AQA A-Level Sociology | Paper 2 | 2027 Predicted Paper
7192 Paper 2: Topics in Sociology
Time allowed: 2 hours
Instructions
Answer all questions from one topic in Section A.
Answer all questions from one topic in Section B.
Answer in continuous prose.
The marks available are shown in brackets.
The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
Use appropriate sociological concepts and terminology and organise your answers clearly.
Section A
Choose one topic from this section and answer all the questions on that topic.
Topic A1 Culture and Identity
Question 01
Outline and explain two ways in which individuals may be socialised into gender identities.
[10 marks]
Question 02
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
Participation in high culture may require knowledge and tastes that individuals acquire through socialisation. Access to some cultural activities may also depend on the economic resources available to individuals.
Social class may affect participation in high culture.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which social class may affect participation in high culture.
[10 marks]
Question 03
Read Item B below and answer the question that follows.
Item B
Some sociologists argue that consumption has become increasingly important in shaping identity. Individuals can choose lifestyles, leisure activities and consumer goods that allow them to construct and express who they are.
However, other sociologists argue that these choices are constrained. An individual's position in the production process and their access to economic resources may continue to influence their identity and the choices available to them.
Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the view that consumption is now more important than production in shaping identity.
[20 marks]
Topic A2 Families and Households
Question 04
Outline and explain two ways in which an ageing population may affect families and households.
[10 marks]
Question 05
Read Item C below and answer the question that follows.
Item C
Social policies may change the legal recognition given to different personal relationships. Other policies may affect the financial circumstances of people who choose to marry or live with a partner.
Social policies may affect patterns of marriage.
Applying material from Item C, analyse two ways in which social policies may affect patterns of marriage.
[10 marks]
Question 06
Read Item D below and answer the question that follows.
Item D
Some sociologists argue that marriage has become less important in personal life. Cohabitation has become more widely accepted and individuals may have greater freedom to form and end relationships without marrying.
However, other sociologists argue that marriage remains an important institution. Many people continue to marry and marriage may provide legal recognition, commitment and social approval to relationships.
Applying material from Item D and your knowledge, evaluate the view that marriage has become less important in personal life in the UK today.
[20 marks]
Topic A3 Health
Question 07
Outline and explain two ways in which gender may affect the use of health care provision.
[10 marks]
Question 08
Read Item E below and answer the question that follows.
Item E
The globalised health industry gives some patients access to information about treatments available in other countries. It may also allow patients with sufficient resources to travel abroad to obtain medical treatment.
Globalisation may affect people's choices about health care.
Applying material from Item E, analyse two ways in which globalisation may affect people's choices about health care.
[10 marks]
Question 09
Read Item F below and answer the question that follows.
Item F
People in higher social classes may have more resources with which to obtain health care. They may be able to use private services or travel further to obtain specialist treatment.
However, inequalities in access to health care are not based only on social class. The availability of services varies between areas and factors such as ethnicity, gender and disability may also affect people's experiences of health care.
Applying material from Item F and your knowledge, evaluate the view that social class is the most important factor affecting inequalities in access to health care.
[20 marks]
Topic A4 Work, Poverty and Welfare
Question 10
Outline and explain two reasons why poverty may persist in contemporary UK society.
[10 marks]
Question 11
Read Item G below and answer the question that follows.
Item G
Voluntary welfare organisations may have specialist knowledge of the needs of particular groups. However, their ability to provide support may depend on the resources available to them.
Voluntary welfare providers may affect the experience of poverty.
Applying material from Item G, analyse two ways in which voluntary welfare providers may affect the experience of poverty.
[10 marks]
Question 12
Read Item H below and answer the question that follows.
Item H
Globalisation has created new forms of employment and can allow some workers to access jobs beyond their local labour market. New technology may also provide greater flexibility over when and where some people work.
However, businesses can move work between countries and may employ workers on less secure contracts. Some sociologists argue that these changes increase insecurity and reduce workers' control over their working lives.
Applying material from Item H and your knowledge, evaluate the view that globalisation has reduced people's life chances through increasing insecurity at work.
[20 marks]
Section B
Choose one topic from this section and answer all the questions on that topic.
Topic B1 Beliefs in Society
Question 13
Outline and explain two ways in which globalisation may contribute to the spread of religious beliefs and practices.
[10 marks]
Question 14
Read Item I below and answer the question that follows.
Item I
In some societies, religious organisations remain closely connected to communities and other social institutions. In other societies, industrialisation and social change have reduced the influence of traditional religious organisations.
The extent of secularisation may vary between societies.
Applying material from Item I, analyse two reasons why the extent of secularisation may vary between societies.
[10 marks]
Question 15
Read Item J below and answer the question that follows.
Item J
Some sociologists argue that religion contributes to social stability by creating shared beliefs and values. Religious rituals may bring individuals together and provide support during periods of uncertainty.
However, other sociologists argue that religion can produce conflict or support inequalities between social groups. Religious beliefs have also sometimes contributed to movements for social change.
Applying material from Item J and your knowledge, evaluate the view that the main role of religion is to contribute to social stability.
[20 marks]
Topic B2 Global Development
Question 16
Outline and explain two ways in which war and conflict may affect development.
[10 marks]
Question 17
Read Item K below and answer the question that follows.
Item K
International agencies may provide financial assistance and support programmes intended to improve development. Some financial assistance may be accompanied by conditions concerning how governments manage their economies.
International agencies may affect the process of development.
Applying material from Item K, analyse two ways in which international agencies may affect the process of development.
[10 marks]
Question 18
Read Item L below and answer the question that follows.
Item L
Globalisation can increase international trade, investment and access to new technology. Some sociologists argue that these changes create opportunities for economic growth and enable developing countries to participate more fully in the global economy.
However, critics argue that globalisation can increase the influence of richer countries and transnational corporations. Developing countries may remain dependent on more powerful economies and may also experience significant cultural and political changes.
Applying material from Item L and your knowledge, evaluate the view that globalisation benefits developing countries.
[20 marks]
Topic B3 The Media
Question 19
Outline and explain two ways in which the media may represent people with disabilities.
[10 marks]
Question 20
Read Item M below and answer the question that follows.
Item M
Audiences do not necessarily interpret media content in the same way. Individuals may interpret messages according to their existing experiences and beliefs. New media also allow audiences to discuss, share and change media content.
Audiences may respond differently to the same media content.
Applying material from Item M, analyse two reasons why audiences may respond differently to the same media content.
[10 marks]
Question 21
Read Item N below and answer the question that follows.
Item N
Global media corporations distribute similar programmes, films, music and other cultural products to audiences in many countries. Some sociologists argue that this encourages the development of a global culture and reduces differences between local cultures.
However, globalisation also gives audiences access to a wider range of cultural influences. New media enable individuals and groups to create content, and global cultural products may be adapted to suit local tastes.
Applying material from Item N and your knowledge, evaluate the view that globalisation of the media is leading to increasing cultural homogeneity.
[20 marks]
Topic B4 Stratification and Differentiation
Question 22
Outline and explain two ways in which gender may affect an individual's chances of social mobility.
[10 marks]
Question 23
Read Item O below and answer the question that follows.
Item O
Young people may have fewer legal rights and less economic independence than adults. Older people are more likely to have left paid employment and may experience changes in income and social status.
Age may affect people's life chances.
Applying material from Item O, analyse two ways in which age may affect people's life chances.
[10 marks]
Question 24
Read Item P below and answer the question that follows.
Item P
Occupation is often used when measuring social class because employment can be related to income, working conditions and life chances. Occupational classifications can therefore provide a way of placing people into different social class groups.
However, occupation does not show all aspects of an individual's social position. Differences in wealth, status and power may not correspond exactly to occupational class, and changes in employment may make some occupations difficult to classify.
Applying material from Item P and your knowledge, evaluate the view that occupation is the best way of defining and measuring social class in contemporary society.
[20 marks]
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