: AQA past-paper questions pack

Identity and age, disability, ethnicity, gender, nationality, sexuality and class

Past-paper questions pack

Name
Class
Date set
Date due
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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 · 38 parts · mark schemes follow the questions · www.alevelsociologytutor.com · Questions and mark schemes © AQA

1. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q1 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

Topic A1 Culture and Identity
0 1
Outline and explain two ways that consumption may be related to ethnicity.
[10 marks]

2. June 2025 · AS Paper 2 · Q6 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 6
Outline and explain two ways in which an individual’s social experiences may be shaped
by ethnicity.
[10 marks]

3. June 2024 · Paper 2 · Q1 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

Topic A1 Culture and Identity
0 1
Outline and explain two reasons why gender may affect consumption choices.
[10 marks]

4. June 2024 · Paper 2 · Q3 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6

0 3
Read Item B below and answer the question that follows.
Item B
Social class refers to a group of people who share a socio-economic status. Some
sociologists argue that social class is the most important factor in shaping identity.
Social class affects life chances, leisure activities and consumption patterns, as well as
values and beliefs.
Other sociologists disagree and suggest that other factors such as gender and ethnicity
are more important than social class in shaping identity.
Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the view that social class is
the most important factor in shaping identity.
[20 marks]

5. June 2024 · AS Paper 2 · Q5 · 6 marks · AO1=6

0 5
Outline three factors that may explain gender differences in leisure choices.
[6 marks]

6. June 2024 · AS Paper 2 · Q6 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 6
Outline and explain two ways in which agencies of socialisation may socialise individuals
into their age identity.
[10 marks]

7. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q1 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

Topic A1 Culture and Identity
0 1
Outline and explain two ways that consumption may be related to sexuality.
[10 marks]

8. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q2 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3

0 2
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
Wanting to be accepted by peer groups can be a socialising influence on individuals.
The media contribute to the socialisation of individuals by being sources of information,
norms and values.
Individuals may be socialised into identities based on age.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways that individuals may be socialised into
identities based on age.
[10 marks]

9. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q4 · 2 marks · AO2=2

0 4
Using one example, briefly explain how an individual’s sexuality may shape their social
experiences.
[2 marks]

10. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q6 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 6
Outline and explain two ways in which changes in work may have affected social class
identity.
[10 marks]

11. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q7 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6

0 7
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
Globalisation is now a significant feature of society. Some sociologists argue that the
impact of globalisation is to undermine the traditional sources of people’s national
identity and open up a range of choices for individuals.
Alternatively, other sociologists see the rise of nationalism as a reaction to the
perceived threat of globalisation.
Applying material from Item A and your knowledge, evaluate the impact of globalisation
on individuals’ national identity in the United Kingdom.
[20 marks]

12. June 2022 · Paper 2 · Q1 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

Topic A1 Culture and Identity
0 1
Outline and explain two ways people may be socialised into ethnic identities.
[10 marks]

13. June 2022 · Paper 2 · Q2 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3

0 2
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
One aspect of globalisation is increased migration of people between countries.
Globalisation also involves growth in trade and so there is a wider range of products for
people to consume.
Globalisation may affect people’s identities.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which globalisation may affect
people’s identities.
[10 marks]

14. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q4 · 2 marks · AO2=2

0 4
Using one example, briefly explain how individuals may be socialised into a national
identity.
[2 marks]

15. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q5 · 6 marks · AO1=6

0 5
Outline three ways in which old age may be seen as a stigmatised social identity.
[6 marks]

16. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q6 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 6
Outline and explain two ways in which gender identity may be expressed by lifestyle or
consumption choices.
[10 marks]

17. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q1 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

Topic A1 Culture and Identity
0 1
Outline and explain two reasons why consumption may be affected by social class.
[10 marks]

18. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q2 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3

0 2
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
The choices people make about their identities are constrained by how others see
them and interpret their behaviour. However, they can also choose to reject how
others see them.
An individual’s identity may be affected by being labelled as disabled.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways an individual’s identity may be affected
by being labelled as disabled.
[10 marks]

19. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q1 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

Topic A1 Culture and Identity
0 1
Outline and explain two ways in which social class may have become less important in
shaping identities.
[10 marks]

20. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q3 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6

0 3
Read Item B below and answer the question that follows.
Item B
Feminist sociologists often emphasise the ways in which the socialisation process
encourages people to conform to hegemonic masculine and feminine identities that
reinforce patriarchy.
However, other sociologists have argued that people actively construct their gender
identities, and that gender identities have become much more fluid.
Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate feminist views of the extent
to which the socialisation process reinforces patriarchy.
[20 marks]

21. November 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q4 · 2 marks · AO2=2

0 4
Using one example, briefly explain how having a disability may shape an individual’s
experience of society.
[2 marks]

22. November 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q5 · 6 marks · AO1=6

0 5
Outline three factors that may contribute to an individual’s ethnic identity.
[6 marks]

23. June 2019 · Paper 2 · Q1 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

Topic A1 Culture and Identity
0 1
Outline and explain two ways in which individuals may be socialised into national
identities.
[10 marks]

24. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q4 · 2 marks · AO2=2

0 4
Using one example, briefly explain how an individual’s social class may impact on their
leisure choices.
[2 marks]

25. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q6 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 6
Outline and explain two ways in which agencies of socialisation may shape attitudes to
sexual identities.
[10 marks]

26. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q7 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6

0 7
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
Biology clearly influences the way that society divides people of all ages. Different age
groups also experience many aspects of life in different ways, such as work, leisure
and personal relationships.
However, some sociologists argue that other factors, such as gender and ethnicity, are
more important in shaping our identity.
Applying material from Item A and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations of
the ways in which age may shape social identity.
[20 marks]

27. June 2018 · Paper 2 · Q1 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

Topic A1 Culture and Identity
0 1
Outline and explain two reasons why leisure choices may vary across different age
groups.
[10 marks]

28. June 2018 · Paper 2 · Q2 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3

0 2
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
Individuals have a sense of their own identity. This sense of identity is partly a result of
the way in which individuals interpret their own experience. However, it may also be
affected by the expectations and reactions of the rest of the society they live in.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways an individual’s sense of self may be
affected by their sexuality.
[10 marks]

29. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q4 · 2 marks · AO2=2

0 4
Using one example, briefly explain how an individual’s identity may be shaped by their
work.
[2 marks]

30. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q6 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 6
Outline and explain two ways in which agencies of socialisation may socialise individuals
into a national identity.
[10 marks]

31. June 2017 · Paper 2 · Q2 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3

0 2
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
In the last 60 years or so, patterns of work in the United Kingdom have changed.
One reason for this is the development of new technologies. The nature of many
workplaces has also changed and new types of job have appeared.
Changes in patterns of work have influenced gender identities during this period.
Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which changes in patterns of work
may have influenced gender identities in the last 60 years or so.
[10 marks]

32. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q4 · 2 marks · AO2=2

0 4
Using one example, briefly explain how leisure choices may shape identity.
[2 marks]

33. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q5 · 6 marks · AO1=6

0 5
Outline three ways in which age may shape an individual’s experiences in society,
apart from leisure choices.
[6 marks]

34. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q6 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 6
Outline and explain two ways in which agencies of socialisation may socialise children
into gender roles.
[10 marks]

35. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q7 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6

0 7
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
The United Kingdom is a multicultural society with a range of different ethnic groups.
Some of these ethnic groups have their own distinctive identity and culture.
However, individuals may adopt more than one identity, depending on the social
situation in which they find themselves.
Applying material from Item A and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations
of the ways in which ethnicity may shape identity.
[20 marks]

36. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q6 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 6
Outline and explain two ways in which an individual’s social experiences may be
shaped by disability.
[10 marks]

37. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q7 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6

0 7
Read Item A below and answer the question that follows.
Item A
For some sociologists, globalisation is having a significant impact on social identity
in the United Kingdom today. Globalisation exposes people to a range of influences
and experiences that may challenge local and national sources of identity.
One possible consequence of this is the emergence of new hybrid identities.
Applying material from Item A and your knowledge, evaluate the view that
globalisation is having a significant impact on social identity in the United Kingdom
today.
[20 marks]

38. Specimen set 1 · Paper 2 · Q1 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

Topic A1 Culture and Identity
0 1
Outline and explain two ways in which individuals may be socialised into a social
class identity.
[10 marks]

Mark schemes

1. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q1

2. June 2025 · AS Paper 2 · Q6

3. June 2024 · Paper 2 · Q1

4. June 2024 · Paper 2 · Q3

5. June 2024 · AS Paper 2 · Q5

6. June 2024 · AS Paper 2 · Q6

7. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q1

8. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q2

9. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q4

10. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q6

11. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q7

12. June 2022 · Paper 2 · Q1

13. June 2022 · Paper 2 · Q2

14. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q4

15. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q5

16. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q6

17. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q1

18. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q2

19. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q1

20. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q3

21. November 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q4

22. November 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q5

23. June 2019 · Paper 2 · Q1

24. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q4

25. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q6

26. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q7

27. June 2018 · Paper 2 · Q1

28. June 2018 · Paper 2 · Q2

29. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q4

30. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q6

31. June 2017 · Paper 2 · Q2

32. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q4

33. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q5

34. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q6

35. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q7

36. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q6

37. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q7

38. Specimen set 1 · Paper 2 · Q1