You are viewing a free preview of this lesson.
Subscribe to unlock all 4 lessons in this course and every other course on LearningBro.
Understanding how the AQA A-Level Sociology qualification is structured is the essential first step to effective exam preparation. This lesson provides a comprehensive breakdown of all three papers, the mark allocations, the question types you will encounter, the command words used by AQA, and the assessment objectives that underpin every mark scheme. With this knowledge, you can approach your revision with precision and enter the exam room with complete confidence about what is expected of you.
AQA A-Level Sociology (specification 7192) is assessed entirely by three written examinations, all taken at the end of Year 13. There is no coursework, controlled assessment, or non-examined assessment (NEA) component. Each paper lasts 2 hours and is worth 80 marks, contributing exactly 33.3% of the total A-Level grade.
| Paper | Title | Duration | Marks | % of A-Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Education with Theory and Methods | 2 hours | 80 | 33.3% |
| Paper 2 | Topics in Sociology | 2 hours | 80 | 33.3% |
| Paper 3 | Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods | 2 hours | 80 | 33.3% |
The total across all three papers is 240 marks. Every mark matters equally, and understanding how marks are distributed within each paper allows you to allocate your revision time proportionally.
Paper 1 is divided into two sections. Section A focuses on Education, and Section B focuses on Methods in Context and a broader Theory and Methods essay.
Section A contains questions on the sociology of education. The question sequence follows a predictable pattern that AQA has maintained consistently across examination series.
| Question | Type | Marks | Time Allocation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q01 | Define a concept | 2 | 2 minutes |
| Q02 | Short answer (using one or two examples) | 4 | 5 minutes |
| Q03 | Short outline/explain | 6 | 8 minutes |
| Q04 | Applying material from Item A, analyse | 10 | 12 minutes |
| Q05 | Methods in context (using Item B) | 20 | 25 minutes |
| Q06 | Extended essay on education using theory | 30 | 40 minutes |
Key Point: The 2-mark and 4-mark questions are straightforward retrieval tasks. Do not spend excessive time on them. The bulk of your marks come from the 20-mark methods in context question and the 30-mark essay. Together, these two questions are worth 50 out of 50 marks in terms of where your higher-level skills are tested, but every mark contributes to the total.
Section B contains a single compulsory 30-mark essay on Theory and Methods. This section tests your understanding of sociological theories, perspectives, and the philosophy of science as applied to sociology.
| Question | Type | Marks | Time Allocation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q07 | Extended essay on Theory and Methods | 30 | 40 minutes |
Exam Tip: The Theory and Methods essay on Paper 1 is distinct from the Theory and Methods content examined on Paper 3. Paper 1 Theory and Methods tends to focus on broader theoretical debates — for example, the relationship between sociology and science, the role of values in sociological research, or the debate between positivism and interpretivism. Paper 3 Theory and Methods focuses more specifically on sociological explanations of crime and deviance and the methods used to study them.
Paper 2 covers four optional topics, of which students study two. Each topic occupies one section of the paper, and each section is worth 40 marks. You answer the two sections corresponding to the topics you have studied.
| Section | Topic |
|---|---|
| Section A | Culture and Identity |
| Section B | Families and Households |
| Section C | Health |
| Section D | Work, Poverty and Welfare |
Most schools teach Families and Households and one other topic, but the choice varies. The question structure within each section is identical, regardless of the topic.
| Question | Type | Marks | Time Allocation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Define a concept | 2 | 2 minutes |
| Q2 | Short answer (using examples) | 4 | 5 minutes |
| Q3 | Short outline/explain | 6 | 8 minutes |
| Q4 | Applying material from Item, analyse | 10 | 12 minutes |
| Q5 | Extended essay (evaluate) | 20 | 25 minutes |
Since you answer two sections, the total time is 120 minutes for 80 marks, giving you exactly 60 minutes per section.
Exam Tip: The 20-mark essay on Paper 2 is shorter than the 30-mark essays on Papers 1 and 3. Do not try to write the same amount. Focus on three or four well-developed analytical points with evaluation woven throughout. A concise, well-structured 20-mark response is more effective than a rambling attempt to replicate a 30-mark essay format.
Paper 3 is similar in structure to Paper 1 but focuses on Crime and Deviance rather than Education. It also includes a Theory and Methods component, but the Theory and Methods content here specifically concerns sociological explanations of crime and the methods used to study criminal behaviour.
| Question | Type | Marks | Time Allocation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q01 | Define a concept | 2 | 2 minutes |
| Q02 | Short answer (using examples) | 4 | 5 minutes |
| Q03 | Short outline/explain | 6 | 8 minutes |
| Q04 | Applying material from Item A, analyse | 10 | 12 minutes |
| Q05 | Extended essay on crime and deviance | 30 | 40 minutes |
| Question | Type | Marks | Time Allocation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q06 | Extended essay on Theory and Methods | 30 | 40 minutes |
Key Point: Paper 3 contains two 30-mark essays — one on Crime and Deviance and one on Theory and Methods. This makes Paper 3 the most writing-intensive paper. Pacing is absolutely critical. If you spend too long on the Crime and Deviance essay, you will run out of time on Theory and Methods, which is worth a full 30 marks.
AQA Sociology uses a consistent set of question types. Understanding the format of each is non-negotiable for exam success.
These ask you to define a sociological concept. You need a clear, concise definition — typically one or two sentences.
These ask you to identify and briefly explain two examples, reasons, or ways. You should write two short paragraphs.
These require you to outline and explain three ways, reasons, or examples. Three short paragraphs, each containing a distinct point with some development.
These present an Item (a short passage of sociological text) and ask you to apply material from the Item and your own knowledge to analyse a particular issue. Two well-developed analytical points are expected, each linked to the Item.
On Paper 1, the 20-mark question is a Methods in Context question (discussed in detail in the next lesson). On Paper 2, the 20-mark question is an evaluate essay.
These are the highest-tariff questions and appear on Papers 1 and 3. They require you to demonstrate all three assessment objectives: description (AO1), application (AO2), and analysis and evaluation (AO3).
Every mark on every question is allocated to one of three assessment objectives. Understanding what each AO rewards is fundamental.
| AO | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| AO1 | Knowledge and understanding of sociological theories, concepts, evidence and methods | 29-36% |
| AO2 | Application of sociological theories, concepts, evidence and methods to a range of issues | 10-16% |
| AO3 | Analyse and evaluate sociological theories, concepts, evidence and methods in order to construct arguments, make judgements and draw conclusions | 50-58% |
Critical Point: AO3 is worth approximately half of all available marks. This means that evaluation and analysis are far more important than simple description. Students who spend most of their time describing theories and studies without evaluating them are throwing away up to half the marks on every essay.
| Question Type | AO1 | AO2 | AO3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-mark define | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 4-mark examples | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 6-mark outline | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 10-mark analyse (with Item) | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| 20-mark methods in context | 8 | 4 | 8 |
| 20-mark evaluate (Paper 2) | 8 | 4 | 8 |
| 30-mark essay | 10 | 4 | 16 |
AQA uses specific command words that signal the type of response expected. Misinterpreting a command word is one of the most common reasons students lose marks unnecessarily.
| Command Word | Meaning | What You Must Do |
|---|---|---|
| Define | Give the meaning of a term | Provide a clear, concise sociological definition |
| Using two examples, briefly explain | Identify and illustrate | Give two distinct examples with brief explanations |
| Outline and explain | Describe and develop | Provide a clear description with some elaboration |
| Applying material from Item... | Use the provided text | Explicitly reference and engage with the Item content |
| Analyse | Break down and examine | Identify relationships, patterns, and underlying processes |
| Evaluate | Assess the strengths and limitations | Make judgements supported by evidence and reasoning |
Exam Tip: When a question says "Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways...", the word two is crucial. You must provide exactly two analytical points, each one explicitly linked to the Item. Writing three superficial points instead of two developed ones will score lower.
AQA uses mark bands for 20-mark and 30-mark questions. Understanding the descriptors for the top band shows you exactly what the examiner is looking for.
| Criterion | Top Band Descriptor |
|---|---|
| Knowledge | Detailed, wide-ranging knowledge of relevant sociological material |
| Understanding | Thorough understanding, shown through accurate use of concepts and theories |
| Application | Material is applied effectively and consistently to the question throughout the response |
| Analysis | Sustained analysis demonstrating a clear line of reasoning |
| Evaluation | Evaluation is thorough and well-informed, with arguments supported by a range of evidence leading to a well-supported conclusion |
Effective time management is one of the most significant factors distinguishing high-performing students from those who underperform relative to their knowledge.
| Paper | Total Time | Total Marks | Time per Mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 120 mins | 80 | 1.5 mins/mark |
| Paper 2 | 120 mins | 80 | 1.5 mins/mark |
| Paper 3 | 120 mins | 80 | 1.5 mins/mark |
The rule of thumb is simple: 1.5 minutes per mark. A 30-mark essay gets 45 minutes (with 5 minutes for planning). A 10-mark question gets 15 minutes. A 2-mark question gets 3 minutes.
Exam Tip: Do not finish a paper early and sit idle. If you have spare time, return to your 30-mark essays and add further evaluation points or strengthen your conclusion. The 30-mark essays are where the most marks are available and where additional time investment yields the highest return.
| Component | Key Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of papers | 3 |
| Duration per paper | 2 hours |
| Marks per paper | 80 |
| Total marks | 240 |
| Weighting per paper | 33.3% |
| Paper 1 | Education + Theory and Methods |
| Paper 2 | Topics in Sociology (choose 2 of 4) |
| Paper 3 | Crime and Deviance + Theory and Methods |
| Question types | 2, 4, 6, 10, 20, 30 marks |
| AO1 weighting | 29-36% |
| AO2 weighting | 10-16% |
| AO3 weighting | 50-58% |
| Key rule | 1.5 minutes per mark |