Course at a glance
Examining Board: AQA
Next Examination Period: May / June 2023
Exam Specification Code: 7192
Coursework Element: None
Practical Element: None
Course Fee Includes: Online course materials and tutor support. Additional materials available at extra cost.
Standard Option: Sociology A Level
Payment Options: Interest free instalment plans available
AQA A Levels are available for study anywhere in the world. Examinations must be taken in a registered UK exam centre. It is recommended students check with UK examining centres that the chosen exam is available.
Introduction
Oxford Learning College (OLC) is a seasoned provider of Social Science courses. This A level course is based on the AQA Advanced General Certificate Education; (A-GCE) Specifications for Sociology, which became available from 2015 teaching series for first examination in 2017.
Integral Elements
All the following must be an integral part of the study of each topic area:
– Sociological theories, perspectives and methods.
– The design of the research used to obtain the data under consideration, including its strengths and limitations.
Attention must be given to drawing out the links between topic areas studied.
Core Themes
-Students must study the following two core themes:
– Socialisation, culture and identity.
– Social differentiation, power and stratification.
The themes should be understood and applied to particular substantive areas of Sociology. These themes are to be interpreted broadly as threads running through many areas of social life and should not therefore be regarded as discrete topics. In addition, students must understand the significance of conflict and consensus, social structure and social action, and the role of values.
Fast Track A Level Sociology Entry Requirements
Although the Fast Track A Level Sociology programmes build on the course content of GCSE, it is not necessary to have this qualification before undertaking an A-Level. However, in order to meet the demands of the course, it is recommended that candidates have literacy and communication skills equivalent to C or higher at GCSE. Please note that full tutor support is still provided throughout your course duration.
All students must be 16 years of age or above.
Fast Track A Level Sociology Course Duration
1 year.
Study Hours Required
Approximately 350 hours.
Awarding Body
AQA A Levels are available for study anywhere in the world. Examinations must be taken in a registered UK exam centre. It is recommended students check with UK examining centres that the chosen exam is available.
Examination Information
Students are required to arrange and pay for their examinations and manage the course work element if the subject requires this. Students must check the relevant examination board website for further information and final examination sitting dates for the specification.
All examinations are held during the May / June exam period of every year.
Further information on exam centres can be found here: https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/examination-centres/
Fast Track A Level Sociology Course Content
Unit 1: Introduction to Sociology and Education
Topics covered include:
- Introduction to sociology.
- Key introductory ideas.
- Education, socialisation and citizenship.
- Processes and relationships in education.
- Theoretical perspectives on education.
- Differential achievement.
- Education policies.
- Researching education
Unit 2: Research Methods and Theory in Context
Topics covered include:
- Sociological research methods.
- Topic selection.
- Practical issues.
- Hypotheses.
- Types of data.
- Evaluating research.
- Bias and ethics.
- Gathering data.
- Social survey.
- Participant observation.
- Experiments.
- Official statistics.
- Other types of data.
Unit 3: Culture and Identity (Exam Option 1)
Topics covered include:
- Different cultural perspectives.
- Types of identity.
- The socialisation process.
- Agencies of social control.
- Perspectives on identity.
- Labelling.
- Theoretical summary of identity.
- Leisure, consumption and identity.
- Theoretical summary of identity.
Unit 4: Families and Households (Exam Option 1)
Topics covered include:
- Definitions of family and households.
- Perspectives on the family.
- Types of family structure.
- Ethnic difference in family types.
- Regional variations.
- Families of choice.
- Decline in death and infant mortality rates and the ageing population.
- Emigration and immigration.
- Marriage, divorce and cohabitation.
- Lone parents.
- Historical changes in childhood and childhood as a social construct.
- Historical changes in childhood.
- Inequalities in domestic labour.
- Power distribution and authority between couples.
- Cross cultural views.
- Perspectives on family and social policy.
Unit 5: Health (exam option 1)
Topics covered include:
- Social construction of the body and health, illness, and disease.
- Disability.
- Models of health.
- The role of medicine and health professionals.
- Historical improvements.
- Medicine and social control.
- Contemporary changes in health and health care.
- Inequalities in health.
- Perspectives on mental illness.
- Researching health.
Unit 6: Work, Poverty and Welfare (Exam Option 1)
Topics covered include:
- Defining poverty wealth and income.
- Measurements of poverty, wealth and income.
- Distribution of resources.
- Theories of poverty.
- Theoretical approaches to welfare.
- Public and private welfare provision.
- Voluntary and informal provision.
- Issues and problems.
- Responses to poverty.
Unit 7: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods (Compulsory)
Topics covered include:
- Crime, social order and control.
- Social distribution of crime.
- Globalisation and crime.
- Crime control, prevention and punishment, victims and the criminal justice system.
Unit 8: The Media (Exam Option 2)
Topics covered include:
- The new media.
- Ownership and control of the media.
- The media and globalisation and popular culture.
- Media representations.
- Media and audiences.
Unit 9: Stratification and Differentiation (Exam Option 2)
Topics covered include:
- Stratification and differentiation by social class, gender, ethnicity and age.
- Dimensions of inequality.
- Defining and measuring social class.
- Structures of inequality: change and its effects.
- Social mobility.
Assessment
The course is assessed via written exams. However, assignments are included at the end of each unit to assess your progress and provide feedback. The following information contains details of all the exams for AQA ‘A’ level. There are compulsory elements to the A level award and the examined components comprise three papers, two of which are mandatory and an optional topic which forms part of Paper 2 assessment.
A Level Sociology Paper 1: Education with Methods in Context
2 hour written exam
Compulsory content assessed
33.3% of A level
80 marks
Questions:
Education: short answer and extended writing, 50 marks
Methods in Context: extended writing, 20 marks
Theory and methods extended writing, ten marks
A Level Sociology Paper 2: Topics in Sociology
2 hour written exam
Section A: one from option 1
Section B: one from option 2 (please note that the college offer stratification and differentiation and the media as choices for option2; we do not offer beliefs in society or global development as unit options)
33.3% of AS level
80 marks
Questions:
Section A: extended writing, 40 marks
Section B: extended writing, 40 marks
A Level Sociology Paper 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods
2 hour written exam
33.3% of A level
80 marks
Questions:
Crime and Deviance: short answer and extended writing, 50 marks
Theory and methods: extended writing, 30 marks
As you progress through the course, you will be asked to complete assignments, which must be sent to your tutor for marking. The assignments in the course are designed to help you become familiar with the types of questions you will encounter in the exam.
Progression
Our Fast Track A Level Sociology programmes are eligible for UCAS points, making them a great choice for students aiming to progress to University. UCAS points are awarded according to the grade earned, please see below for details.
A levels are also widely recognised by employers and are useful for students looking to progress their careers or meet requirements for promotion.
UCAS Points Table
A* = 56
A = 48
B = 40
C = 32
D = 24
E = 16