AQA A-Level Sociology | Paper 1 | 2027 Predicted Paper
for Specification 7192
Paper 1: Education with Theory and Methods
Time allowed: 2 hours
Instructions
Answer all questions.
Write your answers clearly.
You may use additional paper if required.
Cross through any work that you do not wish to be marked.
Information
The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
The marks for individual questions are shown in brackets.
Answers to questions worth 10 marks or more should be written in continuous prose.
Use appropriate sociological concepts and terminology.
Education
Answer all questions.
Question 01
Outline two ways in which privatisation may affect education.
[4 marks]
Question 02
Outline three factors outside schools that may contribute to ethnic differences in educational achievement.
[6 marks]
Question 03
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
Schools organise teaching and learning in a variety of ways. Pupils may be placed into different teaching groups according to judgements about their ability. This may affect the expectations that teachers and pupils have about future achievement.
The organisation of teaching may also affect pupils' access to different educational opportunities and knowledge.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which the organisation of teaching and learning may affect pupils' educational achievement.
[10 marks]
Question 04
Read Item B below and answer the question that follows.
Item B
There are persistent social class differences in educational achievement. Some sociologists argue that these differences are created or reinforced through relationships and processes within schools. For example, teachers may develop expectations of pupils and schools may organise pupils into different teaching groups.
However, pupils enter education with different material and cultural resources. Other sociologists therefore argue that factors outside schools are more important in explaining social class differences in achievement.
Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the view that relationships and processes within schools are the main explanation for social class differences in educational achievement.
[30 marks]
Methods in Context
Question 05
Read Item C below and answer the question that follows.
Item C
Investigating patterns of school exclusion
Pupils may be excluded from school for a variety of reasons. Patterns of exclusion may differ between groups of pupils, and sociologists may be interested in whether factors such as social class, gender or ethnicity are associated with these patterns.
One way of investigating school exclusions is to use official statistics. These can provide quantitative data covering large numbers of pupils and may allow sociologists to identify patterns and changes over time. However, official statistics depend upon the categories and recording procedures used by organisations. They may provide limited information about the meanings and circumstances surrounding individual exclusions.
Applying material from Item C and your knowledge of research methods, evaluate the strengths and limitations of using official statistics to investigate patterns of school exclusion.
[20 marks]
Theory and Methods
Question 06
Outline and explain two ways in which values may influence sociological research.
[10 marks]
End of Questions
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