: AQA past-paper questions pack

Mental illness

Past-paper questions pack

Name
Class
Date set
Date due
Score	/ 144

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 · Q8 · 10 marks · AO1=3,AO2=4,AO3=3

0 8
Read Item E below and answer the question that follows.
Item E
Working class people are more likely to experience poverty than other social classes.
Members of other social classes are more able to access private health services than
working class people.
There are social class differences in rates of mental illness.
Applying material from Item E, analyse two reasons for social class differences in rates
of mental illness.
[10 marks]

2. June 2025 · AS Paper 2 · Q15 · 6 marks · AO1=6

1 5
Outline three reasons for ethnic differences in the patterns of mental illness.
[6 marks]

3. June 2024 · AS Paper 2 · Q14 · 2 marks · AO2=2

1 4
Using one example, briefly explain how patterns of mental illness may be caused by the
structure of society.
[2 marks]

4. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q9 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6

0 9
Read Item F below and answer the question that follows.
Item F
Interactionists argue that mental illness is socially constructed. They suggest that
society applies a label of mental illness to people whose behaviours are seen as
deviant. Certain groups, such as medical professionals, have the power to impose a
label which may become the individual’s master status.
However, other sociologists argue that mental illness is caused by various factors such
as social deprivation and inequality.
Applying material from Item F and your knowledge, evaluate the view that mental illness
is socially constructed.
[20 marks]

5. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q13 · 2 marks · AO1=2

1 3
Define the term ‘social construction’ of mental illness.
[2 marks]

6. June 2022 · Paper 2 · Q7 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 7
Outline and explain two reasons why some ethnic groups may be more likely than
others to be diagnosed as mentally ill.
[10 marks]

7. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q17 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6

1 7
Read Item C below and answer the question that follows.
Item C
Structuralist sociologists argue that mental illness is a real condition. They explain the
distribution of mental illness in relation to the structure of society. They point to social
patterns of mental illness based on social class, gender and ethnicity.
However, some interactionist sociologists argue that mental illness is a social
construction. They look at the reasons why certain forms of behaviour are seen as
mental illness.
Applying material from Item C and your knowledge, evaluate the view that mental illness
is a result of the structure of society.
[20 marks]

8. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q9 · 20 marks · AO1=8,AO2=6,AO3=6

0 9
Read Item F below and answer the question that follows.
Item F
Rates of mental illness vary between different social groups, such as those based on
social class, gender and ethnicity. Some explanations of mental illness point to social
issues such as racism, sexism, poor housing and poverty as contributing factors.
Others argue that mental illness is a label applied to deviant behaviour. Mental illness
is socially constructed through interpretations made by others.
Applying material from Item F and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations of
the differences in rates of mental illness between social groups.
[20 marks]

9. November 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q16 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

1 6
Outline and explain two reasons why there are social class differences in the patterns of
mental illness.
[10 marks]

10. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q15 · 6 marks · AO1=6

1 5
Outline three reasons for gender differences in patterns of mental illness.
[6 marks]

11. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q14 · 2 marks · AO2=2

1 4
Using one example, briefly explain how individuals with mental illness may be
stigmatised.
[2 marks]

12. June 2017 · Paper 2 · Q7 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 7
Outline and explain two reasons why women may be more likely than men to be
diagnosed as mentally ill.
[10 marks]

13. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q15 · 6 marks · AO1=6

1 5
Outline three reasons why women are more likely than men to be treated for mental
illness.
[6 marks]

14. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q16 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

1 6
Outline and explain two reasons why members of some ethnic groups may be more
likely to be diagnosed with mental illness than members of other ethnic groups.
[10 marks]

15. Specimen set 1 · Paper 2 · Q7 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

0 7
Outline and explain two differences between the social and biomedical models of
health and illness in their understanding of mental illness.
[10 marks]

Mark schemes

1. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q8

Mark scheme June 2025 Paper 2 Q8

2. June 2025 · AS Paper 2 · Q15

Mark scheme June 2025 Paper 2 Q15

3. June 2024 · AS Paper 2 · Q14

Mark scheme June 2024 Paper 2 Q14

4. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q9

Mark scheme June 2023 Paper 2 Q9

5. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q13

Mark scheme June 2023 Paper 2 Q13

6. June 2022 · Paper 2 · Q7

Mark scheme June 2022 Paper 2 Q7

7. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q17

Mark scheme June 2022 Paper 2 Q17

8. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q9

Mark scheme November 2020 Paper 2 Q9

9. November 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q16

Mark scheme November 2020 Paper 2 Q16

10. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q15

Mark scheme June 2019 Paper 2 Q15

11. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q14

Mark scheme June 2018 Paper 2 Q14

12. June 2017 · Paper 2 · Q7

Mark scheme June 2017 Paper 2 Q7

13. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q15

Mark scheme June 2017 Paper 2 Q15

14. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q16

Mark scheme June 2016 Paper 2 Q16

15. Specimen set 1 · Paper 2 · Q7

Mark scheme Specimen set 1 Paper 2 Q7