A Level Sociology

Studying sociology offers insights into social and cultural issues. It helps you develop a multi-perspective and critical approach to understanding issues around culture, identity, religion, crime, families and social power. More than once during the course you’re bound to ask yourself the question, why has society developed like this? With poverty, ignorance, crime and injustice.

This subject requires a lot of reading and an ability to write well as it is essay based. You will learn to think critically and independently about society and the diversity within it. You will also consider the impact of institutions that shape our society.

Education with Theory and Methods: You'll consider the role of education in society. For example as part of your studies you'll look into gender and ethnicity differences in school achievement. You'll also learn how to apply your own sociology research methods to the study of education.

Families and Households: You will study the structure and changing nature of families and households in modern society. This includes topics like marriage, cohabitation, gender roles, childhood and demographic trends. You will consider how social changes such as feminism or migration have influenced family life and relationships.

Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods: You'll learn about criminal and deviant behaviour, including factors that might lead a person to follow this path in life and how the media portrays them.

Beliefs in Society: You will examine the role of religion and belief systems in shaping social life and change. This includes studying secularisation, globalisation and the rise of new spiritual movements. You will analyse how beliefs influence identity, culture and social stability, and how sociological theories explain these patterns.

Paper 1 – Written Paper: 2 hours (33.3%)

Paper 2 – Written Paper: 2 hours (33.3%)

Paper 3 – Written Paper: 2 hours (33.3%)

At A Level there are three exams, each account for one third of your A Level grade. The three exams last 2 hours and are worth 80 marks each. The exams consist of a mixture of short answer and extended writing questions.

To study Sociology at A Level, students should obtain at least 5 GCSE Grades 9 – 4 to include Grade 4 or above in Maths and Grade 5 or above in all English subjects entered.

Sociology is a great choice of subject for people who want a career in government, politics, social work, nursing or medicine. But the subject is also useful in a number of other careers, like marketing, advertising, PR, journalism, law or teaching. Possible degree options for students who have an A Level in sociology include Sociology; Psychology; PPE (Philosophy, Politics & Economics); English Studies; Business Studies; Law or Teaching.