Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Paper 2 practice questions

What is on Paper 2?

• Paper 2 covers religion, peace and conflict.
• It is a written paper of 1 hour 50 minutes, worth 102 marks — 50% of the GCSE.
• Each question builds from short answers up to a 12-mark evaluation.
• Always check the latest specification on your exam board's website, as details can change between exam years.

Paper 2 practice questions with answers

12 original questions across the 6 Paper 2 topics. Try each one before reading the answer.

1. Edexcel Religious Studies: papers and exam technique

   1. Why is it important to check exactly which religions and themes you have studied before an exam?

   Answer: Because different centres study different combinations, and revision resources may cover options you haven't done

   Confirming your exact options with your teacher avoids wasted revision and confusion in the exam.

2. Edexcel Religious Studies: papers and exam technique

   2. What is a source of wisdom and authority?

   • • A student's personal opinion
   • • A scripture, teaching or authoritative statement
   • • A made-up example
   • • A definition of a key term only

   Answer: A scripture, teaching or authoritative statement

   These sources are used to support and strengthen explanations of religious beliefs.

3. Islam: beliefs and teachings

   3. What does Tawhid mean?

   • • The Oneness of Allah
   • • The Five Pillars
   • • Pilgrimage to Makkah
   • • The holy book of Islam

   Answer: The Oneness of Allah

   Tawhid is the core Islamic belief that God is one and indivisible.

4. Islam: beliefs and teachings

   4. Give one reason Tawhid is important to Muslims.

   Answer: It shapes worship and daily life, e.g. Muslims direct worship only to Allah and reject any partners or equals to Him.

   Tawhid underpins Islamic identity and practice.

5. Islam: practices

   5. What are the Five Pillars core to?

   • • Sunni Islam
   • • Shi'a Islam only
   • • Christianity
   • • Judaism

   Answer: Sunni Islam

   The Five Pillars are the core practices of Sunni Islam.

6. Islam: practices

   6. What is the Shahadah?

   • • The declaration of faith
   • • The pilgrimage
   • • The fast
   • • The charity tax

   Answer: The declaration of faith

   Shahadah is reciting belief in one God and Muhammad as His messenger.

7. Religion, peace and conflict

   7. What is Just War theory?

   • • Conditions for a war to be morally justified
   • • A ban on all warfare
   • • A religious command to fight
   • • A treaty ending World War Two

   Answer: Conditions for a war to be morally justified

   Just War theory sets out criteria such as just cause and proportionality.

8. Religion, peace and conflict

   8. What is the 'greater jihad' in Islam?

   • • The inner spiritual struggle to live righteously
   • • Armed conflict against enemies
   • • A form of terrorism
   • • A type of holy pilgrimage

   Answer: The inner spiritual struggle to live righteously

   The greater jihad refers to struggling against one's own sin and temptation.

9. Religion, crime and punishment

   9. What is the definition of crime?

   • • Behaviour that breaks the law of the land
   • • Any immoral thought
   • • Breaking a personal promise
   • • A type of punishment

   Answer: Behaviour that breaks the law of the land

   Crime is legally defined; sin refers to breaking religious teaching.

10. Religion, crime and punishment

    10. Which aim of punishment focuses on making the offender 'pay' for their crime?

    • • Retribution
    • • Reformation
    • • Protection
    • • Deterrence

    Answer: Retribution

    Retribution is about proportionate punishment because the offender deserves it.

11. Human rights and social justice

    11. What is prejudice?

    • • Holding a negative opinion about a group without just cause
    • • Treating someone unfairly through action
    • • A form of charity
    • • A legal right

    Answer: Holding a negative opinion about a group without just cause

    Prejudice is an attitude, while discrimination is the resulting unfair action.

12. Human rights and social justice

    12. What is discrimination?

    • • Treating people unfairly because of prejudice
    • • A form of charity
    • • Freedom of speech
    • • A type of trafficking

    Answer: Treating people unfairly because of prejudice

    Discrimination is prejudice put into unfair action.

Where Paper 2 marks are usually lost

• Stating a belief without naming a source of authority or teaching to support it.
• Giving only one religious view when the question asks for contrasting views.
• Forgetting a clear, justified conclusion in the 12-mark evaluation answer.
• Describing practices without explaining why believers carry them out.
• Losing spelling, punctuation and grammar marks on the questions that award them.

How to pick up the extended-answer marks

• Underline the command word and the focus of the question before writing — most dropped marks come from answering a different question.
• Plan for one or two minutes: three or four points, each backed by evidence and explained.
• Keep linking back to the question in every paragraph, not just the conclusion.
• For 'evaluate' or 'how far do you agree' questions, weigh both sides and finish with a clear judgement.

Timing that works under pressure

• Check the marks per question and give each one time in proportion, keeping spare minutes for checking at the end.
• Bank the short questions first, then return to the longer answers with your remaining time.
• If a question stalls for more than two minutes, write down what you know and move on — partial marks still count.
• Leave five minutes to check spelling of key terms, units and whether any question part was skipped over a page break.

Revise each Paper 2 topic

• Edexcel Religious Studies: papers and exam technique (56 questions)
• Islam: beliefs and teachings (83 questions)
• Islam: practices (70 questions)
• Religion, peace and conflict (70 questions)
• Religion, crime and punishment (83 questions)
• Human rights and social justice (83 questions)

Edexcel Religious Studies Paper 2 FAQs

What topics are on Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Paper 2?

Paper 2 assesses beliefs, crime and punishment, living the religious life, and peace and conflict.

How long is Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies Paper 2?

It is a 1 hour 50 minutes written exam worth 102 marks, which is 50% of the GCSE. Check your board's latest specification for any changes.

How should I revise for Religious Studies Paper 2?

Practise answering questions rather than rereading notes. Short daily sets of five questions per topic, marked straight away, expose weak areas faster than a long passive revision session.