Subject : Sociology

Awarding body: OCR

Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced GCE courses

Course content and examination requirements:

The Sociology course consists of four modules. Two are studied in the first year and constitute an AS level, a further two are studied in the Upper Sixth to complete the whole A level.

Year 12 - AS Units	Year 13 - A2 Units (full GCE)
Unit 1 Exploring socialisation, culture and identity 50% of AS level 25% of A level One hour thirty minutes written examination – this unit considers the formation of culture, process of socialisation and the creation of identity. Questions will be based on pre-released material which will comprise of one compulsory question.	Unit 1 Power and control 25% of A level One hour and thirty minutes written examination – students will study one of four topic areas: crime and deviance; education; mass media or power and politics. They will have to answer two questions on their chosen topic from a choice of three. These will be unstructured essay questions.
Unit 2 Topics in socialisation, culture and identity 50% of AS level 25% of A level One hour thirty minutes written examination – this unit considers the sociology of: the family; health; religion and youth. Students will be required to answer two structured questions, and there will be two questions per topic.	Unit 2 Exploring social inequality and difference 25% of A level Two hours written examination – this unit considers social inequality and difference in the context of sociological research. There will be three compulsory structured questions based on a piece of research followed by an essay question from a choice of two.

Year 12 - AS Units

Year 13 - A2 Units (full GCE)

Unit 1
Exploring socialisation, culture and identity
50% of AS level
25% of A level

One hour thirty minutes written examination – this unit considers the formation of culture, process of socialisation and the creation of identity. Questions will be based on pre-released material which will comprise of one compulsory question.

Unit 1
Power and control
25% of A level

One hour and thirty minutes written examination – students will study one of four topic areas: crime and deviance; education; mass media or power and politics. They will have to answer two questions on their chosen topic from a choice of three. These will be unstructured essay questions.

Unit 2
Topics in socialisation, culture and identity
50% of AS level
25% of A level

One hour thirty minutes written examination – this unit considers the sociology of: the family; health; religion and youth. Students will be required to answer two structured questions, and there will be two questions per topic.

Unit 2
Exploring social inequality and difference
25% of A level

Two hours written examination – this unit considers social inequality and difference in the context of sociological research. There will be three compulsory structured questions based on a piece of research followed by an essay question from a choice of two.

Entry requirements

Sociology as a subject in its own right is only studied in the Sixth Form and there are no specific entry requirements for the course. The subject demands a good command of English and the ability to analyse and to interpret research data in relation to sociological issues.

Relevance to further studies and careers

Studying Sociology enables students to pursue many options post A level. These include careers in the fields of Education, Social Welfare, Research and Consultancy.

Teaching staff / further information

Miss T Baker

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