A Level Religious Studies Distance Learning CourseAL615

Course Info

Distance Learning Support

At Start Learning we pride ourselves on our friendly andsupportive tutors. Your tutor support will start as soon as you receive yourcourse and will be valid for 18 months. All our tutors are highly qualifiedwith extensive experience in supporting distance learning students.You contact your tutor via email and they are responsible for markingassignments answering your questions and guiding you through the course.

Entry Requirements

Basic English reading and writing skills are required. We recommend you have general skills and knowledge associated with a GCSE course or equivalent.

At Start Learning we believe that everyone should have theopportunity to expand their knowledge and study further, so we try to keep ourentry requirements to a minimum.

Recommended Hours of Study

It is recommended that 200 hours of your time should be allocated towards study for the AS and A2 examinations.

Course Contents

A Level Religious Studies consists of AS Level and A2 Level

AS Level
Unit G – RSS07 – New Testament
• How the synoptic gospels came into being
• Aspects of Jesus’ teaching and action, parables and healings
• The arrest, trial and death of Jesus
• The resurrection of Jesus

Unit J – RSS09 – World Religions 1 –Buddhism or Hinduism or Sikhism
• Samsara and the three marks of existence
• The Four Noble Truths
• The Four Noble Truths
• The Eightfold Path

A2 Level
Unit 3E – RST3E – New Testament
• The context of John’s Gospel
• The nature, role and purpose of the discourses in John’s Gospel
• The nature, role and purpose of signs in John’s Gospel
• The nature, role and purpose of the passion and resurrection narratives

Unit 3E – RST4C – New Testament
• Medical research and medical developments
• Business practice and economics

AS Level + A2 Level = A Level in Religious Studies

Recommended Reading:

The Bible: Revised Standard Version

Easy Payment Plan

Full Price is £395

6 Monthly Instalments of £65.83

The first instalment is paid at time of enrolment with a fee for postage and packaging.

For postage costs click here: Postage & Packaging

Call us on 0800 074 1222 if you would like to set up a payment plan

Learning Objectives

The course offers an academic approach to the study of religion and is accessible to candidates of any religious persuasion or none.

This A Level Religious Studies course encourages students to develop their interest in, and enthusiasm for, a rigorous study of religion and its relation to the wider world. Treat the subject as an academic discipline by developing knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to a specialist study of religion.  Adopt an enquiring, critical and reflective approach to the study of religion and Reflect on and develop their own values, opinions and attitudes in the light of their learning.

AS Level

Unit G: New Testament (RSS07)

How the synoptic gospels came into being

Oral Tradition

Reasons for the synoptic gospels being committed to writing

The relationship between the three synoptic gospels; the priority of Mark

Reasons for writers editing material as they wrote the synoptic gospels

Reasons for translating the original Greek synoptic texts

Aspects of Jesus’ teaching and action, parables and healings

The role and the purpose of parables and healings as recorded in the synoptic gospels

Scholars’ views of the theology and the teaching found in parables and healings

The arrest, trial and death of Jesus

Scholars’ views of the theological message and the teaching about the person of Jesus provided by the writers in these accounts

The main similarities and differences between the three accounts:

Matthew 2636–2761

• Mark 1432–1547

• Luke 2240–2356

The resurrection of Jesus

Scholars’ views of the theological message and the teaching about the person of Jesus provided by the writers in these accounts

The main similarities and differences between the three accounts:

• Matthew 2762–2820

• Mark 161–20 (noting the variant readings of the text)

• Luke 24

Unit J World Religions 1: Buddhism or Hinduism or Sikhism (RSS09)

Buddhism

Samsara and the three marks of existence

The concept of samsara – the cycle of death and rebirth

The concepts of dukkha, anatta and anicca

The implications of these ideas for the Buddhist way of life and attitude to life

The Four Noble Truths

The framework of the Four Noble Truths – the illness, the cause of the illness, the truth that there is an end to the illness, and the prescription

Tanha – the different types of craving and how they lead to suffering: craving for sense pleasures, craving to be rid of something and craving for re-becoming; the root of tanha in ignorance and the pointlessness of trying to fulfil tanha in samsara

Nibbana – the truth of the end of craving and the end of dukkha arising from it; contrasts between samsara and nibbana; the experience of the arahant in this world and beyond death

The implications of these ideas for the Buddhist way of life and attitude to life

 The Eightfold Path

The nature and purpose of the Eightfold Path

In the context of the Eightfold Path:

The nature of wisdom and its importance – right understanding and right thought

The nature of morality and its importance – right speech, right action and right livelihood

The nature of meditation and its importance – right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration

The relationship between wisdom, morality and meditation, and the ways in which they contribute to the path to enlightenment

The Sangha

The Sangha as refuge

The monastic community – its nature and discipline

The lay community – its life and discipline

The relationship between the monastic and lay community, and the relative importance of each as a path to enlightenment

A2 LEVEL

Unit 3E: New Testament (RST3E)

The context of John’s Gospel

• The relationship between John and the synoptic gospels

• The Christian context, the Early Church

• The Greek and Jewish context from which John draws

The nature, role and purpose of the discourses in John’s Gospel

• ‘I am the Bread of Life’, John 630–58

• ‘I am the Light of the World’, John 812–19 and 91–41

•  ‘I am the Resurrection and the Life’, John 111–44

• ‘I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life’, John 141–7

• ‘I am the True Vine’, John 151–17

The nature, role and purpose of signs in John’s Gospel

• Water to Wine, John 21–11

• Healing of the Officer’s Son, John 446–54

• The Crippled Man, John 51–18

• The Feeding of the Five Thousand, John 61–15

The nature, role and purpose of the passion and resurrection narratives

• John 18–19 Passion narrative

• John 20–21 Resurrection narrative

Unit 3E: New Testament (RST4C) 

Medical research and medical developments

• The use of embryos, human cells, medical trials on humans

• The use of animals for medical research

• Brain death, life support systems

Business practice and economics

• Moral management of national economies (macro)

• The moral management of individual companies (micro)

• developed economies vs. the third world 

• Approaches to emerging economies, including China and India 

Qualification

Qualification

AS +A2 = A level in Religious Studies. 

Both AS and A2 level courses and examinations must be successfully completed to gain a full A level.

Language of Examination

English

Examination Centre

You can find a full list of private candidate centres here: AQA Private Candidate Centres

Start Learning will provide you with a list of examination centres but it is entirely your responsibility to find a centre which will accept you as an external candidate.
In some cases you should be prepared to travel to another town or city to take your exams.

Start Learning provides expertise support and advice for students in their studies through their comprehensive course packs and tutoring system. However, we do stress that it is the student’s responsibility to find a centre to register and take their exams with. We are aware that sometimes this is difficult or even impossible to arrange.

Now we have come to an arrangement with a centrally located centre where Start Learning students will be able to take their exams. It is the English Maths Science Tuition & Educational Centre, located in Birmingham, right in the centre of England.

We realise this may still involve a good deal of travelling for some students but the long-term benefits of being able to gain A Levels far outweigh the short-term  expense and inconvenience.

For further information, please go to:
http://www.englishandmaths.com/Index.php

or: English Maths Science Tuition Centre Ltd.
40 Showell Green lane
Sparkhill
Birmingham,
B11 4JP
England
United Kingdom

Tel: 0121-771-1298

The contract for sitting exams is between you and the centre and we will provide you with comprehensive instructions on when and how to deal with the examination centre.

Examinations

Unit G – RSS07 – New Testament

Percentage: 50% of AS Level, 25% of A Level
Examination Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Marks: 90 marks
Format: study any two units from a choice of eleven available

Unit J – RSS09 – World Religions 1 –Buddhism or Hinduism or Sikhism
Percentage: 50% of AS Level, 25% of A Level
Examination Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Marks: 90 marks
Format: study any two units from a choice of eleven available

Unit 3E – RST3E – New Testament
Percentage: 25% of A Level
Examination Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Marks: 100 marks
Format: Students study one unit from a choice of eight available

Unit 3E – RST4C – New Testament
Percentage: 25 % of A Level
Examination Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Format: Students study one topic from one unit from a choice of three available.

Qualification

AS +A2 = A level in Religious Studies. Both AS and A2 level courses and examinations must be successfully completed to gain a full A level.

FAQ's

Q: What are the qualifications required to enrol onto this course?
A: Basic English reading and writing skills are required.  We recommend you have general skills and knowledge associated with a GCSE course or equivalent. 
Q: Do I have to sit an exam?
A: Yes, to gain your full A Level Qualification, you are required to sit an exam.  Exams are held at test centres which can be found in major towns and cities throughout the UK.  Please contact Start Learning for a list of test centres.  Exams can be taken in January and June, please visit the AQA website for further details and exam timetables.   

Q: How long do I have access to the personal tutor service?
A: The personal tutor service is available for 18 months from when the study materials are received.  At Start Learning we aim help our students to the best of our ability; therefore we are always delighted to answer questions and queries out with the 18 month period.
Q: Do your courses meet the latest syllabus changes?
A: yes, all our course materials meet any changes and will be updated free of charge if further changes are made.

Q: How much are exam fees?
A: These vary from centre to centre so please check with your local centre.

Q: Is this A Level Religious Studies course paper based or on-line?
A: Our A Level Religious Studies course is paper based and comes in an attractive folder.

Q: I want to take my exams but there are only a few months to study, is this possible?
A: Depending on the time of year, it is sometimes impossible to complete your studies in a short space of time as your work has to be marked and checked. More importantly the examination boards have cut off times which are not flexible. See the AQA website for further information.

Q: Will I receive UCAS points on completion of this course?
A: Yes all of our A Levels carry UCAS points. The number of points awarded will depend on the grade you achieve.

Q: I still have questions? / I would like more information?
A:  If you require more information please do not hesitate to contact Start Learning via email: info@start-learning.co.uk or call us on 0800 074 1222 or 0141 218 4424.

We look forward to hearing from you.