Topic Summaries

Paper 1: Education with Theory and Methods

• 2 hour exam • 80 marks
• 1/3 of A-Level
• Question structure:
  • Education (50 marks)
    • 4 marks: Outline two... (give two clear points, no detail needed).
    • 6 marks: Outline three... (give three short points, add a phrase of explanation).
    • 10 marks: Analyse from the item (pick two points, link to theory or evidence, show how).
    • 30 marks: Evaluate using item and knowledge (Write a full essay with intro, at least 3 developed arguments, evidence, evaluation, and conclusion).
  • Methods in Context (20 marks)
    • 20 marks: Evaluate using item and your own knowledge. (Apply a method e.g. observations to the study of education).
  • Theory and Methods (10 marks)
    • 10 marks: Outline and explain two... (give two points, each developed with evidence/theory and evaluation).

Paper 2: Topics in Sociology

• 2 hour exam
• 80 marks
• 1/3 of A-Level
• Section A: one topic from Option 1: choose one of:
  • Culture and Identity
  • Families and Households
  • Health
  • Work, Poverty and Welfare
• Section B: one topic from Option 2: choose one of:
  • Beliefs in Society
  • Global Development
  • The Media
  • Stratification and Differentiation
• Question structure:
  • Section A and B (40 marks each):
    • 10 marks: Analyse using item, pick (two points, apply theory, short essay).
    • 10 marks: Outline and explain two (give two points, each developed with examples).
    • 20 marks: Evaluate using item and knowledge (essay with balanced arguments, evidence, evaluation, and conclusion)

Paper 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods

• 2 hour exam
• 80 marks
• 1/3 of A Level
• Question structure:
  • Crime and Deviance (50 marks)
    • 4 marks: Outline two... (two points only).
    • 6 marks: Outline three... (three points with short explanations).
    • 10 marks: Analyse using item (two developed points linked to item).
    • 30 marks: Evaluate using item and knowledge (essay format, balanced arguments, examples, intro and conclusion).
  • Theory and Methods (30 marks)
    • 20 marks: Evaluate using item and knowledge (essay with balanced arguments, evidence, evaluation, and conclusion).
    • 10 marks: Outline and explain two (give two points, each developed with evidence/theory and evaluation).

Tips:

• Any question 10 marks or above should show AO1 (knowledge), AO2 (application), and AO3 (evaluation).
• Keep essay paragraphs evaluative, not descriptive.
• When asked to “evaluate”, give both strengths and weaknesses, then judge.
• Try to apply to contemporary UK society unless the question specifies otherwise.