IGCSE Sociology

Paper 1

• Candidates answer one compulsory question on sociological research methods and three optional questions on culture and socialisation; social stratification and inequality and power and authority.
• This examination equals 60 percent of total marks.
• The compulsory question in Section A will be based on source material. The question will carry one third of the marks for the paper. Candidates should spend approximately 45 minutes answering this question. Section A will test Syllabus Unit 1.
• Sections B to D will consist of structured questions based on stimulus material. The stimulus will take the form of a short quotation or statement from a sociological source. Sections B to D will test Syllabus Units 2 to 4. There will be two questions related to each of these units.

Paper 2

• Candidates answer three optional questions on the family; education; crime, deviance and social control and the mass media.
• This examination equals 40 percent of total marks.
• The three questions will be structured around some stimulus material. The stimulus will take the form of a short quotation or statement from a sociological source. Candidates will answer three questions from Sections A to D.
• Paper 2 will test Syllabus Units 5 to 8. There will be a choice of two questions related to each of these units.

We will be explaining what the references above to the’ syllabus units’ mean as we go through the course. You don’t need to worry about this now.

The course contains a number of assignments which your tutor will mark and give you valuable feedback on. We call these Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs). You need only send the TMAs to your tutor for comment, not the self-assessment exercises which are also part of the course to help you gauge your progress.