← Modern Studies syllabus

ScotlandModern Studies

Social Issues in the United Kingdom

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What are the causes of crime, and how does crime affect individuals and society in the UK?

The causes and effects of crime: how poverty, drugs and alcohol, peer pressure, family and other factors contribute to crime, and how crime affects victims, communities and wider society.
The causes and effects of crime in the UK for SQA National 5 Modern Studies (crime and the law option): how poverty, drugs and alcohol, peer pressure, family background and greed contribute to crime, and how crime affects victims, communities and wider society, with worked exam answers.
12 min answer →

How do individuals, the police, the legal system and the state respond to crime in Scotland and the UK?

Responses to crime: the roles of individuals, the police, the Scottish legal system and courts, prisons and the government in tackling crime, and how effective these responses are.
How crime is tackled in Scotland and the UK for SQA National 5 Modern Studies (crime and the law option): the roles of individuals, Police Scotland, the Scottish courts and legal system, prisons and alternatives to custody, and the government, with an assessment of effectiveness and worked exam answers.
13 min answer →

What are the main causes of social and economic inequality in the United Kingdom?

The causes of social inequality: how unemployment, low pay, poor health, lack of qualifications, discrimination and family circumstances contribute to social and economic inequality in the UK.
The causes of social inequality in the UK for SQA National 5 Modern Studies: how unemployment and low pay, poor health, lack of qualifications, discrimination, and family and area circumstances combine to cause social and economic inequality between groups, with worked exam answers.
12 min answer →

What are the effects of social inequality on individuals, groups and wider society in the UK?

The effects of social inequality: how inequality harms health, education, housing and life chances for affected groups, and the wider costs to society.
The effects of social inequality in the UK for SQA National 5 Modern Studies: how inequality leads to poorer health, lower educational attainment, worse housing and reduced life chances for affected groups, and the wider costs to society such as crime and pressure on services, with worked exam answers.
12 min answer →

How do governments and other organisations respond to social inequality in the UK, and how effective are these responses?

Responses to social inequality: how the UK and Scottish governments use the welfare state, benefits, the minimum wage, the NHS and other measures, and the role of charities and voluntary groups, plus how effective these responses are.
How governments and others respond to social inequality in the UK for SQA National 5 Modern Studies: the welfare state and benefits, the minimum and living wage, the NHS and free education, government policies, and the role of charities and voluntary groups, with an assessment of effectiveness and worked exam answers.
13 min answer →