the revision techniques that suit you best.
It can also be handy to mix up your revision techniques from time to time, to keep you engaged and prevent your revision from getting stale.
Here are some techniques that can be particularly helpful in your RS GCSE revision.
1. Make mind maps
Once you’ve finished learning content about a specific topic, why not make a mind map to summarise everything you’ve learned?
It’s a great way to see how much you’ve progressed over the course of your revision for a topic.
Plus, you can check if there’s anything you missed off and spend some extra time revising that afterwards.
2. Create flash cards
Flash cards can be a valuable tool to help you prepare for short knowledge questions.
Go through your RE textbook or revision guide and pick out short questions to write on one side of each flash card. Then, write the answers on the alternate side.
Now, go through your flash cards and test yourself – or, give them to a friend or family member and ask them to test you instead!
3. Stick up post-it notes
Post-it notes are fantastic for memorising quotes and key terminology.
Write the info you need to memorise on colour coded post-its and stick them in places where you’ll see them on a regular basis – like the bathroom mirror.
By seeing them again and again, this can help the information to stick.
4. Draw Venn diagrams
A Venn diagram can help you to compare the similarities and differences between religious beliefs and practices within a topic.
For instance, when it comes to Christianity, you could draw a Venn diagram comparing the Church of England to Roman Catholics.
Depending on your exam board, this could also be useful for thematic questions that allow you to include more than one religious view in your answers.
5. Record your notes and listen to them back
Many learners like to record their revision notes.
This way, you can listen to them back when you’re doing other things – whether you’re out and about or just doing the washing up!
Repeatedly listening to the information you need to remember can really help to cement it in your mind.
6. Explore different revision resources
There are lots of resources available to help you revise for GCSE RS.
These include:
- Revision guides
- YouTube channels
- Podcasts
- Revision apps
- Revision websites (like BBC Bitesize)
Using resources like these can help to make your revision more engaging.
A GCSE RS tutor will also be able to point you towards the best revision resources for your learning style.
7. Speak it back in your own words
Memorising content from textbooks or revision notes can be helpful.
But it’s important to make sure you fully understand it – rather than just learning it word-for-word.
Paraphrasing the content you’ve learned in your own words is a valuable exercise and will help you to check that you really do ‘get it.’
8. Teach someone else
Teaching someone else the content you’ve just learned can help you to increase your confidence on a topic.
It’s also a great test of how well you understand the material.
If you can’t get your student to understand the concept you’re teaching them, you probably don’t know it well enough yourself yet!
9. Stick up questions from past papers
This one is a good trick to help you develop arguments for longer essay-style questions.
Stick up questions from past papers around your room, in large print. Then, each time your glance settles on one, take some time to think about possible arguments.
You could even add post-it notes with examples and quotes that support your arguments to each one.
10. Form a study group
For those longer, essay-style questions in RS GCSE, there’s often no one correct answer.
So, why not form a study group where you can discuss potential responses to various exam questions together?
It can be a great way to gain different perspectives and ideas.
Top tip: Make sure to pick your study mates wisely – it can be easy to get distracted!
How to pass RS GCSE: on the day
With these revision tips and techniques, hopefully, you’ll be feeling prepared by the time your GCSE RS exam rolls around.
But the right approach to exam day itself can also make a big difference.
Here are some things to bear in mind.
1. Give yourself the right fuel
Don’t stay up late revising the night before.
Instead, get a good night’s sleep and have a proper breakfast in the morning. This will give you the best chance of feeling energised for the day ahead.
2. Overcome exam fear
Try some calming techniques to help you overcome exam fear – like listening to a calming playlist.
Watch those negative voices in your head and try to focus on what you have done rather than what you haven’t. Remember, you’ve worked hard and can be proud of yourself, whatever happens!
3. Plan your time
Keep an eye on the clock in the exam room so that you’re not spending more time than you should on each question.
The last thing you want is to run out of time for those longer questions that are worth lots of marks!
As a general rule, try to spend the most time on the questions that are worth the most marks, and vice versa.
4. Read every question carefully
Read each question at least twice before answering, so that you’re not making silly mistakes.
You can even underline key words in the question to keep you focused.
For instance, make sure to differentiate between different command words, like ‘analyse’ and ‘evaluate.’
5. Plan your essay answers
Before you start writing, make sure you plan how you’re going to answer the question.
By planning your answer carefully, you can make sure to develop a logical and coherent argument, supported by quotes and examples.
6. Stay calm!
Last but not least, don’t panic!
Work through the RS GCSE exam papers calmly and methodically, without rushing.
And remember that you’ve worked hard. So, you can be proud of yourself whatever the outcome.
Find a tutor to help you revise RS GCSE and pass with flying colours
If you’re worried about passing RS GCSE – or getting the best grade possible – you don’t have to worry alone.
An RS tutor will have the tools, knowledge and experience needed to help you achieve the grade you’re after.
From tailored plans to practice exams, they’ll give you the one-to-one attention and dedicated time you need to ensure you reach your full potential.
Browse expert, vetted tutors, message free, and book instantly.
FAQs
How to study for RS?
There are lots of different techniques you can use to study for RS. Here are some that are tried and tested:
- Regularly complete past papers
- Make mind maps
- Create flash cards
- Stick up post-it notes
- Draw Venn diagrams
- Record your notes and listen to them back
- Use a variety of revision resources (eg. YouTube channels, podcasts etc.)
- Speak it back in your own words
- Teach someone else
- Form a study group
Is RS a difficult GCSE?
RS GCSE isn’t typically seen as particularly difficult as it has a high pass rate. However, there is a lot of content to learn. Plus, to be successful in this subject, learners will need to become confident at developing their own arguments and weighing up different points of view.
How to get a nine in GCSE RS?
To get a 9 in GCSE RS, you’ll need to be able to develop your own arguments and opinions, using your knowledge as supporting evidence.
You’ll also need to gain an understanding of the importance of different religious beliefs and practices – including why something is practised and what its purpose is.
Our RS tutors can help you to improve your grades and get the highest marks possible.
What is the most effective way to revise for GCSE?
The most effective way to revise for GCSE is often to identify your areas of weakness using past papers.
You can then use your preferred revision techniques to work on those areas and make the biggest improvement in the shortest amount of time.
