There is no coursework component needed to complete AQA GCSE Sociology (8192), or Cambridge IGCSE Sociology (0495) . That is, students can attain the qualification by examination only. There are quite a few similarities between the two courses, so read through the syllabus and the specification and choose carefully.
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 IGCSE 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 IGCSE Sociology (0495). I will also give suggested resources for anyone interested in accessing GCSE Sociology offered by the AQA exam board.
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 IGCSE 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 IGCSE Sociology (0495). I will also give suggested resources for anyone interested in accessing GCSE Sociology offered by the AQA exam board.
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 IGCSE and GCSE courses at AQA and CAIE:
Here are the links for the IGCSE and GCSE courses at AQA and CAIE:
AQA GCSE Sociology (8192)
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/sociology/gcse/sociology-8192
Cambridge IGCSE Sociology (0495)
www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-igcse-sociology-0495/
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/sociology/gcse/sociology-8192
Cambridge IGCSE Sociology (0495)
www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-igcse-sociology-0495/
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 IGCSE and GCSE 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
The endorsed textbooks are closely aligned to exam board courses and will be the best resource to use as a scaffold for learning. Each examination 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 IGCSE and GCSE courses, with the ISBN to help search for the resources more effectively. Remember: you do not need all the resources, so take the time to find the best texts for you.
Here are some useful suggested textbooks for IGCSE and GCSE courses, with the ISBN to help search for the resources more effectively. Remember: you do not need all the resources, so take the time to find the best texts for you.
AQA GCSE Sociology (8192)
- Wilson, P. et al. (2017) AQA GCSE (9-1) Sociology: Student Book. ISBN: 9780008220143
- Addison, S. et al. (2018) AQA GCSE (9-1) Sociology: Exam Practice Papers. ISBN: 9780008264765
- Collins GCSE (2018) Collins GCSE 9-1 Revision Sociology Workbook. ISBN: 9780008326906
Cambridge IGCSE Sociology (0495)
- Blundell, J.(2014) Cambridge IGCSE Sociology: Coursebook. ISBN 9781107645134 [Endorsed]
- Blundell, J. (2014) Cambridge IGCSE Sociology: Teacher's Resource CD-ROM. ISBN 9781107651388 [Endorsed]
- Browne, K. (2011) An Introduction to Sociology, 4th Edition. ISBN 9780745650081
Useful websites for IGCSE and GCSE Sociology
Using an endorsed textbook alongside the syllabus or specification is always my first strategy in teaching or tutoring IGCSE or GCSE 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:
www.sociology.org.uk
This site is primarily aimed at AS and A Level Sociology. However, it is useful for teachers as a reference source, and also for revision materials. It might be helpful to the highly attaining students as a reference source, as they can disseminate the relevant material.
http://www.sociologyguide.com/index.html
This sociology guide has quick, crisp commentary on various topics. At IGCSE or GCSE level, teachers can take the main points that are needed to understand the topics being covered – thus, a useful reference source for teachers.
cls.ucl.ac.uk/cls-studies/1970-british-cohort-study/
This website gives fascinating insight into one of the largest and longest longitudinal studies on people in the UK. Well worth a look.
www.crimesurvey.co.uk/en/index.html
This website hosts statistics on crime in the UK over a number of years. If you are learning in another country, try to find the government and local databases to compare and contrast statistics.
data.gov.uk/dataset/f3ba77f8-d598-4db2-a3bc-b59a1578d410/social-trends
Social trends statistics, from a UK government website. Can you find your country's social trends? Census gathering is done periodically to give governments data to help allocate funds and resources, so these are valuable statistics.
www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk
Social research website, with current social events. You can change the location to find relevant material from your country.
www.jrf.org.uk/society
One of the original social change agents in the UK. If you want to know more about Joseph Rowntree and what they do, have a look at this website.
www.ons.gov.uk
The official National Statistics website for the UK, full of information.
www.suttontrust.com
The Sutton Trust focuses on educational inequalities and produces research reports as well as offers support in a variety of areas.
www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zbbw2hv
Bitesize revision on Sociology from the BBC website. This is a great resource to revise topics or bring information front of mind.
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.
This site is primarily aimed at AS and A Level Sociology. However, it is useful for teachers as a reference source, and also for revision materials. It might be helpful to the highly attaining students as a reference source, as they can disseminate the relevant material.
http://www.sociologyguide.com/index.html
This sociology guide has quick, crisp commentary on various topics. At IGCSE or GCSE level, teachers can take the main points that are needed to understand the topics being covered – thus, a useful reference source for teachers.
cls.ucl.ac.uk/cls-studies/1970-british-cohort-study/
This website gives fascinating insight into one of the largest and longest longitudinal studies on people in the UK. Well worth a look.
www.crimesurvey.co.uk/en/index.html
This website hosts statistics on crime in the UK over a number of years. If you are learning in another country, try to find the government and local databases to compare and contrast statistics.
data.gov.uk/dataset/f3ba77f8-d598-4db2-a3bc-b59a1578d410/social-trends
Social trends statistics, from a UK government website. Can you find your country's social trends? Census gathering is done periodically to give governments data to help allocate funds and resources, so these are valuable statistics.
www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk
Social research website, with current social events. You can change the location to find relevant material from your country.
www.jrf.org.uk/society
One of the original social change agents in the UK. If you want to know more about Joseph Rowntree and what they do, have a look at this website.
www.ons.gov.uk
The official National Statistics website for the UK, full of information.
www.suttontrust.com
The Sutton Trust focuses on educational inequalities and produces research reports as well as offers support in a variety of areas.
www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zbbw2hv
Bitesize revision on Sociology from the BBC website. This is a great resource to revise topics or bring information front of mind.
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.