No. In IB World Religions SL, visits to faith communities are valuable but not compulsory. Schools may instead use interviews, recorded worship, virtual tours, artefact studies and reliable sources.
What the course requires
The course aims to develop an analytical and empathetic understanding of religion, particularly how beliefs shape adherents' behaviour. A visit can support it, but the syllabus permits several methods for studying lived religion.
For the investigative study, your evidence must answer a focused research question about religious experience, practice or belief. Analysis and reflection matter more than physically entering a sacred building.
| Alternative | How it can provide useful evidence |
|---|---|
| Interview with an adherent | Provides personal experience and interpretation through online or telephone contact. |
| Recorded worship or virtual tour | Supports analysis of ritual, sacred space, artefacts and communal behaviour. |
| Artefact or museum study | Links tefillin, an arti lamp or the five Ks to doctrine and practice. |
| Documentary or community publication | Shows contemporary practice but requires evaluation of perspective and reliability. |
| Written sources | Allow comparison of teachings, scholarship and adherents' accounts. |
A common misconception is that the investigative study must include fieldwork at a place of worship. It does not. However, it remains an academic investigation requiring preliminary research, a narrow question and varied sources.
If you interview someone, obtain permission to use their responses, explain the study's purpose and maintain confidentiality. Do not treat one participant as representative of a whole religion; identify denomination, culture and geography where relevant.
Exam and assessment technique
Paper 1 and Paper 2 do not require evidence from a visit. Use specific examples to connect belief to behaviour and avoid broad generalizations. In the investigative study, explain access limitations and evaluate how the alternative method affected the reliability, depth and scope of your findings.