: AQA past-paper questions pack

The labour process: division of labour, technology and deskilling

Past-paper questions pack

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

1. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q10 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

1 0
Outline and explain two reasons why women are less likely to be in full-time employment
than men.
[10 marks]

2. June 2025 · 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
There have been changes in the organisation and control of the labour process, such
as greater flexibility and specialisation, and new technology. Some sociologists argue
that changes such as these mean that workers now have increased responsibility and
autonomy. More occupations require a range of skills, training and qualifications.
Other sociologists, such as Marxists, point out that much work has been de-skilled.
There is also more surveillance and many workers still experience alienation.
Applying material from Item H and your knowledge, evaluate the extent to which changes
in the organisation and control of the labour process have led to workers needing more
skills and qualifications.
[20 marks]

3. June 2025 · AS Paper 2 · Q21 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

2 1
Outline and explain two reasons why manual workers may experience high levels of
alienation at work.
[10 marks]

4. June 2024 · 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
Changes in technology have led to an increase in production lines. There have also
been developments in information and communication technology (ICT).
Changes in technology may affect skills required in the workplace.
Applying material from Item G, analyse two ways that changes in technology may affect
skills required in the workplace.
[10 marks]

5. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q10 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

1 0
Outline and explain two ways that changes in technology at work may affect people’s
life chances.
[10 marks]

6. June 2023 · 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
Some sociologists argue that in industrial society technology is often used to control
workers. Recently this has been extended by the use of surveillance technology in the
workplace.
However, other sociologists argue that technology can liberate workers. Technology
can bring flexibility to the workplace and give workers control over their own work.
Applying material from Item D and your knowledge, evaluate the view that technology is
used to control workers.
[20 marks]

7. June 2022 · 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
Advances in technology have led to changes in the labour process. The way workers
are managed has also changed.
Changes in the organisation of the labour process may affect people’s satisfaction with
their work.
Applying material from Item G, analyse two ways in which changes in the organisation of
the labour process may affect people’s satisfaction with their work.
[10 marks]

8. November 2021 · 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
Globalisation has led to an increase in international migration because of easier access
to transport. It has also changed the way corporations operate, contributing to greater
profits.
Globalisation has had effects on employment in the UK.
Applying material from Item G, analyse two ways in which globalisation has affected
employment in the UK.
[10 marks]

9. November 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q20 · 6 marks · AO1=6

2 0
Outline three causes of job satisfaction.
[6 marks]

10. June 2019 · 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 technology has had a negative impact on workers in
the labour process. For example, Marxists argue that mass-production assembly lines
have led to the deskilling of work and greater managerial control over workers.
However, critics of the Marxist view argue that it is outdated and point to the positive
impacts of technology on the experience of work.
Applying material from Item H and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations of
the impact of technology on the labour process.
[20 marks]

11. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q21 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

2 1
Outline and explain two ways in which technological change can affect job satisfaction.
[10 marks]

12. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q21 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

2 1
Outline and explain two reasons why technological change in the workplace may affect
different social groups differently.
[10 marks]

13. June 2017 · 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
Marxists argue that alienation at work is inevitable in capitalist society. They argue
that technology is used to de-skill workers and make work repetitive and dull.
Technology enables managers to control workers more effectively.
Other sociologists are more optimistic about the nature of work. They argue that
technology can free workers from monotonous work and can increase workers’
skills and independence.
Applying material from Item D and your knowledge, evaluate the view that alienation at
work is inevitable in capitalist society.
[20 marks]

14. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q19 · 2 marks · AO2=2

1 9
Using one example, briefly explain how technological change may lead
to reskilling.
[2 marks]

15. Specimen set 1 · Paper 2 · Q12 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6

1 2
Read Item B below and answer the question that follows.
Item B
For some sociologists, technological change is often associated with de-skilling
and an increase in management control over the workforce. Management may
use the introduction of technology to break down the work process into a number
of unskilled tasks and therefore undermine the position of skilled workers.
Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the view that the
introduction of technology leads to de-skilling.
[20 marks]

Mark schemes

1. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q10

Mark scheme June 2025 Paper 2 Q10

2. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q12

Mark scheme June 2025 Paper 2 Q12

3. June 2025 · AS Paper 2 · Q21

Mark scheme June 2025 Paper 2 Q21

4. June 2024 · Paper 2 · Q11

Mark scheme June 2024 Paper 2 Q11

5. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q10

Mark scheme June 2023 Paper 2 Q10

6. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q22

Mark scheme June 2023 Paper 2 Q22

7. June 2022 · Paper 2 · Q11

Mark scheme June 2022 Paper 2 Q11

8. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q11

Mark scheme November 2021 Paper 2 Q11

9. November 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q20

Mark scheme November 2020 Paper 2 Q20

10. June 2019 · Paper 2 · Q12

Mark scheme June 2019 Paper 2 Q12

11. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q21

Mark scheme June 2019 Paper 2 Q21

12. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q21

Mark scheme June 2018 Paper 2 Q21

13. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q22

Mark scheme June 2017 Paper 2 Q22

14. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q19

Mark scheme June 2016 Paper 2 Q19

15. Specimen set 1 · Paper 2 · Q12

Mark scheme Specimen set 1 Paper 2 Q12