GCE SOCIOLOGY ASA LEVEL New Specification KEY CHANGES

GCE SOCIOLOGY AS/A LEVEL New Specification

KEY CHANGES Qualification Requirements AS and A level Sociology: • now has different qualification weightings – 40% (AS) & 60% (A 2) • will see an increase in the number of assessment objectives from two to three • offers new opportunities for learners to choose options • targets technical assessment objectives clearly • targets technical requirements for the new assessment objectives clearly

KEY CHANGES Current Specification AS (2 units) SY 1 20% 1 hour Written Paper Unit 1 - Acquiring Culture 60 marks One compulsory question based on stimulus material and covering introductory core One question to be answered from a choice of three options - Families and Culture - Youth Culture - Community and Culture. SY 2 30% 1½ hour Written Paper Unit 2 - Understanding Culture 90 marks One compulsory question based on research methods. One question from a choice of three options - Education - Religion - Mass Media

KEY CHANGES Current Specification A level (2 AS units plus a further 2 units) SY 3 20 % 1½ hour Written Paper Unit 3 – Understanding Power and Control 60 marks One compulsory question plus a choice between two questions in each option Understanding Crime Understanding Politics Understanding Health and Disability SY 4 30% 2 hours Written Paper Unit 4 – Understanding Social Divisions 100 marks One compulsory question based on research methods. One question from a choice of two in each option – World Sociology & Social Inequality

KEY CHANGES - New Specification AS AS Unit 1: Acquiring Culture Written examination: 1 hour 15 minutes 15% of qualification 60 marks Section A 15 marks Key concepts and processes of cultural transmission, socialisation and the acquisition of identity. Section B 45 marks This section offers a choice between two options: families and households youth cultures AS Unit 2: Understanding Society and Methods of Sociological Enquiry Written examination: 2 hours 25% of qualification 90 marks Section A Methods of Sociological Enquiry 35 marks This section comprises one compulsory question based on stimulus material Section B Understanding Society 55 marks This section offers a choice between three options: education media religion

KEY CHANGES - New Specification A LEVEL A 2 Unit 3: Power and Control Written examination: 2 hours 25% of qualification 70 marks The theme is power. There is a choice between four options: crime and deviance health and disability politics world sociology A 2 Unit 4: Social Inequality and Applied Methods of Sociological Enquiry Written examination: 2 hours 15 minutes 35% of qualification 100 marks Section A Applied Methods of Sociological Enquiry 40 marks One compulsory question which will require learners to design, justify and evaluate a piece of sociological research. Section B Social Inequality 60 marks Theme is social differentiation and stratification. Candidates are required to answer one question.

Transition to the New Specifications • First teaching September 2015 • AS award Summer 2016 • First qualification A level award Summer 2017 • Last award of current specification Summer 2016

SIMILARITIES Qualification Requirements • Minor wording changes to the subject criteria • Little change to the subject content • Popular optional topics remain

WJEC GCE IN SOCIOLOGY In developing this specification, WJEC has been mindful to include the following features: • opportunities for flexible teaching approaches; • questions designed to enable candidates to demonstrate higher order skills as well as knowledge and application; • straightforward wording of questions; • accessibility of materials; • opportunities for breadth of study and subject specific learning and knowledge; • high-quality examination and resource materials.

ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES Learners must: AO 1 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: • Sociological theories, concepts and evidence • Sociological research methods AO 2 Apply sociological theories, concepts, evidence and research methods to a range of issues AO 3 Analyse and evaluate sociological theories, concepts, evidence and research methods in order to: • Present arguments • Make judgements • Draw conclusions

ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES AO 1 AS Unit 1 AO 2 AO 3 8% (20%) 4% (10%) 3% (7. 5%) AS Unit 2 13% (33%) 7% (17%) 5% (12. 5%) A 2 Unit 3 11% 9% 5% A 2 Unit 4 12% 13% 10% Overall weighting 44% 33% 23% Required weighting 35 - 45% 30 - 40% 20 - 30% Assessment objectives weightings are shown as a percentage of the full A level with AS weightings in brackets.

SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT AS Unit 1: Acquiring Culture Written examination: 1 hour 15 minutes 15% of qualification 60 marks Section A: 15 marks One structured question on key concepts and processes of cultural transmission, socialisation and the acquisition of identity. Section B: 45 marks Choice between two options. Each option includes compulsory questions and a choice between two essay questions. • Families and households • Youth Cultures

SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT AS Unit 2: Understanding Society and Methods of Sociological Enquiry Written examination: 2 hours 25% of qualification 90 marks Section A: 35 marks One compulsory question based on stimulus material. Section B: 55 marks Choice between 3 options. Each option includes compulsory questions based on data and a choice between two essay questions. • Education • Media • Religion

SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT A 2 Unit 3: Power and Control Written examination: 2 hours 25% of qualification 70 marks There is a choice between four options on theme of power. This includes one compulsory question and a choice between two essay questions. • • Crime and Deviance Health and Disability Politics World Sociology

SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT A 2 Unit 4: Social Inequality and Applied Methods of Sociological Enquiry Written examination: 2 hours 15 minutes 35% of qualification 100 marks Section A: 40 marks One compulsory question on methods of sociological enquiry, which includes the design of a piece of sociological research. Section B: 60 marks One compulsory question and a choice between two essay questions on theme of social differentiation and stratification.

ASSESSMENT A range of assessment types has been used: • Short, open response questions • Restricted response essays • Extended response essays • Common structure across all units comprising compulsory questions and a choice of questions • Combination of item types used in overall assessment in one series provides a suitable and appropriate balance for the assessment of the specification

AS LEVEL UNIT 1 Example of: short open response question Q 1 (a) With reference to the item and your own sociological knowledge, explain the meaning of the term nurture. (5 marks) A 01 - elements 1 a & 1 b (3 marks) A 02 – element 1 a (2 marks) (pages 6, 23 in specimen materials)

A 2 UNIT 3 Example of: restricted response essay Q 1 (a) (ii) Using sociological evidence and examples, explain why women appear to commit less crime than men. (20 marks) A 01 - elements 1 a & 1 b (12 marks) A 02 – element 1 a (8 marks) • • all questions of this type are compulsory focuses on knowledge and understanding with some assessment of learners’ ability to apply knowledge and understanding to the question (pages 16, 62 of specimen assessment materials)

A 2 UNIT 3 Example of: extended response essay Q 4 (b) Evaluate World Systems Theory as an explanation of inequalities in the developing world. (40 marks) A 01 - elements 1 a & 1 b (13 marks) A 02 - element 1 a (13 marks) A 03 - strands 1 -3 (14 marks) • • focus is very much on analysis and evaluation rather than just knowledge and understanding assesses ability to write in extended manner and evaluate sociological arguments (pages 17, 81 of specimen assessment materials)

MARKING • Targeted assessment objective marks for each question which are consistent across series • Clear indicative content and mark allocation, allowing consistent marking and promoting examiner reliability • Assessment grids contain clear and consistent marking bands with specific descriptors relating to assessment objectives • Clear reference to assessment objectives

SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS • • • Teacher guidance Online resources Online activities Specimen question papers and mark schemes Examiner reports Online exam reviews Exemplar material Item level data Secure website access Direct and instant access to Subject Officer throughout the year

RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS Supporting teaching and learning http: //www. wjec. co. uk/qualifications/sociology/ View our accredited specification, specimen assessment materials and supporting resources on our website. resources. wjec. co. uk Free digital resources to support the teaching and learning of a broad range of subjects oer. wjec. co. uk Our free Online Exam Review allows teachers to analyse item level data, critically assess sample question papers and receive examiner feedback wjec. co. uk/shop A vast range of educational resources, past papers and mark schemes to support the teaching and learning of subjects offered by WJEC https: //www. wjecservices. co. uk/ A range of resources material only available to teachers

Any Questions? Contact our specialist Subject Officers and administrative support team for your subject with any queries. Joanna Lewis Subject Officer 029 2026 5167 Email: joanna. lewis@wjec. co. uk Hannah Griffiths Subject Support Officer 029 2026 5183 Email: hannah. griffiths@wjec. co. uk