Programmes & Qualifications

Cambridge IGCSE Religious Studies (0490)

Syllabus overview

Available in Administrative zones 3, 4, 5 and 6 only

This wide-ranging syllabus aims to promote an enquiring, critical and sympathetic approach to the study of religion. Learners will reflect on religious responses to moral issues, identify and explore questions about the meaning of life, and recognise the contribution of religion to patterns of belief and behaviour. They study Christianity, Islam and Judaism, providing an introduction to the challenging and varied nature of religion.

Syllabuses

The syllabus year refers to the year in which the examination will be taken.

Syllabus updates

Syllabus changes
- We have revised and updated the subject content.
  
  To clarify what teachers need to cover, we have made the descriptions of the subject content more specific.
  
  We have also made minor changes to some questions in the assessment and have included a list of command words in the syllabus, to better meet the needs of our schools and learners.
  
  For full details of the changes, please see the 2025-2027 syllabus above.
Teaching and learning resources
- Coming soon
  
  We are developing a comprehensive range of resources to help teachers deliver this updated syllabus.
  
  We aim to provide a scheme of work and other relevant classroom resources. Example Candidate Responses will be available following the first examination in 2025. Visit the School Support Hub from June 2025 onwards for details

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Important notices

Grade descriptions
- For some subjects, the syllabus states that Grade Descriptions will be made available after first assessment in 2020, 2021 or 2022.
  
  Publication of grade descriptions was paused in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the temporary changes to the grading standard that have been in place for 2020, 2021 and 2022. We are currently working on producing these grade descriptions. This work will make sure that grade descriptions reflect examination outcomes appropriately and are based on the more stable grading standard that we expect to have in place for June 2023 onwards.
Front covers
- From 2020, we have made some changes to the wording and layout of the front covers of our question papers to reflect the new Cambridge International branding and to make instructions clearer for candidates - learn more.

School Support Hub

We provide a wide range of support so that teachers can give their learners the best possible preparation for Cambridge programmes and qualifications. For teachers at registered Cambridge schools, support materials for specific syllabuses are available from the School Support Hub (username and password required).

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Programmes & Qualifications

Cambridge IGCSE Religious Studies (0490)

Syllabus overview

Syllabuses

Syllabus updates

Important notices

School Support Hub