: AQA past-paper questions pack
Back to the topic page

The media and audiences

Past-paper questions pack

Name
Class
Date set
Date due
Score/ 120

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

1. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q20 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3
2 0 Read Item M below and answer the question that follows. Item M People’s views of social groups may be reinforced by representations in the media. Alternatively representations may challenge those views. The content of the media may affect people’s views of sexuality. Applying material from Item M, analyse two ways in which the content of the media may affect people’s views of sexuality. [10 marks]
2. June 2024 · Paper 2 · Q20 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3
2 0 Read Item M below and answer the question that follows. Item M There is now a very wide range of different media available. The media may also be less trusted sources of information than they used to be. The media may not always have a direct influence on their audiences. Applying material from Item M, analyse two reasons why the media may not always have a direct influence on their audiences. [10 marks]
3. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q19 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2
1 9 Outline and explain two ways in which the new media may affect audiences. [10 marks]
4. June 2022 · Paper 2 · Q21 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
2 1 Read Item N below and answer the question that follows. Item N The growth of new media in contemporary society has led some sociologists to reconsider some of the issues they study, such as the relationship between the media and their audiences and the importance of ownership and control of the media. They argue that new explanations are needed because new media are different from old media, such as television and newspapers. However, others argue that the early theories about old media, such as pluralism and Marxism, can also be applied to new media. Applying material from Item N and your knowledge, evaluate the usefulness of early media theories in explaining the role of the new media in contemporary society. [20 marks]
5. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q20 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3
2 0 Read Item M below and answer the question that follows. Item M Globalisation has led large corporations to operate on a global scale and have consumers around the world. Many of these consumers now have more choice than in the past when they were limited to what was produced locally. Globalisation has affected the relationship between the media and their audiences. Applying material from Item M, analyse two ways that globalisation may have affected the relationship between the media and their audiences. [10 marks]
6. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q21 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
2 1 Read Item N below and answer the question that follows. Item N Some sociologists argue that audiences control media content through their choices as consumers. They claim that competition between media for audiences means that owners and companies have limited power over content. However, other sociologists argue that those who own and work in the media control the content. This means that the content can be biased and reflect dominant ideologies. Applying material from Item N and your knowledge, evaluate the view that the media reflect the views of their audiences. [20 marks]
7. June 2019 · Paper 2 · Q20 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3
2 0 Read Item M below and answer the question that follows. Item M People are increasingly being exposed to violent content in the media. Some sociologists argue that this has an immediate and negative effect on the audience. Other sociologists point to the positive effects of such content on people’s well-being. Applying material from Item M, analyse two possible effects of the output of the media on their audiences. [10 marks]
8. June 2018 · Paper 2 · Q21 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6
2 1 Read Item N below and answer the question that follows. Item N The hypodermic syringe model argues that media messages are so powerful that they directly and immediately affect their audiences in various ways. For example, the model argues that exposure to media violence causes real-life violence. However, critics argue that audiences are active rather than passive and are able to reject media messages. Applying material from Item N and your knowledge, evaluate the view that the media have a direct and immediate effect on their audiences. [20 marks]
9. Specimen set 1 · Paper 2 · Q19 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2
1 9 Outline and explain two ways in which ownership of the media may affect audiences. [10 marks]

Mark schemes

1. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q20
Mark scheme June 2025 Paper 2 Q20
2. June 2024 · Paper 2 · Q20
Mark scheme June 2024 Paper 2 Q20
3. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q19
Mark scheme June 2023 Paper 2 Q19
4. June 2022 · Paper 2 · Q21
Mark scheme June 2022 Paper 2 Q21
5. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q20
Mark scheme November 2021 Paper 2 Q20
6. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q21
Mark scheme November 2020 Paper 2 Q21
7. June 2019 · Paper 2 · Q20
Mark scheme June 2019 Paper 2 Q20
8. June 2018 · Paper 2 · Q21
Mark scheme June 2018 Paper 2 Q21
9. Specimen set 1 · Paper 2 · Q19
Mark scheme Specimen set 1 Paper 2 Q19