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Class, status, power and life chances

Past-paper questions pack

Name
Class
Date set
Date due
Score/ 240

Questions are numbered; the mark schemes (the answer key) follow on separate pages so the question pages can be handed out alone. www.alevelsociologytutor.com

AQA AQA AS and A-level Sociology past-paper questions since 2016 · 16 parts · mark schemes follow the questions · www.alevelsociologytutor.com · Questions and mark schemes © AQA

1. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q24 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
2 4 Read Item P below and answer the question that follows. Item P Ethnicity is one factor that may affect life chances. For example, members of some ethnic groups underachieve in education and are more likely to be in low paid work. There are also differences between ethnic groups in rates of social mobility. However, some sociologists argue that there are factors that affect life chances more than ethnicity. For example, Marxists argue that social class is the most important factor affecting a person’s life chances. Applying material from Item P and your knowledge, evaluate the view that a person’s ethnicity is the most important factor affecting their life chances. [20 marks]
2. June 2024 · Paper 2 · Q22 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2
2 2 Outline and explain two ways that globalisation may affect the life chances of working- class people. [10 marks]
3. June 2024 · Paper 2 · Q23 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3
2 3 Read Item O below and answer the question that follows. Item O Females are more likely to take time off paid work to look after children. Males are more likely to be in senior positions in the workplace. Gender may affect an individual’s status. Applying material from Item O, analyse two ways in which gender may affect an individual’s status. [10 marks]
4. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q22 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2
2 2 Outline and explain two ways in which an individual’s disability may affect their chances of social mobility. [10 marks]
5. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q24 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
2 4 Read Item P below and answer the question that follows. Item P Marxists argue that the basis of stratification in capitalist society is the division into two social classes: the bourgeoisie who own the means of production and the proletariat who have to sell their labour power. The difference in interests between these two classes leads to class conflict, which affects all areas of life. However, functionalists argue that stratification is necessary and beneficial. Others argue that social class is less important, or that factors such as ethnicity or gender are more important than social class. Applying material from Item P and your knowledge, evaluate Marxist theories of stratification. [20 marks]
6. June 2022 · Paper 2 · Q23 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3
2 3 Read Item O below and answer the question that follows. Item O Despite the Equal Pay Act and other measures, women earn less on average than men do in the UK today. At work women may encounter barriers to achieving the same positions as men. Women may lack power in the UK today. Applying material from Item O, analyse two ways in which women may lack power in the UK today. [10 marks]
7. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q22 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2
2 2 Outline and explain two ways in which occupation may affect life chances. [10 marks]
8. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q24 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
2 4 Read Item P below and answer the question that follows. Item P Some sociologists argue that in this period of rapid change, age is an increasingly important dimension of inequality. For example, there are generation gaps in economic opportunities and in values and attitudes. There is also ageism, which affects both young and old people. However, many sociologists still see social class, gender and ethnicity as the most important dimensions of inequality. Applying material from Item P and your knowledge, evaluate the view that age is an increasingly important dimension of inequality. [20 marks]
9. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q23 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3
2 3 Read Item O below and answer the question that follows. Item O Sociologists have increasingly recognised age as a dimension of inequality. For example, young people do not have all the same rights that adults do. Many older people are no longer in paid employment. Age may affect an individual’s status. Applying material from Item O, analyse two ways in which age may affect an individual’s status. [10 marks]
10. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q24 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
2 4 Read Item P below and answer the question that follows. Item P Feminist sociologists argue that gender is the most important dimension of inequality today. This is despite some improvements in the social position of women. However, other sociologists see gender inequalities as natural and inevitable, or argue that other dimensions of inequality are more important. Applying material from Item P and your knowledge, evaluate the view that gender is the most important dimension of inequality today. [20 marks]
11. June 2019 · Paper 2 · Q24 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
2 4 Read Item P below and answer the question that follows. Item P Marxist sociologists argue that social class is the dominant factor in determining people’s life chances. They say that there are still significant differences between social classes. However, other sociologists have argued that social class is no longer as important as it was, and that other factors, such as gender and ethnicity, are now more important. Applying material from Item P and your knowledge, evaluate the view that social class is still the dominant factor in determining people’s life chances today. [20 marks]
12. June 2018 · Paper 2 · Q22 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2
2 2 Outline and explain two ways in which age may affect people’s life chances. [10 marks]
13. June 2018 · Paper 2 · Q24 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
2 4 Read Item P below and answer the question that follows. Item P One view is that ethnicity is the most important dimension of inequality today. For example, Black people are more likely to be unemployed. One reason for this may be institutional racism. However, other sociologists argue that other dimensions of inequality such as social class are more important. Applying material from Item P and your knowledge, evaluate the view that ethnicity is the most important dimension of inequality today. [20 marks]
14. June 2017 · Paper 2 · Q22 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2
2 2 Outline and explain two ways in which ethnicity may affect life chances. [10 marks]
15. June 2017 · Paper 2 · Q24 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
2 4 Read Item P below and answer the question that follows. Item P Weberian sociologists argue that inequality has several dimensions, such as class, status and power. However, Marxist sociologists argue that social class is always the most important of these dimensions. Applying material from Item P and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations of the relationship between class, status and power. [20 marks]
16. Specimen set 1 · Paper 2 · Q24 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
2 4 Read Item B below and answer the question that follows. Item B Feminists seek to explain gender inequalities. Different branches of feminism focus on different aspects of the lives and life chances of women. All feminists agree that women suffer subordination. However, they disagree about how women’s subordination can be overcome. Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the usefulness of feminist theories in understanding the position of women in society. [20 marks]

Mark schemes

1. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q24
Mark scheme June 2025 Paper 2 Q24
2. June 2024 · Paper 2 · Q22
Mark scheme June 2024 Paper 2 Q22
3. June 2024 · Paper 2 · Q23
Mark scheme June 2024 Paper 2 Q23
4. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q22
Mark scheme June 2023 Paper 2 Q22
5. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q24
Mark scheme June 2023 Paper 2 Q24
6. June 2022 · Paper 2 · Q23
Mark scheme June 2022 Paper 2 Q23
7. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q22
Mark scheme November 2021 Paper 2 Q22
8. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q24
Mark scheme November 2021 Paper 2 Q24
9. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q23
Mark scheme November 2020 Paper 2 Q23
10. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q24
Mark scheme November 2020 Paper 2 Q24
11. June 2019 · Paper 2 · Q24
Mark scheme June 2019 Paper 2 Q24
12. June 2018 · Paper 2 · Q22
Mark scheme June 2018 Paper 2 Q22
13. June 2018 · Paper 2 · Q24
Mark scheme June 2018 Paper 2 Q24
14. June 2017 · Paper 2 · Q22
Mark scheme June 2017 Paper 2 Q22
15. June 2017 · Paper 2 · Q24
Mark scheme June 2017 Paper 2 Q24
16. Specimen set 1 · Paper 2 · Q24
Mark scheme Specimen set 1 Paper 2 Q24