Question 1
A friend hides in your house, and a man intent on killing him asks where he is. Kant held that you still may not lie. Which objection to Kant does this case most directly support?
The OCR Religious Studies exam
Three 2-hour papers. On each you choose three of four essay questions, 40 marks each, testing knowledge (AO1) and evaluation (AO2).
| Papers | Three, 2 hours each, 120 marks, 33.3% each |
|---|---|
| Each paper | Four essay questions; you answer three, 40 marks each |
| Assessment objectives | AO1 knowledge and understanding 40%, AO2 analysis and evaluation 60% |
| This course | Philosophy of religion, Religion and ethics, and the Christianity option |
The three components
- Philosophy of religion (H573/01): ancient influences, arguments for God's existence, religious experience, the problem of evil, the nature of God and religious language.
- Religion and ethics (H573/02): natural law, situation ethics, Kant, utilitarianism, euthanasia, business ethics, meta-ethics, conscience and sexual ethics.
- Developments in religious thought (H573/03 to 07): one religion. This course teaches Christianity (H573/03).
How the essays are marked
Each 40-mark essay is marked against both assessment objectives with a levels-of-response mark scheme. AO2, analysis and evaluation, carries more weight than AO1 across the A level.
Questions can come from any part of a component, so every section needs revising.
Try 3 questions
Question 2
A student says Kant's formula of the end in itself makes buying a coffee wrong, since the customer uses the barista to get a drink. What is the best Kantian reply?
Question 3
Why does Kant postulate the immortality of the soul?
The H573 specification, Version 2.0 (July 2026), is on the OCR website.
Next step
FAQ
How many papers does OCR A Level Religious Studies have?
Three: Philosophy of religion, Religion and ethics, and one Developments in religious thought option. Each lasts 2 hours and is worth 120 marks.
How many questions do you answer on each paper?
Three of the four essay questions set, each worth 40 marks.
What are AO1 and AO2 in A-level Religious Studies?
AO1 is knowledge and understanding (40% of the A level); AO2 is analysis and evaluation (60%).