Cambridge International AS and A Level Sociology offers students the opportunity to explore the processes that are shaping current trends of society. It also helps them to develop an understanding of the complexity and diversity of human societies and their continuities with the past.
The A level sociology syllabus encourages students to foster a deeper and wider understanding of the subject. As a result, students become more confident in applying their knowledge and skills in new situations.
An A* in A Level is indicative of your level of mastery of the subject. It not only prepares you for higher education but also makes you eligible for admission to the top universities of the world. Let’s read ahead to explore A level sociology and how you can push yourself up to the A* band.
A Level Sociology syllabus and papers
Paper 1 – Socialisation, identity and methods of research
Socialisation and the creation of social identity
Methods of research
Paper 2 – The Family
Theories of the family and social change
Family roles and changing relationships
Paper 3 – Education
Education and society
Education and inequality
Paper 4 – Globalisation, Media and Religion
Globalisation
Key debates, concepts and perspectives
Contemporary issues
Media
Ownership and control of the media
Media representation and effects
Religion
Religion and social order
The influence of religion
Published resources for A Level in Sociology
See CIE’s endorsed course book and handbook for full support of the course material of A level in sociology.
Papers assessment objectives and weightage of components
| Assessment objectives | Weightage in components % | |||
| Paper 1 | Paper 2 | Paper 3 | Paper 4 | |
| Knowledge and understanding | 40 | 40 | 36 | 26 |
| Interpretation and application | 30 | 30 | 28 | 31 |
| Analysis and evaluation | 30 | 30 | 36 | 36 |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Sociology A Level paper pattern
Paper 1 – Socialisation, identity and methods of research
Written paper, 1 hour 30 minutes, 60 marks Paper 1 contains two sections:
- Section A has three short questions with sub-sections (attempt all)
- Section B has two essay questions (attempt one)
Paper 2 – The Family
Written paper, 1 hour 30 minutes, 60 marks Paper 2 contains two sections:
- Section A has three short questions with sub-sections (attempt all)
- Section B has two essay questions (attempt one)
Paper 3 – Education
Written paper, 1 hour 15 minutes, 50 marks
Paper 3 has four questions, worth an increasing number of marks (attempt all)
Paper 4 – Globalisation, Media and Religion
Written paper, 1 hour 45 minutes, 70 marks Paper 4 contains three sections:
- Section A: Globalisation
- Section B: Media
- Section C: Religion
There are six essay questions, two in each section. Candidates should answer two questions, each from a different section.
Grade thresholds
Grades A*, A, B, C, D, and E are awarded to indicate the level of achievement of students. If you get an A*, you have achieved a distinction. While there is no specific award of distinction given to students, it is generally accepted that students getting an A* have excelled in achieving the highest in assessment objectives.
To read about raw marks for each component and grade cut-offs, see the threshold tables for summer 2022 exams. For a quick reference, A* was awarded to a minimum of 171; maximum mark after weightage was 240. For other combinations and options, see the detailed threshold table for A/AS Levels.
How can you meet the criteria for getting an A*?
- All students study from the coursebook and teachers’ notes. Add one more thing: Use the teacher’s guide as well! It provides more detailed info on each aspect of the topic. It will also help you understand concepts in a different way, thus making you more confident of what you are required to know.
- Make concise notes and mind maps on each topic. For note taking techniques, see below.
- You should also make separate notes for all the sociologists and statistics and arrange the notes topic-wise. The statistics, evidences, and understanding of sociologists are very important as they push you into the A* band.
- Make sure you use all the past paper materials provided by your school. This requires a consistent effort from the very beginning as you start to understand the assessment objectives. Don’t settle for anything less and go for as many past papers as you can get.
- Read examiner reports carefully. They provide crucial info on where students have gone wrong in previous years. Compare all the examiner reports and figure out how the assessment objectives can be met by you.
- Mock exams are to be taken very seriously. Take it as if it’s your real exam. Take as many mocks as you can, whether offered by your school, academy, or take it yourself.
- Sociology papers assess essays, therefore time-management is key. Taking mocks under strict time constraints is the only way to perform under exam pressure.
- Remember to have fun while learning and start enjoying sociology. Make frequent visits to libraries and bookshops to increase your interest in the subject.
- No one goes anywhere in sociology if you don’t put in your 100% in the subject. That is because sociology is the subject where examiners want to hear your perspective on current affairs. Therefore, building up your knowledge and your ability to showcase it in an intelligible way will get you an A*.
Sociology A levels notes and techniques for getting an A*
While making your sociology A levels notes notes, make sure to include:
- Highlighted key terms like culture, high culture, dominant culture, subculture, folk culture, mindsets, global cultures, mindsets etc.
- Each highlighted word should be followed by a one line description.
- Highlighted key perspectives like Bourdieu, Adorno, Strinati, Durkheim etc. Again, write a line with every perspective.
- Follow this up with the key terms you will use in your answers explaining the perspectives and your own position, such as, socialisation, primary agencies of socialisation, fundamentalists, marxists, processes, value consensus, social integration etc.
- The main idea behind making notes is to understand how you will be asked questions in the papers and how you will respond to them. Make notes in a specific order to be able to answer the questions!
- You will be ready to make the best notes after you have taken notes in the classes, read the books, read the teachers’ notes, past papers, and examiner reports. Your notes should have a flow that you will be able to follow in the papers.
Essay writing techniques to get a good grade
- Your teacher will share essay writing format or pattern. Make sure you understand it and follow it.
- Your carefully prepared notes will be extremely helpful when you get down to writing essays. In fact, if you prepare the sociology notes as mentioned here, you might end up spending around 40 hours per week to achieve notes that will actually help you in exams.
- The problem with sloppy essays is that they lack the depth examiners are looking for. So, even if you have a template, you may not have the evidence, references, and your own informed thesis. Hastily put together essays will easily show crevices and you would be graded down on that.
- Time management is crucial to getting the essays right. All papers will include essays and you may not be able to recall so much information and write legibly under the pressure of time in the exam.
- To sum it up: Excellent notes prepared by you with proper technique, good structure, academic writing style, and time management.
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