AQA GCSE Sociology (8192): complete guide to the papers, topics and key thinkers

AQA GCSE Sociology (specification 8192) is a linear course assessed by two written papers at the end of Year 11. There is no coursework. This page is the index: below is a map of the two papers, the six areas of content, the named thinkers, and the exam skills that run across the whole course.

The two papers

AQA splits the course into two equally weighted papers, each worth 100 marks and 50% of the GCSE, each lasting 1 hour 45 minutes.

• Paper 1: The sociology of families and education. Covers the family and education, with research methods and the sociological approach (socialisation, culture and the key perspectives) woven in.
• Paper 2: The sociology of crime and deviance and social stratification. Covers crime and deviance and social stratification, again drawing on research methods and the key perspectives.

The six areas of content

This site breaks the course into six modules, each with dot-point answer pages, an overview guide and a quiz.

Families

The functions of families, the different family forms, conjugal roles and power, how family patterns have changed, and the criticisms of family life. Key thinkers include Murdock, Parsons, Willmott and Young, and Ann Oakley.

Education

The functions of education, the hidden curriculum, the factors affecting achievement (class, gender and ethnicity), and the processes within schools such as labelling and setting. Key thinkers include Durkheim, Parsons, Bowles and Gintis, and Becker.

Crime and deviance

Defining crime and deviance, the theories that explain them, the official and unofficial data on crime, and the agencies of social control. Key thinkers include Durkheim, Merton and Becker.

Social stratification

Defining stratification, the theories that explain it, life chances and poverty, and power and inequality. Key thinkers include Marx, Weber, Davis and Moore, and Townsend.

Sociological research methods

The research process, the primary methods (questionnaires, interviews, observation and experiments), secondary sources, and sampling and ethics.

Key sociological concepts

Socialisation, culture and identity, the functionalist and Marxist perspectives, the feminist and interactionist perspectives, and how all four are applied across the topics.

The skills that run across the course

Each topic rewards content knowledge, but the marks come from applying it through a fixed set of question types.

1. Knowledge and understanding. Define key terms precisely and recall the named sociologists and studies the specification expects.
2. Application. Use a printed source (an extract or a chart) and apply sociological ideas to it or to a given context.
3. Analysis and evaluation. Build a balanced answer that weighs the perspectives against each other and reaches a supported judgement on the longer questions.

How to study AQA Sociology

Sociology rewards evidenced argument and disciplined exam technique in equal measure.

1. Attach a thinker to every idea. A point backed by Murdock, Bowles and Gintis or Merton scores far higher than an unsupported assertion.
2. Master the four perspectives. Functionalism, Marxism, feminism and interactionism are applied to every topic, so learn what each says and how they criticise one another.
3. Drill each question type. The one-mark, four-mark and twelve-mark questions are marked very differently, so practise each against its mark scheme.
4. Use sources accurately. Many questions give an extract or chart; quote or paraphrase it precisely rather than ignoring it.
5. Practise timing. With 100 marks in 1 hour 45 minutes per paper, the extended answers must be planned and written quickly.

The topics, dot point by dot point

Each module has an overview guide, dot-point answer pages and a quiz. Browse the full set at /gcse-aqa/sociology/syllabus.

For the official specification

AQA publishes the full specification (8192), past papers and mark schemes at aqa.org.uk. Always revise from the current specification and AQA's own past papers, because question style is board-specific.