Sociology - A Level
Exam Board: AQA
Sociology is the study of human social life, groups and societies. It is a dazzling and compelling enterprise, having as its subject matter our own behaviour as social beings. “The scope of Sociology is extremely wide, ranging from the analysis of passing encounters between individuals in the street, up to the investigation of world-wide social processes". Anthony Giddens ("Sociology", 1989).
A Level Course Content
Paper 1: Education with theory and methods- 2 hours (All sections compulsory.)
Paper 2: Topics in Sociology and research methods - 2 hours (Research Methods section compulsory and then students answer all questions on one topic from section A and section B. the optional units are as follows: Section A: Culture and Identity, Families and Households, Health and Work Poverty and Welfare. Section B: Beliefs in society, global development, the media, stratification and differentiation
Paper 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory- 2 hours. (All questions compulsory.)
Assessment
Students sit examinations in their A Level courses at the end of Year 13. All students will take internal end of year examinations at the end of year 12 to determine suitability to continue with the subject in Year 13. Students who do not meet the required pass grade in the Year 12 end of year examinations will not be permitted to progress into Year 13.
Each unit is assessed through an exam. All exams are taken at the end of year 13, each of the exams is 2 hours long and a maximum of 80 marks per paper available. There is no coursework/controlled assessment element to this qualification.
