SCQF Level 5 · Qualifications Scotland
National 5 Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies
Taken by most Scottish pupils in S4, RMPS leads to Higher RMPS in S5. Here is how the course works, what the assessment involves, and what to expect in the exam.
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2 hours 20 minutes
Exam duration
20%
Coursework
100
Total marks
S4
Typical year
How Assessment Works
National 5 RMPS is assessed across 2 components, totalling 100 marks.
Question Paper
ExamThree sections — World Religion, Morality and Belief, and Religious and Philosophical Questions — each with a minimum of 25 marks. Candidates answer one part from each section, 4 to 6 questions per part worth 3 to 8 marks each. 80% of the overall marks for the course assessment.
Assignment
Coursework20% of the overall marks for the course assessment; 50% of the assignment marks cover skills. Written in one sitting within 1 hour. If a candidate does not submit a resource sheet, a penalty of 4 marks out of 20 is applied.
Grade boundaries, 2026 and before
The minimum mark for each grade, as published by Qualifications Scotland after each diet. The notional design points are 70% for an A, 60% for a B, 50% for a C (the pass) and 40% for a D, and the actual lines are moved after marking so a grade means the same whether the paper ran hard or easy — which is why the C sits where it does below rather than at exactly half marks.
| Year | Out of | A | B | C | D | C as % of marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 100 | 70 | 60 | 50 | 40 | 50% |
| 2025 | 100 | 70 | 60 | 50 | 40 | 50% |
| 2024 | 100 | 70 | 60 | 50 | 40 | 50% |
| 2023 | 80 | 56 | 47 | 38 | 29 | 48% |
| 2022 | 80 | 56 | 46 | 37 | 27 | 46% |
Marks, not percentages — the paper is graded out of the “out of” column, which can change when a course is revised. Source: Qualifications Scotland — Grade boundaries 2026 workbook (ref 26GB), read 2026-09-14. Boundaries are set after marking each year and the next set appears on results day.
What You Study
National 5 RMPS is organised into 3 course areas.
World Religion
- Beliefs, practices and sources within one of the six major world religions
- Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism or Sikhism
- The contribution these make to the lives of followers
Morality and Belief
- Moral issues and responses
- Analysing and evaluating moral viewpoints
- Expressing reasoned views on moral questions
Religious and Philosophical Questions
- Religious and philosophical issues and responses
- Analysis and evaluation of viewpoints
- Researching sources to present an argument
Important Assessment Notes
Assignment Note
Written under supervision in a single 1-hour sitting, using a resource sheet prepared beforehand. Forgetting the resource sheet costs 4 of the 20 marks outright — a fifth of the component, for an administrative slip.
After National 5 RMPS
Most pupils who achieve a grade C or above in National 5 RMPS progress to Higher RMPS in S5. Higher RMPS.
Next step
Higher RMPS guide →
Course structure, assessment and grade boundaries for Higher RMPS.
Editor’s note
At 2 hours 20 minutes this is one of the longest National 5 question papers, and it is 80% of the grade. You study one world religion in depth rather than surveying all six. The 4-mark resource-sheet penalty in the assignment is the single most avoidable loss in the course.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions about National 5 RMPS
How is National 5 RMPS assessed?
National 5 RMPS is assessed through the following components: Question Paper (80 marks, 2 hours 20 minutes); Assignment (20 marks, 1 hour, in one sitting). The total is 100 marks, with 20% coming from coursework.
How long is the National 5 RMPS exam?
The National 5 RMPS exam is 2 hours 20 minutes. There is also a coursework component worth 20% of the total grade.
What grade do you need to pass National 5 RMPS?
You need a grade C or above (50% or more) to pass National 5 RMPS. Grade C is the minimum required for progression to Higher RMPS in S5. Grade A requires 70%+, grade B requires 60–69%, and grade C requires 50–59%.
Does National 5 RMPS have coursework?
Yes — coursework makes up 20% of the total grade in National 5 RMPS. Written under supervision in a single 1-hour sitting, using a resource sheet prepared beforehand. Forgetting the resource sheet costs 4 of the 20 marks outright — a fifth of the component, for an administrative slip.
What do you study in National 5 RMPS?
National 5 RMPS covers the following course areas: World Religion, Morality and Belief, Religious and Philosophical Questions. Together these give a broad foundation at SCQF Level 5, leading to Higher RMPS in S5.
What comes after National 5 RMPS?
After National 5 RMPS, most pupils progress to Higher RMPS in S5. See our detailed guide to Higher RMPS for course structure and assessment information.
Course data sourced from Qualifications Scotland course specifications. Assessment details correct for the 4.0 (September 2025) specification.
Full course documentation available at qualifications.scot.