There is no coursework component needed to complete AQA AS Sociology (7191), AQA A Level Sociology (7192), or Cambridge International AS and A Level Sociology (9699). That is, students can attain the qualification by examination only. As there are differences in syllabus or specification content, it is worth looking through each of them if you are able to choose one over the other.
Each exam board uses a syllabus or specification to clearly state, among other things, the subject course content and methods of final assessments. Additionally, each exam board will give suggested textbooks and other resources, some of which are endorsed (that is, they carefully follow the specific syllabus or specification). Teachers and students can choose the best resources to facilitate learning. You don't need all the suggested resources, but it is useful to have one or two textbooks as a scaffold, alongside the syllabus or specification and online resources as needed.
I have tutored students in Cambridge AS and A Level Sociology so I am familiar with the syllabus content, varied teaching and learning strategies for individual students, and preparation for assessments (examinations). CAIE examinations were easier for my four home educated children to access, and I have been teaching or tutoring CAIE examination subjects in school or online since 2007.
I will pass on what I have used, at one time or another, to teach Cambridge AS and A Level Sociology (9699). I will also give suggested resources for anyone interested in accessing AS and A Level Sociology offered by the AQA exam boards.
Each exam board uses a syllabus or specification to clearly state, among other things, the subject course content and methods of final assessments. Additionally, each exam board will give suggested textbooks and other resources, some of which are endorsed (that is, they carefully follow the specific syllabus or specification). Teachers and students can choose the best resources to facilitate learning. You don't need all the suggested resources, but it is useful to have one or two textbooks as a scaffold, alongside the syllabus or specification and online resources as needed.
I have tutored students in Cambridge AS and A Level Sociology so I am familiar with the syllabus content, varied teaching and learning strategies for individual students, and preparation for assessments (examinations). CAIE examinations were easier for my four home educated children to access, and I have been teaching or tutoring CAIE examination subjects in school or online since 2007.
I will pass on what I have used, at one time or another, to teach Cambridge AS and A Level Sociology (9699). I will also give suggested resources for anyone interested in accessing AS and A Level Sociology offered by the AQA exam boards.
Syllabuses and specifications
To have the most success in final assessments (exams), read the syllabus or specification carefully. Consider this as the rule book, as it gives clear details about the subject.
Here are the links for the AS and A Level Sociology courses at AQA and CAIE:
Here are the links for the AS and A Level Sociology courses at AQA and CAIE:
AQA AS and A-Level Sociology (7191, 7192)
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/sociology/as-and-a-level/sociology-7191-7192
Cambridge AS and A Level Sociology (9699)
www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-international-as-and-a-level-sociology-9699/
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/sociology/as-and-a-level/sociology-7191-7192
Cambridge AS and A Level Sociology (9699)
www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-international-as-and-a-level-sociology-9699/
Past paper practice
One of the best ways to understand how well you will do in the final assessments is to complete some past papers, mark them, and reflect on your strengths and challenges. Then repeat the process. Strong AS and A Level knowledge and skills are built through practice, so you should make sure to get support from teachers, tutors, or mentors as necessary. In the meantime, visit the examination board's website and look for past papers, the mark schemes (answer keys or rubrics) and the examiners' reports. All these documents will be helpful in honing your skills in this subject.
Suggested textbooks
There are endorsed textbooks that are closely aligned to exam board courses and these will be the best resource to use as a scaffold for learning. Each exam board also suggests other textbooks and resources for each subject course. The choice of books for teaching and learning is yours, but I have always relied on one or two endorsed textbooks, and then used other resources to supplement my own learning and teaching.
Here are some useful suggested textbooks for AS and A Level Sociology:
Here are some useful suggested textbooks for AS and A Level Sociology:
AQA AS and A-Level Sociology (7191, 7192)
- Chapman, S. et al. (2015) AQA A-Level Sociology: Year 1 and AS: Student Book. ISBN: 9780007597475 [Endorsed]
- Chapman, S. et al. (2016) AQA A-Level Sociology: Year 2: Student Book. ISBN: 9780007597499 [Endorsed]
- Bown, D. et al (2016) AQA Sociology for A Level: Book 1. ISBN: 9781471839399 [Endorsed]
- Bown, D. et al. (2016) AQA Sociology for A Level: Book 2. ISBN: 9781471839429 [Endorsed]
- Browne, K. (2015) Sociology for AQA Volume 1: AS and 1st-Year A Level, 5th Edition. ISBN: 9780745691305 [Endorsed]
- Browne, K. et al. (2016) Sociology for AQA Volume 2: 2nd-Year A Level, 3rd Edition. ISBN: 9780745696942 [Endorsed]
Cambridge AS and A Level Sociology (9699)
- Livesey, C. & Blundell, J. (2019) Cambridge International AS and A Level Sociology: Coursebook, 2nd Edition. ISBN: 9781108739818 [Endorsed]
- Livesey, C (2014) Cambridge International AS and A Level Sociology: Coursebook. ISBN: 9781107673397
- Haralambos, M. et al. (2019) Cambridge International AS & A Level Sociology: Student's Book. ISBN: 9780008287627 [Endorsed]
- O'Neill, C (2014) Cambridge International AS and A Level Sociology: Teacher's Resource CD-Rom. ISBN: 9781107414600
- Barnard,A., Burgess, T., & Kirby, M. (2004) AS Level and A Level Sociology. ISBN: 9780521532143
- Giddens, A. et al (2011) Sociology, 8th Edition. ISBN: 9780393912135
- Scott, J. & Marshall, G. (2009) A Dictionary of Sociology. ISBN: 9780199533008
- Browne, K. (2006) Introducing Sociology for AS Level. ISBN: 9780745635606
- Bilton, T. et al (2002) Introductory Sociology, 4th Edition. ISBN: 9780333945711
Useful websites for AS and A Level Sociology
Using an endorsed textbook alongside the syllabus or specification is always my first strategy in teaching or tutoring AS and A Level Sociology. Then I look through the online resources to supplement and complement what is being learnt, and I am constantly researching new resources.
Here are a few resources you might find useful:
Here are a few resources you might find useful:
http://www.sociology.org.uk/
There is plenty on this site to purchase, but if you want free resources, click on the ‘free revision materials’. Take some time looking around this site. I go back to it often.
http://www.sociologyguide.com/index.html
This website can be used as a reference tool for teachers and students.
http://www.s-cool.co.uk/a-level/sociology
A straight forward revision site for A Level students, covering many of the topics studied in the CIE syllabus
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/index.html
Social Trends in the UK. This is a useful database for various topics within sociology. If you are an international student in another country, try to access your own country's government database for comparative purposes.
http://sociologytwynham.com/
The teachers at the school have produced a really useful site for students who want an online resource. They even published revision books - have a look if you want something different from the textbooks for added reference.
https://earlhamsociologypages.uk
This school website is packed with links for information, videos, and documents. Well worth a look.
Websites need to be checked often to make sure they are still relevant and the links are still active. All websites were checked and updated: April, 2021.
There is plenty on this site to purchase, but if you want free resources, click on the ‘free revision materials’. Take some time looking around this site. I go back to it often.
http://www.sociologyguide.com/index.html
This website can be used as a reference tool for teachers and students.
http://www.s-cool.co.uk/a-level/sociology
A straight forward revision site for A Level students, covering many of the topics studied in the CIE syllabus
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/index.html
Social Trends in the UK. This is a useful database for various topics within sociology. If you are an international student in another country, try to access your own country's government database for comparative purposes.
http://sociologytwynham.com/
The teachers at the school have produced a really useful site for students who want an online resource. They even published revision books - have a look if you want something different from the textbooks for added reference.
https://earlhamsociologypages.uk
This school website is packed with links for information, videos, and documents. Well worth a look.
Websites need to be checked often to make sure they are still relevant and the links are still active. All websites were checked and updated: April, 2021.