Examining Board – AQA
Subject Content
Why choose Sociology? Sociology is relevant to the understanding of the world and people around us. It looks at how and why society is the way it is, we look at different groups and their experiences of life. The subject is modern, as it assesses how the world is changing as well. Sociology can also be used to form the basis of various careers, such as: Police work, teaching, the army, caring, media work, research, law, and medicine, to name a few. You will enjoy Sociology, as a lot of the work is based not only on fact, but you can also bring in your own experiences into the discussion in class, and listen to other viewpoints.
Methods of Study
Within Sociology you will experience various types of teaching and learning styles including participation in student lead lessons, small group work, role play, discussions and the making of PowerPoint and other presentations. Students will have access to the College library, videos/DVD and the internet etc. You will also carry out essay writing/ timed essays in class, internet search tasks, Glossary searches, poster activities and research.
Methods of Assessment
AS Level
Module 1: Families and Households
- Written paper is 1 hour
- This is 40% of the AS and 20% of the A level (60 marks)
Module 2: Education and Sociological methods (90 marks)
- Written paper is 2 hours
- This is 60% of the AS level and 30% of the overall A level
A2 Level
Module 3: Beliefs in Society
- Written paper is 1 hour 30 minutes
- Worth 20% of the overall A level. (60 marks)
Module 4: Crime and Deviance and Theory and Methods (90 marks)
- Written paper is 2 hours, worth 30% of A level
How you will be assessed:
The examination board is AQA. You will be assessed by two examination papers at AS Level and two papers at A Level.
Entry Requirements
The specification provides a smooth transition from GCSE Sociology and we would expect a minimum C grade if studied at GCE. Study at GCSE however, is not a prerequisite for studying AS/A Level Sociology. Candidates who have a Grade C in English Language or similar attainment at Key Stage 4 will find that those skills will suitably equip them for the study of the Sociology specification. However, no prior learning is necessary for candidates to undertake a course of study based on this specification.