GCSE Sociology (2010)

David Bown – Chair of ExaminersJanis Griffiths – GCSE Chief Examiner

Joanna Lewis – Subject OfficerAndrew Bevan – Subject support Officer

Compulsory Study

There are three core themes in the GCSE Sociology specification:

– People and Society

– Power and Control

– Research Methods

Overview of the specification

Understanding social processes

50%

Compulsory core: assessing understanding of socialisation, culture and identity, social control, social interaction and social change

One choice of

Family, education, mass media, sport:

Understanding social structures

50%

Compulsory core: assessing understanding of social organisations and structures, power, authority, life chances

One choice of: Work, power and participation, crime and deviance, global citizenship

Summary of Assessment

• There are two examinations of 1 ½ hours each.

– Understanding social processes– Understanding social inequality

• They follow exactly the same format.

• Each is worth 50% of the marks for the full award.

• There is no tiering of entry and there is no coursework.

1. Understanding social processes

• Understanding social processes (socialisation, identity and inequality) (60 marks)

• Optional questions (40 marks each)– Family– Education– Mass Media– Sport

2. Understanding social processes

• Understanding social structures (inequality, organisations, power, socialisation) (60 marks)

• Optional questions (40 marks each)– Work– Power and Participation– Crime and Deviance– Global citizenship

Framework for the options

• Each option follows the basic framework of:– Key concepts, – Structures, processes, issues in

contemporary society – Evidence and theories used to discuss and

explain society

• Additional detail has been added to the specification to clarify areas that may be questioned.

• AO1 - Recall, selection and communication of social structures, processes and issues

• AO2 - Application of knowledge and understanding in a variety of contexts

• AO3 - Selection, analysis and evaluation of information

Assessment Objectives

Compulsory question framework

• There will be a variety of stimulus materials including images and writing.

• Each stimulus will have a range of questions with a variety of mark ranges.

• Many questions will require one word answers, but there will be questions that require extended writing.

• Research methods will be tested in this section.

• All questions will be compulsory.

Optional question framework

(a) Describe and explain ***(10 marks)

(b) Explain *** (10 marks)

(c) Using sociological knowledge, discuss *** (20 marks)

Leading to questions

• That test extended writing skills

• Part (a) questions will tend to look at patterns and trends typical of our society (15 marks)

• Part (b) questions focus on explaining social phenomena (30 marks)

• Weightings on both questions tend towards AO1

For teachers …

• Note that there has been little change in the thematic style of the examination

• There are more options.

• The specification offers more detail in terms of topic and content

• The style of the optional questions have changed to encourage extended writing.

• Markschemes have been extended and updated

• In addition, full support is available on the NGfL Cymru website and on the WJEC website

Sources of support and help

The subject officer:joanna.lewis@wjec.co.uk

NGfL Cymruwww.ngfl-cymru.org.uk

WJEC www.wjec.co.uk

For further information, please contact the subject officer at the WJEC

Joanna Lewis245 Western AvenueCardiffCF5 2YX

joanna.lewis@wjec.co.uk