Key term
AQA GCSE Religious Studies A 8062
BuddhismReligion
Topic overviewThe life of the BuddhaThe Dhamma and the Three Marks of ExistenceThe human personality and human destinyThe Four Noble TruthsThe Eightfold Path and the Threefold WayPlaces of worship, puja and devotional practiceMeditation: samatha, vipassana and visualisationDeath, mourning and Buddhist festivalsKamma, rebirth, compassion and loving kindnessThe five precepts and the six perfections
ChristianityReligion
Topic overviewThe nature of God and the problem of evilThe Trinity and the role of Word and Spirit in creationThe incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascensionSin, salvation and atonementResurrection, judgement, heaven and hellForms of worship and prayerBaptism and the meaning of sacramentHoly Communion and the EucharistPilgrimage, Christmas and EasterThe Church in the local and worldwide community
Catholic ChristianityReligion
Topic overviewThe Trinity and the Nicene CreedCreation, human dignity and stewardshipThe incarnation and redemptionLife after death: judgement, heaven, hell and purgatoryThe sacramental nature of reality and the sacraments of initiationThe eucharist and the sacraments of healing and servicePrayer, the Lord's Prayer and popular pietyPilgrimage and the Catholic funeral riteCatholic social teaching and loving our neighbourMission, evangelism and Catholic agencies
HinduismReligion
Topic overviewBrahman and the three features of the divineThe Tri-murti, the deities and avataraMatter, maya and Hindu cosmologyAtman, samsara, karma and mokshaDharma, the four aims and personal virtuesPlaces and focuses of worshipForms of worship: havan, puja, arati and darshanDiwali, Holi and pilgrimageThe four paths of yogaHindu environmental projects and charities
IslamReligion
Topic overviewTawhid and the six articles of faithThe nature of God: mercy, justice and AdalatAngels, predestination and human freedomAkhirah: resurrection, judgement, heaven and hellRisalah, the holy books and the imamateShahadah, the Five Pillars and the Ten Obligatory ActsSalah and its significanceSawm and zakah: fasting and almsgivingHajj: the pilgrimage to MakkahJihad and the festivals of Islam
JudaismReligion
Topic overviewThe nature of God and the ShekhinahThe Messiah, judgement and life after deathThe Covenant with Abraham and the Covenant at SinaiThe mitzvot, free will and key moral principlesThe synagogue and its featuresPublic worship, the Amidah and prayer in the homeShabbat in the home and the synagogueTenakh, Talmud and the dietary lawsBrit Milah, Bar and Bat Mitzvah, marriage and mourningRosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Pesach
SikhismReligion
Topic overviewThe Mool Mantar and the nature of GodGod as Creator and God's relationship with creationHuman life, the Sikh virtues and living as a gurmukhKarma, rebirth and the aim of muktiThe equality of all, sewa and the sangatThe gurdwara and its religious featuresPrayer in the home, nam japna and the akhand pathLangar and the gurdwara in the Sikh communityFestivals and visiting historical gurdwarasBirth and naming, Amrit Sanskar and the Five Ks
Theme A: Relationships and FamiliesTheme
Theme B: Religion and LifeTheme
Theme C: The Existence of God and RevelationTheme
Theme D: Religion, Peace and ConflictTheme
Topic overviewPeace, justice, forgiveness and reconciliationViolence, violent protest and terrorismReasons for war: greed, self-defence and retaliationThe just war theoryHoly war and religion as a cause of conflictNuclear weapons and weapons of mass destructionPacifism, peace-making and the victims of war
Theme E: Religion, Crime and PunishmentTheme
Theme F: Religion, Human Rights and Social JusticeTheme
Theme G: St Mark’s Gospel: The Life of JesusTextual studies
Topic overviewJohn the Baptist, the baptism and the temptationEarly miracles and the rejection at NazarethCaesarea Philippi and the transfigurationPassion predictions, true greatness and BartimaeusThe Last Supper and GethsemaneThe trials, the crucifixion and the empty tombThe titles of Jesus and the authority of Mark's gospel
Theme H: St Mark’s Gospel as a Source of Religious, Moral and Spiritual TruthsTextual studies
Topic overviewThe parables of the KingdomEntering the Kingdom: children, wealth and the greatest commandmentJesus and those his society rejectedFaith, giving and devotionThe call and mission of the disciplesThe cost of discipleship, and failureThe commission, and the authority of Jesus' teaching today
Hinduism
- 10 subtopics
- 30 things to know
- Paper 1
- Paper 1, one of the two religions chosen from seven. Christianity and Catholic Christianity may not be combined
What Hinduism covers
Hinduism is examined in Paper 1, The study of religions — one of the two religions chosen from seven. It covers Brahman and the three features of the divine, the Tri-murti, the deities and avatara, matter, maya and Hindu cosmology, atman, samsara, karma and moksha, dharma, the four aims and personal virtues, places and focuses of worship, forms of worship: havan, puja, arati and darshan, Diwali, Holi and pilgrimage, the four paths of yoga and Hindu environmental projects and charities.
Where it is assessed
Paper 1
The study of religions: beliefs, teachings and practices — one of the two religions chosen from seven.
Check the AQA specification ↗The 10 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Brahman and the three features of the divineThese questions explain Brahman as nirguna and saguna, the spiritual worlds, the three features of the divine, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 3.9.1, and how Advaita, Dvaita and Vishishtadvaita differ on atman and Brahman.Open →
- The Tri-murti, the deities and avataraStudents learn the Tri-murti and why Brahma is rarely worshipped, the Vaishnava, Shaiva and Shakta traditions, Ganesha, Lakshmi, Hanuman and Saraswati, avatara with Rama and Krishna, and whether the deities are separate gods.Open →
- Matter, maya and Hindu cosmologyThe subtopic covers prakriti and the three gunas and their effect on diet and behaviour, maya and suffering, the creation hymn of Rig Veda 10.129, the four ages ending in the Kali Yuga, and other worlds.Open →
- Atman, samsara, karma and mokshaThese questions define atman, samsara, karma and moksha, differing views of moksha and jivanmukti, free will, karma as an explanation of suffering and its critics, knowledge and ignorance, and the value of human birth.Open →
- Dharma, the four aims and personal virtuesStudents learn dharma, sanatana and varnashrama dharma, the four varnas and ashramas and modern criticism of varna, the four aims of human life, and personal virtues such as ahimsa, self-control and love.Open →
- Places and focuses of worshipThe subtopic covers home shrines and the mandir, outdoor worship and worship in the heart, the murti and how it is prepared, sacred people, rivers, plants and animals, India as a holy land, and debate about images.Open →
- Forms of worship: havan, puja, arati and darshanThese questions explain home puja and prashad, havan and the use of fire, arati, darshan, bhajan, kirtan and japa, a well-known mantra, and how Shaiva and Vaishnava worship and forehead markings differ.Open →
- Diwali, Holi and pilgrimageStudents learn the meaning and origins of Diwali and how it is celebrated in Britain, Holi and the stories of Holika and Krishna linked to it, and pilgrimage to Varanasi and the Kumbh Mela.Open →
- The four paths of yogaThe subtopic covers the meaning of yoga and the four paths of karma, jnana, astanga and bhakti yoga, the Bhagavad Gita's teaching on them, and why the path a Hindu follows can depend on personality.Open →
- Hindu environmental projects and charitiesThese questions explain the beliefs behind Hindu care for the environment and animals, cow protection and goshalas, a Hindu environmental project, sewa, and the work of Hindu charities such as ISKCON Food for Life.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
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What is moksha, and how do Advaita and Vaishnava Hindus each describe it?
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What does dharma mean, and what is sanatana dharma?
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Define Brahman.
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Define prakriti.
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Where do most Hindus worship day to day?
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Define puja in Hinduism.
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When is Diwali celebrated and what does its name mean?
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What does the word yoga mean in Hindu teaching?
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Which Hindu belief underpins concern for the environment?
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What does nirguna Brahman mean?
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Who are the three deities of the Tri-murti?
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Name the three qualities of the tri-guna.
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Define atman.
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Define dharma.
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What might a Hindu home shrine contain?
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Describe what a Hindu does during simple home puja.
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Which story from the Ramayana is linked to Diwali?
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Name the four paths of yoga.
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How does belief in rebirth affect Hindu attitudes to animals?
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What does saguna Brahman mean?
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What role does each member of the Tri-murti have?
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What does sattva mean?
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How does the Bhagavad Gita describe the atman?
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What is sanatana dharma?
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What is a mandir?
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What is prashad?
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Which goddess is worshipped at Diwali and why?
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Define karma yoga.
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What is meant by cow protection?
Take Hinduism further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Atman vs Brahman
Atman: the self within a being. Brahman: the ultimate reality behind everything.
Puja vs Havan
Puja: worship offered to a murti. Havan: worship offered into a sacred fire with Vedic mantras.
Kirtan vs Bhajan
Kirtan: call-and-response chanting by the congregation. Bhajan: a devotional song, often sung by one person or a small group.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
Define Brahman.
Model answer
Brahman is the ultimate reality that lies behind everything in the universe. Brahman is eternal, without beginning or end.
- 2
What does nirguna Brahman mean?
Model answer
Nirguna Brahman is Brahman without qualities or form. Hindus describe this as pure divine consciousness, beyond anything the mind can picture.
- 3
What does saguna Brahman mean?
Model answer
Saguna Brahman is God with qualities and form. Deities such as Vishnu, Shiva and Devi are saguna manifestations of the one reality.
- 4
Why do many Hindus prefer to worship saguna rather than nirguna Brahman?
Model answer
A God with form can be pictured, loved and addressed in prayer. Formless reality gives devotion nothing to hold on to.
- 5
What are the spiritual worlds in Hindu belief?
Model answer
The spiritual worlds are eternal realms where God is directly present. Vaishnavas name Vaikuntha and Shaivas name Kailasa as such realms.
- 6
Name the three features of the divine described in Hindu teaching.
Model answer
The divine is everywhere as non-personal Brahman. The divine is also within the heart of every being, and beyond as a personal loving God.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Hinduism revision questions
- What does Hinduism cover in AQA GCSE Religious Studies A?
- 10 subtopics: brahman and the three features of the divine, the tri-murti, the deities and avatara, matter, maya and hindu cosmology, atman, samsara, karma and moksha, dharma, the four aims and personal virtues, places and focuses of worship, forms of worship: havan, puja, arati and darshan, diwali, holi and pilgrimage, the four paths of yoga and hindu environmental projects and charities. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Hinduism organised?
- By the AQA 8062 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Hinduism, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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