: AQA past-paper questions pack

Differential educational achievement: class, gender and ethnicity

Past-paper questions pack

Name
Class
Date set
Date due
Score	/ 540

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

1. June 2025 · Paper 1 · Q2 · 6 marks · AO1=3,AO2=3

0 2
Outline three reasons for social class differences in who goes to university.
[6 marks]

2. June 2025 · Paper 1 · Q3 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3

0 3
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
Teachers may have different expectations of some groups of pupils compared to
others. Pupils may form subcultures with peers who share similar values.
Relationships and processes within schools may lead to gender differences in
achievement.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which relationships and processes
within schools may lead to gender differences in educational achievement.
[10 marks]

3. June 2025 · AS Paper 1 · Q4 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 4
Outline and explain two ways in which material deprivation may impact on social class
differences in educational achievement.
[10 marks]

4. June 2025 · AS Paper 1 · Q5 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6

0 5
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
Factors such as income, gender and ethnicity can have a significant impact on the
educational achievement of pupils. Governments have tried to reduce these differences
through initiatives to encourage more pupils from low socio-economic backgrounds to
enter higher education and through Pupil Premium to support such pupils. They have
also set up programmes to encourage girls to participate in ‘male-dominated’ subjects.
Some sociologists believe educational policies can be successful in reducing differences
in educational achievement between pupils. Others argue that inequalities are deeply
ingrained in society and that educational policies may have a limited impact.
Applying material from Item A and your knowledge, evaluate the view that government
educational policies have successfully improved the educational achievement of pupils.
[20 marks]
Extra space

5. June 2024 · AS Paper 1 · Q2 · 2 marks · AO2=2

0 2
Using one example, briefly explain how a factor internal to schools may affect ethnic
differences in educational achievement.
[2 marks]

6. June 2024 · AS Paper 1 · Q3 · 6 marks · AO1=3,AO2=3

0 3
Outline three criticisms of feminist views of education.
[6 marks]

7. June 2024 · Paper 1 · Q3 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3

0 3
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
Pupils may be able to choose what subjects to study at GCSE and beyond. Pupils can
express their identities in a variety of ways, some of which may lead to conflict.
Girls may experience problems as a result of relationships and processes in schools.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two problems girls may experience as a result of
relationships and processes in schools.
[10 marks]

8. June 2024 · AS Paper 1 · Q4 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 4
Outline and explain two ways in which inequalities in wider society may affect the
educational achievement of working-class pupils.
[10 marks]

9. June 2023 · AS Paper 1 · Q1 · 2 marks · AO1=2

Education
0 1
Define the term ‘material deprivation’.
[2 marks]

10. June 2023 · Paper 1 · Q4 · 30 marks · AO1=12,AO2=9,AO3=9

0 4
Read Item B below and answer the question that follows.
Item B
There are differences in patterns of educational achievement between groups of pupils.
These differences can be based on class, gender or ethnicity, or a combination of these.
Some sociologists argue that cultural factors are the main explanation for differences in
educational achievement. Differences in primary socialisation may mean that some
groups find it easier to engage with the culture of the school.
However, other sociologists argue that material factors, such as access to resources,
are also important.
Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the importance of cultural
factors in explaining patterns of educational achievement.
[30 marks]
Extra space

11. June 2023 · AS Paper 1 · Q5 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6

0 5
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
There is a gap in educational achievement between girls and boys. This gap is present
in primary school and carries on through to university. Some sociologists see factors
outside of school as the main cause of gender differences in educational achievement.
One factor is the change in the roles of men and women in society. Girls now have a
wider range of female role models in society to aspire to than before.
Other sociologists suggest that factors inside the school, such as the presence of
laddish anti-school subcultures, may have a greater effect on gender differences in
educational achievement.
Applying material from Item A and your knowledge, evaluate the impact of external factors
on gender differences in educational achievement.
[20 marks]
Extra space

12. June 2022 · Paper 1 · Q2 · 6 marks · AO1=3,AO2=3

0 2
Outline three ways in which the education system may be seen as patriarchal.
[6 marks]

13. June 2022 · AS Paper 1 · Q3 · 6 marks · AO1=3,AO2=3

0 3
Outline three criticisms that can be made of teacher labelling as an explanation of
differences in pupil achievement.
[6 marks]

14. June 2022 · AS Paper 1 · Q4 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 4
Outline and explain two ways in which changes in the labour market may influence the
educational achievement of girls and boys.
[10 marks]

15. June 2022 · AS Paper 1 · Q5 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6

0 5
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
Social class differences can have an impact on pupil achievement. One way of trying to
reduce such differences is to put into place educational policies that directly focus on
reducing the gap in achievement between social classes. Some sociologists believe
that educational policies can change the level of support working-class students receive
in education. They think educational policies like “pupil premium” and compensatory
education can effectively reduce class inequalities in educational achievement.
Other sociologists see social class differences in educational achievement as a
reflection of wider inequalities between classes. They believe that educational policies
are only likely to have a temporary short-term effect.
Applying material from Item A and your knowledge, evaluate the view that government
educational policies are effective in reducing social class inequalities in education.
[20 marks]
Extra space

16. November 2021 · Paper 1 · Q2 · 6 marks · AO1=3,AO2=3

0 2
Outline three reasons why some working-class boys join anti-school subcultures.
[6 marks]

17. November 2021 · Paper 1 · Q3 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3

0 3
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
Some sociologists claim that the curriculum taught in schools today prioritises some
cultures over others. Research also suggests that teacher expectations can be based
on stereotypes.
Teaching and learning in schools may affect the educational experiences of minority
ethnic groups.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which teaching and learning in
schools may affect the educational experiences of minority ethnic groups.
[10 marks]

18. November 2021 · Paper 1 · Q4 · 30 marks · AO1=12,AO2=9,AO3=9

0 4
Read Item B below and answer the question that follows.
Item B
Some sociologists, such as functionalists, claim that the education system is based on
meritocratic principles and provides all pupils with the opportunity to succeed. Pupils,
whatever their background, are objectively assessed through the examination process.
Other sociologists claim that meritocracy is a myth. The education system ensures that
existing social inequalities are reproduced in each generation.
Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the view that the education
system is meritocratic.
[30 marks]
Extra space

19. November 2020 · Paper 1 · Q1 · 4 marks · AO1=4

Education
0 1
Outline two factors external to schools that may affect social class differences in
educational achievement.
[4 marks]

20. November 2020 · AS Paper 1 · Q3 · 6 marks · AO1=3,AO2=3

0 3
Outline three reasons why girls may be more successful in schools than boys.
[6 marks]

21. November 2020 · AS Paper 1 · Q4 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 4
Outline and explain two ways in which teacher-pupil interactions may affect the
educational achievement of pupils from minority ethnic groups.
[10 marks]

22. November 2020 · Paper 1 · Q4 · 30 marks · AO1=12,AO2=9,AO3=9

0 4
Read Item B below and answer the question that follows.
Item B
The patterns of educational achievement by gender have changed over time. Some
sociologists explain these patterns through factors external to schools, such as
socialisation and parental attitudes towards education. Changes in wider society, such
as employment opportunities, may also contribute to these patterns.
However, the way schools are organised and the social interactions that take place
within schools are also likely to affect gender differences in educational achievement.
Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations of
gender differences in educational achievement.
[30 marks]
Extra space

23. June 2019 · AS Paper 1 · Q1 · 2 marks · AO1=2

Education
0 1
Define the term ‘cultural capital’.
[2 marks]

24. June 2019 · Paper 1 · Q3 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3

0 3
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
Some sociologists suggest that pupils of different social classes have different
experiences in schools. The curriculum may place a higher value on middle-class
cultural capital and place some pupils at a disadvantage. Both teacher-pupil
relationships and interactions within peer groups are likely to affect how pupils of
different social classes see themselves.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which processes within schools may
affect pupils’ identities.
[10 marks]

25. June 2019 · AS Paper 1 · Q4 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 4
Outline and explain two policies that may have influenced gender differences in
educational achievement.
[10 marks]

26. June 2019 · Paper 1 · Q4 · 30 marks · AO1=12,AO2=9,AO3=9

0 4
Read Item B below and answer the question that follows.
Item B
All levels of the education system show differences in achievement between ethnic
groups. When explaining these patterns, some sociologists focus on the role of the
home and family life in promoting educational achievement for some ethnic groups.
However, other sociologists suggest that factors within schools are more important in
explaining differences in achievement between ethnic groups.
Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations of
differences in educational achievement between ethnic groups.
[30 marks]
Extra space

27. June 2019 · AS Paper 1 · Q5 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6

0 5
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
At all stages of school life, there are social class differences in achievement. Some
sociologists see in-school factors, such as labelling, as the main cause of these
differences. A child’s social class may influence how they experience school and how
they are viewed by the school.
as material and cultural differences in the home, may be more important.
Applying material from Item A and your knowledge, evaluate the view that labelling and
other in-school factors are the main cause of social class differences in educational
achievement.
[20 marks]
Extra space

28. June 2018 · Paper 1 · Q1 · 4 marks · AO1=4

Education
0 1
Outline two reasons why marketisation policies may produce inequality of educational
achievement between social classes.
[4 marks]

29. June 2018 · AS Paper 1 · Q2 · 2 marks · AO2=2

0 2
Using one example, briefly explain how boys’ behaviour in school may make it difficult for
them to do well in the education system.
[2 marks]

30. June 2018 · Paper 1 · Q2 · 6 marks · AO1=3,AO2=3

0 2
Outline three reasons for gender differences in educational achievement.
[6 marks]

31. June 2018 · AS Paper 1 · Q4 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 4
Outline and explain two ways in which social class may affect subject choice.
[10 marks]

32. June 2018 · Paper 1 · Q4 · 30 marks · AO1=12,AO2=9,AO3=9

0 4
Read Item B below and answer the question that follows.
Item B
Social class differences in achievement are found at all stages of the education system
and sociologists have put forward several explanations for these differences. Some
sociologists focus on factors outside school, such as the material circumstances of
pupils’ families or the ways in which parents socialise their children. Other sociologists
see factors internal to the education system itself as responsible.
However, it can be argued that it is the interaction between these external and internal
factors that produces class differences in educational achievement.
Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations of
social class differences in educational achievement.
[30 marks]
Extra space

33. June 2018 · AS Paper 1 · Q5 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6

0 5
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
There are significant ethnic differences in educational achievement. Some sociologists
education, are important in explaining these differences. Variations in family and
community life may also play a part.
However, other sociologists argue that experiences within school are more important
influences on the educational achievement of different ethnic groups.
Applying material from Item A and your knowledge, evaluate the view that ethnic
system.
[20 marks]
Extra space

34. June 2017 · Paper 1 · Q1 · 4 marks · AO1=4

Education
0 1
Outline two cultural factors that may affect ethnic differences in educational achievement.
[4 marks]

35. June 2017 · AS Paper 1 · Q2 · 2 marks · AO2=2

0 2
Using one example, briefly explain how selection policies may widen social class
differences in educational achievement.
[2 marks]

36. June 2017 · Paper 1 · Q2 · 6 marks · AO1=3,AO2=3

0 2
Outline three ways in which factors within schools may shape gender differences in
subject choice.
[6 marks]

37. June 2017 · AS Paper 1 · Q4 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 4
Outline and explain two ways in which educational policies may have affected the
experience of minority ethnic groups in education.
[10 marks]

38. June 2017 · AS Paper 1 · Q5 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6

0 5
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
When children start school, girls are already ahead of boys. This trend continues
throughout school life, including at GCSE and A-level.
Some sociologists see factors within schools as the main cause of gender differences
in educational achievement. One such factor is the increasing number of female head
teachers in both primary and secondary schools.
Other sociologists suggest that out-of-school factors may have a greater impact on
gender differences in achievement, such as men and women’s changing positions in
society.
Applying material from Item A and your knowledge, evaluate the view that gender
differences in educational achievement are the result of factors within schools.
[20 marks]
Extra space

39. June 2016 · AS Paper 1 · Q1 · 2 marks · AO1=2

Education
0 1
Define the term ‘compensatory education’.
[2 marks]

40. June 2016 · AS Paper 1 · Q2 · 2 marks · AO2=2

0 2
Using one example, briefly explain how marketisation policies may affect social
class differences in educational achievement.
[2 marks]

41. June 2016 · AS Paper 1 · Q3 · 6 marks · AO1=3,AO2=3

0 3
Outline three policies that may help to explain changes in girls’ educational
achievement in the last 40 years.
[6 marks]

42. June 2016 · AS Paper 1 · Q4 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 4
Outline and explain two ways in which the functions of the education system may
affect pupils’ educational achievement.
[10 marks]

43. June 2016 · AS Paper 1 · Q5 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6

0 5
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
Social class differences in achievement can be seen at all levels of the education
system, from pupils’ performance in primary school to the likelihood of their
going to university. Many sociologists believe differences in pupils’ home
backgrounds are the main cause of these class differences in achievement. For
example, better-off middle-class parents may be more likely to adopt parenting
practices that encourage intellectual development and to involve themselves
more in their children’s schooling.
However, other sociologists see factors within schools as more important. Some
sociologists also argue that home background and school factors are often
interlinked.
Applying material from Item A and your knowledge, evaluate the view that social
class differences in educational achievement are mainly caused by differences in
pupils’ home backgrounds.
[20 marks]
Extra space
20

44. Specimen set 1 · Paper 1 · Q1 · 4 marks · AO1=4

Education
0 1
Outline two material factors that may affect social class differences in educational
achievement.
[4 marks]

45. Specimen set 1 · Paper 1 · Q2 · 6 marks · AO1=3,AO2=3

0 2
Outline three reasons why government education policies aimed at raising educational
achievement among disadvantaged groups may not always succeed.
[6 marks]

46. Specimen set 1 · Paper 1 · Q3 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3

0 3
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
On average, pupils from some ethnic groups achieve more highly at school than
others. For example, Chinese and Indian pupils generally out-perform white pupils
at GCSE. This is even true when we take into account whether pupils are from
deprived backgrounds, as measured by whether they receive free school meals
(FSM). For example, Chinese pupils on FSM do better than white pupils who are
not on FSM.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two reasons why pupils from some minority
ethnic groups achieve above average results in school.
[10 marks]

47. Specimen set 1 · Paper 1 · Q4 · 30 marks · AO1=12,AO2=9,AO3=9

0 4
Read Item B below and answer the question that follows.
Item B
At each stage from pre-school through to university entrance, girls tend to do better
than boys. For example, on entering primary school, girls are more likely to be
able to write their own name. On the other hand, boys are more likely than girls to
be assessed by their schools as having special educational needs.
When it comes to subject choice at age 16, there are major gender differences in
the popularity of different A-level subjects and even greater gender differences in
vocational courses.
Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the view that gender
differences in both subject choice and educational achievement are mainly the result
of the influence of wider society.
[30 marks]
Extra space

Mark schemes

1. June 2025 · Paper 1 · Q2

2. June 2025 · Paper 1 · Q3

3. June 2025 · AS Paper 1 · Q4

4. June 2025 · AS Paper 1 · Q5

5. June 2024 · AS Paper 1 · Q2

6. June 2024 · AS Paper 1 · Q3

7. June 2024 · Paper 1 · Q3

8. June 2024 · AS Paper 1 · Q4

9. June 2023 · AS Paper 1 · Q1

10. June 2023 · Paper 1 · Q4

11. June 2023 · AS Paper 1 · Q5

12. June 2022 · Paper 1 · Q2

13. June 2022 · AS Paper 1 · Q3

14. June 2022 · AS Paper 1 · Q4

15. June 2022 · AS Paper 1 · Q5

16. November 2021 · Paper 1 · Q2

17. November 2021 · Paper 1 · Q3

18. November 2021 · Paper 1 · Q4

19. November 2020 · Paper 1 · Q1

20. November 2020 · AS Paper 1 · Q3

21. November 2020 · AS Paper 1 · Q4

22. November 2020 · Paper 1 · Q4

23. June 2019 · AS Paper 1 · Q1

24. June 2019 · Paper 1 · Q3

25. June 2019 · AS Paper 1 · Q4

26. June 2019 · Paper 1 · Q4

27. June 2019 · AS Paper 1 · Q5

28. June 2018 · Paper 1 · Q1

29. June 2018 · AS Paper 1 · Q2

30. June 2018 · Paper 1 · Q2

31. June 2018 · AS Paper 1 · Q4

32. June 2018 · Paper 1 · Q4

33. June 2018 · AS Paper 1 · Q5

34. June 2017 · Paper 1 · Q1

35. June 2017 · AS Paper 1 · Q2

36. June 2017 · Paper 1 · Q2

37. June 2017 · AS Paper 1 · Q4

38. June 2017 · AS Paper 1 · Q5

39. June 2016 · AS Paper 1 · Q1

40. June 2016 · AS Paper 1 · Q2

41. June 2016 · AS Paper 1 · Q3

42. June 2016 · AS Paper 1 · Q4

43. June 2016 · AS Paper 1 · Q5

44. Specimen set 1 · Paper 1 · Q1

45. Specimen set 1 · Paper 1 · Q2

46. Specimen set 1 · Paper 1 · Q3

47. Specimen set 1 · Paper 1 · Q4