AQA GCSE Sociology
Explore your course, one topic at a time.
Course overview
The AQA GCSE Sociology specification covers 23 topics with 416 learning objectives (8192). Use the topic browser below to explore subtopics, exam tips, common mistakes, and key terminology for each area of the course.
- 23 topics
- 105 study pages
- 416 learning objectives
- 573
- practice questions
- 138
- teaching notes
- 23
- topics
- 3
- audio lessons
Your exams
- The Sociology of Families and EducationTuesday, 11 May 2027, PM
- The Sociology of Crime and Deviance and Social StratificationTuesday, 18 May 2027, PM
Always confirm dates and times with your exam centre.
| Paper | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: The sociology of families and education | 105 min | 100 | 50% |
| Paper 2: The sociology of crime and deviance and social stratification | 105 min | 100 | 50% |
Explore your topics
23 topics
The sociological approach1 topic
Social structures, social processes and social issues1 topic
Families6 topics
- Functions of families4 specification points covering Differing views of the functions of families., Parsons (page 45) functionalist perspective on primary socialisation and the…13 objectives · 3 study pages
- Family forms3 specification points covering How family forms differ in the UK and within a global context., The work of the Rapoports on family diversity., Students…9 objectives · 3 study pages
- Conjugal role relationships6 specification points covering Different views of conjugal role relationships., The feminist perspective of Oakley on the idea of the conventional family.,…18 objectives · 5 study pages
- Changing relationships within families7 specification points covering Changing relationships within families., How relationships within families have changed over time., The theory of the…22 objectives · 6 study pages
- Criticisms of families6 specification points covering Different criticisms of families (isolation and unrealistic idealisation, loss of traditional functions, lack of contact…18 objectives · 5 study pages
- Divorce5 specification points covering Changes in the pattern of divorce in Britain since 1945 and the consequences of divorce for family members and structures.,…15 objectives · 4 study pages
Education4 topics
- Roles and functions of education8 specification points covering Different views of the role and functions of education., The functionalist perspective of Durkheim on education as the…24 objectives · 7 study pages
- The relationship between education and capitalism3 specification points covering Different views of the correspondence principle on the relationship between education and capitalism as developed from a…9 objectives · 2 study pages
- Educational achievement6 specification points covering Factors affecting educational achievement., The work of Halsey on class-based inequalities and Ball on parental choice and…18 objectives · 5 study pages
- Processes within schools6 specification points covering Processes within schools affecting educational achievement., The work of Ball on teacher expectations and Willis on the…18 objectives · 5 study pages
Crime and deviance4 topics
- The social construction of crime and deviance7 specification points covering The social construction of concepts of crime and deviance and explanations of crime and deviance., The work of Merton on the…21 objectives · 6 study pages
- Social control5 specification points covering Formal and informal methods of social control., The work of Heidensohn on female conformity in male dominated patriarchal…15 objectives · 4 study pages
- Criminal and deviant behaviour7 specification points covering Factors affecting criminal and deviant behaviour and ways in which criminal and deviant behaviour have generated public…21 objectives · 6 study pages
- Data on crime5 specification points covering The usefulness of the main sources of data on crime, the collection of official data on crime, patterns and trends in crime…15 objectives · 4 study pages
Social stratification6 topics
- Functionalist theory of stratification5 specification points covering Different views of the functionalist theory of social stratification., The work of Davis and Moore on social stratification…15 objectives · 4 study pages
- Socio-economic class6 specification points covering Different views of socio-economic class., The work of Marx and Weber on socio-economic class., identify, describe and…18 objectives · 5 study pages
- Life chances5 specification points covering Different views on factors affecting life chances., The work of Devine revisiting the idea of the affluent worker.,…15 objectives · 4 study pages
- Poverty as a social issue6 specification points covering Different interpretations of poverty as a social issue., The work of Townsend on relative deprivation and Murray on the…18 objectives · 5 study pages
- Power and authority5 specification points covering Different forms of power and authority., The work of Weber on power and authority., identify, describe and explain different…15 objectives · 4 study pages
- Power relationships5 specification points covering Describe and explain different views on factors affecting power relationships., The work of Walby on patriarchy., identify,…15 objectives · 4 study pages
Sociological research methods1 topic
About this course
About AQA GCSE Sociology
In the AQA GCSE Sociology course, you will explore how society works and how people interact within it. You will study key sociological theories and perspectives—such as functionalism, Marxism, feminism, and interactionism—to understand how sociologists explain human behaviour, social structures, and processes. The course encourages you to think critically about the world around you, questioning common-sense assumptions and examining evidence about topics like families, education, crime, and social inequality.
The specification is structured into two main themes: 'Families and Education' and 'Crime and Deviance and Social Stratification'. In each, you will learn about core sociological concepts, key studies, and how sociologists conduct research using different methods. You will also develop the skills to design, analyse, and evaluate sociological research, allowing you to engage with real-world issues in an informed way.
This course is designed to be relevant and engaging, linking sociological ideas to contemporary British society and global examples. By the end, you will have a strong foundation in sociological thinking, preparing you for further study at A-level and beyond, as well as for careers in areas like social work, journalism, law, and education.
Assessment Structure
The AQA GCSE Sociology qualification is assessed entirely through two written exam papers, each 1 hour 45 minutes long and worth 100 marks (50% of the GCSE each). Paper 1 covers 'The Sociology of Families and Education' and includes questions on relevant methods. Paper 2 covers 'The Sociology of Crime and Deviance and Social Stratification' and associated methods. Both papers feature a mix of multiple choice, short answer, and extended writing questions, including two 12-mark essays per paper. There is no coursework or controlled assessment. The total qualification mark is 200.
Why Choose AQA?
- AQA is the largest awarding body in England, so there are abundant high-quality resources, textbooks, and past papers specifically tailored to this specification, making revision straightforward.
- The course offers a logical, topic-based structure that balances knowledge of key theories with practical research methods, giving you a well-rounded understanding of sociology.
- AQA's GCSE Sociology has a clear and fair assessment style, with a mix of question types that allow you to demonstrate both factual recall and higher-order analytical skills, preparing you well for A-level study.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AQA GCSE Sociology harder than GCSE Psychology?
Do I need to remember specific studies and statistics for the AQA GCSE Sociology exam?
Can I get a grade 9 in AQA GCSE Sociology with self-study?
How long should I spend revising for each topic in AQA GCSE Sociology?
What's the difference between the AQA GCSE Sociology specification and the Eduqas one?
Assessment and exam guidance
Assessment Objectives
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of sociological theories, concepts, evidence and methods.
Apply knowledge and understanding of sociological theories, concepts, evidence and methods.
Analyse and evaluate sociological theories, concepts, evidence and methods in order to construct arguments, make judgements and draw conclusions.
Exam Structure
Paper 1: The sociology of families and education
1h 45m
Duration
100
Marks
50%
Weighting
Paper 2: The sociology of crime and deviance and social stratification
1h 45m
Duration
100
Marks
50%
Weighting
Tips and common mistakes
Common Exam Mistakes
Pitfalls to avoid in your exams
- •Treats the UK scope rule as a topic to revise and memorise; instead apply it as a filter when choosing examples and evidence in every answer.
- •Builds answers mainly on non-UK studies or foreign institutions without labelling them; instead lead with UK evidence and use other countries only as clearly identified comparison.
- •Assumes every part of the course is UK-only and ignores the 'except where otherwise stated' clause; instead check the specification for the parts that deliberately look beyond the UK.
- •Treats the heading as a topic to be learned and reproduced; instead use it as a prompt to work through the bullet points that follow it.
- •Learns the following bullets as isolated facts without understanding; instead be able to explain each concept and apply it to a UK example.
- •Skips bullets that seem unfamiliar; instead turn each one into a question and check you can answer it in your own words.
- •Treats consensus and conflict as identical; keep them as opposing explanations of social order.
- •Assumes every conflict perspective focuses on social class; recognise that feminism centres gender inequality.
Top Examiner Tips
Expert advice for exam success
- •Before writing, ask whether each example you plan to use is UK-based; replace any that are not with UK institutions, studies or statistics.
- •If you use a non-UK example, label it explicitly as a comparison and keep it secondary to your UK evidence.
- •Check the specification wording for any topic that states a different focus, and follow that stated focus rather than the default UK rule.
- •Convert each bullet under this heading into a question and answer it aloud to test your understanding.
- •For each concept, prepare one UK example you could use to apply it in an answer.
- •Use the heading as a revision checklist and tick off each bullet only when you can both define and apply it.
- •Underline the key term in the question, such as consensus or conflict, before reading the options.
- •Eliminate options that describe the opposite side of the debate first.
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