How will you be tested?

Assessment units

For AS Sociology, you will be tested by three assessment units. For the full A Level in Sociology, you will take a further three units. AS Sociology forms 50% of the assessment weighting for the full A Level.

Each unit can normally be taken in either January or June. Alternatively, you can study the whole course before taking any of the unit examinations. There is a lot of flexibility about when exams can be taken and the diagram below shows just some of the ways that the assessment units may be taken for AS and A Level Sociology.

A2 and Synoptic assessment
After having studied AS Sociology, you may wish to continue studying Sociology to A Level. For this, you will need to take three further units of Sociology at A2.

Similar assessment arrangements apply except some units, those that draw together different parts of the course in a ‘synoptic’ assessment have to be assessed at the end of the course.

Coursework
Coursework may form part of your A Level Sociology course as an alternative to Unit 3 (AQA) and Unit 2534 (OCR).

AQA offer students the option of a Coursework task at AS Level. Students are required to submit a Research Proposal which should be no more than 1200 words.

OCR offers students the option of a research report at AS Level. Students are required to write a report of no longer than 1000 words on a piece of sociological research that they have chosen.

Key skills
It is important that you develop your key skills throughout your AS and A2 courses.

These are important skills that you need whatever you do beyond AS and A Levels.

To gain the key skills qualification, which is the equivalent to a grade ‘D’ at A Level, you will need to collect evidence in a portfolio to show that you have attained Level 3 in Communication, Application of number and Information technology.

You will also need to take a formal test in each key skill. You will have many opportunities during AS Sociology to develop your key skills.

It is a worthwhile qualification, as it demonstrates your ability to put your ideas across to other people, collect data and use up-to-date technology in your work.