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The distribution of poverty, wealth and income

Past-paper questions pack

Name
Class
Date set
Date due
Score/ 226

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 · 22 parts · mark schemes follow the questions · www.alevelsociologytutor.com · Questions and mark schemes © AQA

1. June 2025 · AS Paper 2 · Q19 · 2 marks · AO2=2
1 9 Using one example, briefly explain why wealthy people are likely to remain wealthy. [2 marks]
2. June 2024 · Paper 2 · Q10 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2
1 0 Outline and explain two reasons why rates of unemployment vary between social groups. [10 marks]
3. June 2024 · Paper 2 · Q12 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
1 2 Read Item H below and answer the question that follows. Item H Functionalists suggest that poverty has various functions in society today. For example, one function is that the fear of poverty encourages people to work hard to achieve upward social mobility. They also argue that poverty is inevitable as some individuals lack the skills and work ethic to perform higher earning jobs. However, other sociologists argue that poverty is a source of conflict and the outcome of inequalities in the class structure. Applying material from Item H and your knowledge, evaluate the view that poverty is functional and inevitable in society today. [20 marks]
4. June 2024 · AS Paper 2 · Q20 · 6 marks · AO1=6
2 0 Outline three reasons why some ethnic groups may be more likely to experience poverty. [6 marks]
5. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q12 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
1 2 Read Item H below and answer the question that follows. Item H Some sociologists suggest that poverty is the outcome of structural inequalities in society. Certain social groups, such as women, are at greater risk of poverty than other social groups. Marxists argue that capitalism leads to working-class poverty. However, New Right sociologists argue that attitudes and behavioural differences are the most important factors when explaining the distribution of poverty. Applying material from Item H and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations for the distribution of poverty between different social groups. [20 marks]
6. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q20 · 6 marks · AO1=6
2 0 Outline three reasons why women may be more likely than men to experience poverty. [6 marks]
7. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q21 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2
2 1 Outline and explain two reasons why people with disabilities may not be able to access work opportunities. [10 marks]
8. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q20 · 6 marks · AO1=6
2 0 Outline three ways in which age may affect the experience of poverty. [6 marks]
9. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q21 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2
2 1 Outline and explain two reasons why people with disabilities may not receive the state benefits they are entitled to. [10 marks]
10. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q10 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2
1 0 Outline and explain two ways in which poverty amongst women may be caused by their experience of work. [10 marks]
11. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q10 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2
1 0 Outline and explain two ways in which government policies have affected the distribution of income in the UK. [10 marks]
12. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q11 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3
1 1 Read Item G below and answer the question that follows. Item G The values and attitudes of some members of the working class may lead to them accepting their position in society. Patriarchal values mean that females can be disadvantaged. Some social groups are more likely than others to experience poverty. Applying material from Item G, analyse two reasons why some social groups are more likely than others to experience poverty. [10 marks]
13. November 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q18 · 2 marks · AO1=2
1 8 Define the term ‘income’. [2 marks]
14. June 2019 · Paper 2 · Q10 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2
1 0 Outline and explain two ways in which worklessness may be caused by structural inequalities between different social classes. [10 marks]
15. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q19 · 2 marks · AO2=2
1 9 Using one example, briefly explain why households with children may be more at risk from poverty than other households. [2 marks]
16. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q20 · 6 marks · AO1=6
2 0 Outline three ways in which government policies may reduce the gap between rich and poor in the UK today. [6 marks]
17. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q22 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
2 2 Read Item D below and answer the question that follows. Item D Marxist sociologists argue that poverty is related to the way capitalist societies are organised. The distribution of resources in society is determined by the class structure. However, the New Right believe poverty is related to individual choices and cultural attitudes. Others may point out that gender, ethnicity and age are also significant factors in causing poverty. Applying material from Item D and your knowledge, evaluate the view that poverty and inequality are caused by the class structure of society. [20 marks]
18. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q22 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
2 2 Read Item D below and answer the question that follows. Item D The distribution of poverty among different social groups in the United Kingdom population is complex. Certain social groups are at greater risk of poverty than others. Some sociologists would argue that type of family and unemployment are important causes of poverty. Applying material from Item D and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations for the distribution of poverty among different social groups in the United Kingdom. [20 marks]
19. June 2017 · Paper 2 · Q12 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
1 2 Read Item H below and answer the question that follows. Item H Despite the Equal Pay Act, gender differences in income remain. Women’s gross hourly earnings are on average about one-fifth lower than men’s. Similarly, single women pensioners are one of the groups most at risk of poverty. Feminists argue that gender differences in poverty are caused by the patriarchal nature of society. Applying material from Item H and your knowledge, evaluate the view that gender differences in poverty are caused by patriarchy. [20 marks]
20. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q20 · 6 marks · AO1=6
2 0 Outline three reasons why families with young children may be likely to experience poverty. [6 marks]
21. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q21 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2
2 1 Outline and explain two ways in which government policies may have affected the gap between rich and poor during the last 40 years. [10 marks]
22. Specimen set 1 · Paper 2 · Q10 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2
1 0 Outline and explain two reasons why members of certain minority ethnic groups may be more likely to be unemployed than others. [10 marks]

Mark schemes

1. June 2025 · AS Paper 2 · Q19
Mark scheme June 2025 Paper 2 Q19
2. June 2024 · Paper 2 · Q10
Mark scheme June 2024 Paper 2 Q10
3. June 2024 · Paper 2 · Q12
Mark scheme June 2024 Paper 2 Q12
4. June 2024 · AS Paper 2 · Q20
Mark scheme June 2024 Paper 2 Q20
5. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q12
Mark scheme June 2023 Paper 2 Q12
6. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q20
Mark scheme June 2023 Paper 2 Q20
7. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q21
Mark scheme June 2023 Paper 2 Q21
8. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q20
Mark scheme June 2022 Paper 2 Q20
9. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q21
Mark scheme June 2022 Paper 2 Q21
10. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q10
Mark scheme November 2021 Paper 2 Q10
11. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q10
Mark scheme November 2020 Paper 2 Q10
12. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q11
Mark scheme November 2020 Paper 2 Q11
13. November 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q18
Mark scheme November 2020 Paper 2 Q18
14. June 2019 · Paper 2 · Q10
Mark scheme June 2019 Paper 2 Q10
15. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q19
Mark scheme June 2019 Paper 2 Q19
16. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q20
Mark scheme June 2019 Paper 2 Q20
17. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q22
Mark scheme June 2019 Paper 2 Q22
18. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q22
Mark scheme June 2018 Paper 2 Q22
19. June 2017 · Paper 2 · Q12
Mark scheme June 2017 Paper 2 Q12
20. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q20
Mark scheme June 2016 Paper 2 Q20
21. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q21
Mark scheme June 2016 Paper 2 Q21
22. Specimen set 1 · Paper 2 · Q10
Mark scheme Specimen set 1 Paper 2 Q10