AQA Board
Staff
Mr Roger Reid (Teacher of Sociology)
Summary
This specification offers candidates the opportunity of developing the essential knowledge and understanding of central aspects of sociological thought and methods. It is designed to encourage candidates to demonstrate the application of a range of skills and consider the integration of sociological themes:
- Socialisation, culture and identity
- Social differentiation, power and stratification.
AS outline
At this level, candidates will acquire knowledge of contemporary social processes and social changes. Candidates will be encouraged to develop their own social awareness through active engagement with the contemporary social world.
- Unit 1: Culture and Identity; Families and Households; Wealth, Poverty and Welfare
- Unit 2: Education with Research Methods; Health with Research Methods
A2 outline
At this level, candidates will continue to focus on contemporary society but they should demonstrate a wider range and greater depth of knowledge and understanding and more highly developed skills of application, analysis, interpretation and evaluation.
- Unit 3: Beliefs in Society; Global Development; Mass Media; Power and Politics
- Unit 4: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods; Stratification and Differentiation with Theory and Methods
AS ExaminationsUnit 1 – SCLY1
Culture and Identity; Families and Households; Wealth, Poverty and Welfare
- 40% of AS, 20% of A Level
- Written paper, 1 hour = 60 marks
- Candidates choose one topic from three and answer five questions
- Available January and June
Unit 2 – SCLY2
Education with Research Methods;
- Health with Research Methods
- 60% of AS, 30% of A Level
- Written paper, 2 hours = 90 marks
- Candidates choose one topic (Education or Health) and answer four questions on the chosen topic, one question on sociological research methods in context, and four questions on research methods
- Available January and June
A2 Examinations
Unit 3 – SCLY3
Beliefs in Society; Global Development; Mass Media; Power and Politics
- 20% of A Level
- Written paper, 1 hour 30 minutes = 60 marks
- Candidates choose one topic from four and answer two compulsory questions and one question from a choice of two
- Available January and June
Unit 4 – SCLY4
Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods;
Stratification and Differentiation with Theory and Methods
- 30% of A Level
- Written paper, 2 hours = 90 marks
- Candidates choose one topic from two and answer two questions on the chosen topic, one question on sociological research methods in context, and one question on theory and methods
- Available January and June
Useful websites:
http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/humanities/sociology_overview.php
http://www.sociologyexchange.co.uk/
http://www.tutor2u.net/sociology/default.html
http://www.sociology.org.uk/rload.htm