Sociology - A Level

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Qualification: A Level Sociology

Exam Board: AQA

A Level Sociology is a thought-provoking course that explores how society works and the factors that shape people’s lives, behaviour and opportunities. You will examine topics such as families, education, social inequality, crime and deviance, while exploring different sociological perspectives and analysing contemporary social issues. The course develops critical thinking, research and analytical skills, making it an excellent choice for students interested in society, politics, law, criminology, education, social sciences and a wide range of related degrees and careers.

Course Content

Sociology will provide you with a diverse learning experience and it will teach you to look at the society around you in a brand new  way. Sociology has developed an exciting range of theories that question and often challenge how society is organised. 

The aim of this course is to encourage you to develop a critical understanding of sociological ideas about society and social life. An important part of studying sociology is the way you can use it to help make sense of your own experiences in society.  Sociology provides you with new ways of  seeing the social world around you and can lead to a questioning of things that you once took for granted. 

The course invoves a lot of reading and you will need to be interested in discussing social issues. You will also need to develop good analytical and essay writing skills. 

  • The subject covers a mix of social history, current trends, and political and conceptual perspectives on society.
  • You will learn about how British society has developed and the forces that shape our behavious and values.
  • Year 12 introduces topics, while Year 13 builds upon them, requiring students to further develop analytical skills, evaluate large amounts of information, and construct persuasive arguments.

Assessment

  • The course is assessed 100% through exams.
  • There are three exams, each accounting for one-third of the A-level mark.
  • Each exam lasts 2 hours and iw worth 80 marks.
  • The exams consists of a mixture of short answers and extended writing questions.

Paper 1 - Education with Theory and Methods

Paper 2 - Families and Beliefs

Paper 3 - Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods

Entry Requirements

Minimum of grade 5 in GCSE English (Language or Literature)

You should be an independent learner with a curious mind.

Extra-Curricular Opportunities

Students are expected to be curious about society and take responsibility for independent learning.

There may be trips to enhance learning opportunities including unversity visits.

Progression Post 18

  • Sociology A Level develops many transferable skills, and students have gone on to study for degrees not only in Sociology but also in subjects such as Business Management, Journalism, Marketing, Social Work, Nursing, and Education.
  • Sociology also opens doors to apprenticeships in areas such as the police force and civil service.

What our students say about this course

Year 13 student


"Studying Sociology has enabled me to look at the world around me in a different way. The class discussions have been vital to our learning. We have covered political, historical and conceptual ideas on British society. It has given me a good grounding, not only for my examinations but also to study Sociology further at University."

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