WJEC GCSE Sociology

Preparing for the examination

Overview of the examination SOC 1

Understanding Social Processes1 ½ hours

SOC 2Understanding Social Structures

1 ½ hours

Compulsory Core

Key elements: socialisation and agencies of socialisation; research methods

Assessment: Compulsory stimulus questions which may be drawn from the options within the examination.

Compulsory Core

Key elements: Differentiation and inequalities in modern Britain; research methods

Assessment: Compulsory stimulus questions which may be drawn from the options within the examination.

Optional Topics Candidates must answer a structured

question from one of the following:

Optional topicsCandidates must answer a structured

question from one of the following:

Family World Sociology

Education Participation and Protest

Mass Media Crime and Deviance

Sports Work and Unemployment

AO1

• Recall, select and communicate their knowledge and understanding of social structures, processes and issues

AO2

• Apply knowledge and understanding in a range of contexts both familiar and unfamiliar

AO3• Select, interpret, analyse and evaluate information

from different sources

What are the assessment objectives?

Examining the specification

• There are two examinations. Each examination allows for 1 ½ hours

• There is now a single paper in both units which offers the full range of grades A*-G.

• Unit One, Understanding Social Processes is also available as a short course GCSE.

• Each examination is marked out of one hundred.

Answering the paper

• Answer the examination questions on the paper.

• It is not necessary to fill up space available; some people write larger than others and plenty of space is left for those people with big writing.

Section A:The compulsory core

• This will be marked out of 60. Spend about 50 minutes or fewer on this part of the paper.

• Many of the answers will only require one word, these are worth one mark.

• Some extended answers are worth up to five marks. You will need to write a lot more to gain the marks.

Stimulus materials

• There will be a number of items to help you with the paper, these may be:– Cartoons– Graphs and tables– Pieces of writing

• They may be drawn from the options on that paper, but will test the core knowledge.

Tips for success

• Learn the key words on the specification as you will be tested on their meanings

• Learn the key sociological methods as you will be tested on these.

• Use examples, when required, marks are awarded for these.

Available marks

• Some questions are worth one mark, keep your answer short.

• If two marks are available, add explanation or an example.

• Five mark extended answers will require detail and explanation.

• A good extended answer will be organised in this way– Make a statement– Explain the point– Use evidence to support the point

Tips for success in the core

• Read the marks available

• Move through the paper quickly

• Keep answers to the point.

• If you are not sure of an answer, leave it and go back later.

• Sometimes more than one possible answer is acceptable and will be credited if the examples or reasons are good.

Section B

• Each paper offers a choice of four options.

• Answer only one option.

• Each option will be worth 40 marks.

• You will need to write in detail.

Optional questions

• These questions will require extended writing skills. The questions will use the same command words:

 • a) Describe……….. (10)• b) Explain ……… (10)• c) Using sociological knowledge,

discuss……. (20)

Timing your answers

• In section B, spend about a minute a mark on each section.

• Write in as much detail as you can.

• Refer to the questions in your answers

• Use sociological language in your writing.

Good luck in your examination

Remember, marking is positive, so if you are not sure of an answer then

write something down and it may still be credited.