: AQA past-paper questions pack

The nature, existence and persistence of poverty

Past-paper questions pack

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

1. June 2025 · 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
The state can take an active role in reducing potential problems faced by citizens. At
other times, the state encourages people to take responsibility for any situation they
find themselves in.
The state has responded to the persistence of poverty.
Applying material from Item G, analyse two ways in which the state has responded to the
persistence of poverty.
[10 marks]

2. June 2025 · AS Paper 2 · Q18 · 2 marks · AO1=2

1 8
Define the term ‘absolute poverty’.
[2 marks]

3. June 2025 · 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 the welfare state fails to tackle the real causes of poverty. In fact, it
helps to maintain the current system of social inequality by providing a minimum
standard of living. This minimum standard deals with the worst extremes of poverty
and therefore helps to prevent serious opposition to the way capitalist society is
organised.
However, sociologists from a social democratic perspective argue that the welfare state
does in fact address poverty and is an important part of government strategy to abolish
poverty in society.
Applying material from Item D and your knowledge, evaluate the view that the welfare
state has failed to tackle the real causes of poverty.
[20 marks]

4. June 2024 · 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
Functionalists suggest that poverty has various functions in society today. For
example, one function is that the fear of poverty encourages people to work hard to
achieve upward social mobility. They also argue that poverty is inevitable as some
individuals lack the skills and work ethic to perform higher earning jobs.
However, other sociologists argue that poverty is a source of conflict and the outcome
of inequalities in the class structure.
Applying material from Item H and your knowledge, evaluate the view that poverty is
functional and inevitable in society today.
[20 marks]

5. June 2024 · AS Paper 2 · Q18 · 2 marks · AO1=2

1 8
Define the term ‘culture of poverty’.
[2 marks]

6. June 2024 · 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
Sociologists have found it difficult to measure the level of poverty in society. One
approach has been to identify how much money a family would need to live on and
then define as poor anyone whose income is below that level.
However, in practice, it has been difficult to define what the basic standard of living
should be in a society. Furthermore, some argue that the measurement of poverty is
not just about lack of income but should take into account wider aspects of deprivation,
such as social exclusion.
Applying material from Item D and your knowledge, evaluate different sociological
approaches to measuring the level of poverty in society.
[20 marks]

7. June 2023 · 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 poverty is the outcome of structural inequalities in
society. Certain social groups, such as women, are at greater risk of poverty than
other social groups. Marxists argue that capitalism leads to working-class poverty.
However, New Right sociologists argue that attitudes and behavioural differences are
the most important factors when explaining the distribution of poverty.
Applying material from Item H and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations for
the distribution of poverty between different social groups.
[20 marks]

8. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q18 · 2 marks · AO1=2

1 8
Define the term ‘relative poverty’.
[2 marks]

9. June 2022 · 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 poverty exists because of structural factors. This means
the organisation of society creates inequality. For example, Marxist sociologists argue
that governments often operate in the interests of the wealthy by protecting private
property and failing to provide support to those living in poverty.
Other sociologists suggest that it is the attitudes and behaviour of individuals that lead
to poverty.
Applying material from Item H and your knowledge, evaluate the view that poverty is
caused by structural factors.
[20 marks]

10. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q20 · 6 marks · AO1=6

2 0
Outline three ways in which age may affect the experience of poverty.
[6 marks]

11. November 2021 · 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
The welfare state was created to improve the lives and life chances of people in the
UK. It has provided significant support to disadvantaged groups such as the poor. For
example, various welfare state policies have been implemented to assist with housing
and employment.
New Right sociologists argue that people may become dependent on welfare support if
it is too generous. Other sociologists argue that welfare state policies have not
reduced poverty in the UK.
Applying material from Item H and your knowledge, evaluate the impact of welfare state
policies on reducing poverty in the UK.
[20 marks]

12. November 2020 · 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
The values and attitudes of some members of the working class may lead to them
accepting their position in society. Patriarchal values mean that females can be
disadvantaged.
Some social groups are more likely than others to experience poverty.
Applying material from Item G, analyse two reasons why some social groups are more
likely than others to experience poverty.
[10 marks]

13. November 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q19 · 2 marks · AO2=2

1 9
Using one example, briefly explain one problem of using a relative definition of poverty.
[2 marks]

14. November 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q21 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

2 1
Outline and explain two ways in which globalisation has affected the extent of poverty in
the UK today.
[10 marks]

15. November 2020 · 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 writers argue that individuals are responsible for their own poverty. The poor
share a set of norms and values that make it more likely for an individual to experience
poverty. This culture of poverty may be passed on from one generation to the next.
Others argue that poverty is a result of structural factors, rather than being caused by
the attitudes of the poor themselves.
Applying material from Item D and your knowledge, evaluate the view that poverty is
caused by the attitudes of the poor themselves.
[20 marks]

16. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q18 · 2 marks · AO1=2

1 8
Define the term ‘social exclusion’.
[2 marks]

17. June 2019 · 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
Marxist sociologists argue that poverty is related to the way capitalist societies are
organised. The distribution of resources in society is determined by the class structure.
However, the New Right believe poverty is related to individual choices and cultural
attitudes. Others may point out that gender, ethnicity and age are also significant
factors in causing poverty.
Applying material from Item D and your knowledge, evaluate the view that poverty and
inequality are caused by the class structure of society.
[20 marks]

18. June 2018 · Paper 2 · Q10 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

1 0
Outline and explain two ways in which globalisation may have increased levels of poverty
in the United Kingdom.
[10 marks]

19. June 2018 · 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
Relative poverty is where individuals do not have the resources to sustain the lifestyle
that people are accustomed to. Sociologists have drawn up lists of items for measuring
the extent of relative poverty. If people do not have a number of these items, they are
assumed to be relatively poor.
Applying material from Item G, analyse two difficulties that sociologists face in measuring
relative poverty.
[10 marks]

20. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q18 · 2 marks · AO1=2

1 8
Define the term ‘subjective poverty’.
[2 marks]

21. June 2018 · 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
The distribution of poverty among different social groups in the United Kingdom
population is complex. Certain social groups are at greater risk of poverty than others.
Some sociologists would argue that type of family and unemployment are important
causes of poverty.
Applying material from Item D and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations for
the distribution of poverty among different social groups in the United Kingdom.
[20 marks]

22. June 2017 · Paper 2 · Q10 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

1 0
Outline and explain two ways in which government policies may have increased the
number of people living in poverty.
[10 marks]

23. June 2017 · 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
Despite the Equal Pay Act, gender differences in income remain. Women’s gross
hourly earnings are on average about one-fifth lower than men’s. Similarly, single
women pensioners are one of the groups most at risk of poverty.
Feminists argue that gender differences in poverty are caused by the patriarchal
nature of society.
Applying material from Item H and your knowledge, evaluate the view that gender
differences in poverty are caused by patriarchy.
[20 marks]

24. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q19 · 2 marks · AO2=2

1 9
Using one example, briefly explain a problem of using an absolute definition of poverty.
[2 marks]

25. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q21 · 10 marks · AO1=5,AO2=3,AO3=2

2 1
Outline and explain two reasons why means-tested benefits may fail to lift people out of
poverty.
[10 marks]

26. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q20 · 6 marks · AO1=6

2 0
Outline three reasons why families with young children may be likely to experience
poverty.
[6 marks]

Mark schemes

1. June 2025 · Paper 2 · Q11

2. June 2025 · AS Paper 2 · Q18

3. June 2025 · AS Paper 2 · Q22

4. June 2024 · Paper 2 · Q12

5. June 2024 · AS Paper 2 · Q18

6. June 2024 · AS Paper 2 · Q22

7. June 2023 · Paper 2 · Q12

8. June 2023 · AS Paper 2 · Q18

9. June 2022 · Paper 2 · Q12

10. June 2022 · AS Paper 2 · Q20

11. November 2021 · Paper 2 · Q12

12. November 2020 · Paper 2 · Q11

13. November 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q19

14. November 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q21

15. November 2020 · AS Paper 2 · Q22

16. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q18

17. June 2019 · AS Paper 2 · Q22

18. June 2018 · Paper 2 · Q10

19. June 2018 · Paper 2 · Q11

20. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q18

21. June 2018 · AS Paper 2 · Q22

22. June 2017 · Paper 2 · Q10

23. June 2017 · Paper 2 · Q12

24. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q19

25. June 2017 · AS Paper 2 · Q21

26. June 2016 · AS Paper 2 · Q20