AQA Sociology or OCR Sociology

I did the AQA and found it pretty easy to do at home. You have four modules. 2 core books, one for each year. Then you can purchase study guides which will help with exam technique. Also I found all information extremely easy to understand (second language student) and I found the exam so straightforward - Just put down anything that comes to mind, no "real" exam technique to worry about. Just lots to remember.

Cannot comment on the OCR exam board though, as I havn't done it.

Thank you so much!

I only wish to do AS, what modules can I choose? Which ones did you do? Also, would you be able to recommend a few revision guides and course books which you used to make notes etc?

I did Family and Education as my two AS modules. I personally used this book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/AS-Level-Sociology-Complete-Specification/dp/0954007956/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379087886&sr=8-1&keywords=aqa+sociology
It has EVERYTHING you need to know in it, plus a bit extra. Very easy to read and well structured in terms of each section will relate to a question that can come up on the exam, not much cross over between sections and questions at AS
I also got: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Succeed-AS-Sociology-Complete-Specification/dp/0954007972/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1379087886&sr=8-14&keywords=aqa+sociology
Now this one is not neccessary, as everything is in the orange book, but it is good for some more exam examples and just general revision help

Also a quick note. Do as MANY exam questions/papers you can. Get them off the AQA website. It will help put the knowledge you learn into exam context and be a good revision help.

Ah, thank you so much! You wouldn't mind if I asked you for help here and there through the year, would you?

I did Family and Education as my two AS modules. I personally used this book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/AS-Level-Sociology-Complete-Specification/dp/0954007956/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379087886&sr=8-1&keywords=aqa+sociology
It has EVERYTHING you need to know in it, plus a bit extra. Very easy to read and well structured in terms of each section will relate to a question that can come up on the exam, not much cross over between sections and questions at AS
I also got: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Succeed-AS-Sociology-Complete-Specification/dp/0954007972/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1379087886&sr=8-14&keywords=aqa+sociology
Now this one is not neccessary, as everything is in the orange book, but it is good for some more exam examples and just general revision help

Also a quick note. Do as MANY exam questions/papers you can. Get them off the AQA website. It will help put the knowledge you learn into exam context and be a good revision help.

Those are the books i used! They were really good. The second link was really good for a last minute revision before the exam!


I loved AS sociology! It was really intresting and nearly all my lessons were fun, i got an overall B (2 marks of an A, which I still cry about sometimes xD ) But sociology is really good. I saw go for it. And I wouldnt mind helping you out if you have any questions on it. I've even got some other resources i can send you if you are thinking of taking it.

BTW, person I quoted, are you doing A2? And if so which one you doing? Power and Politics (like me) Or Belief religion in society?

Hi there,

I personally think OCR is the way to go totally, I think It's a lot easier to get higher grades on OCR than aqa and the resources are pretty straight forward to use.

I've decided to opt for OCR, would you be able to direct me to a few revision guides you used? And also how the curriculum works, do I get to pick modules etc?

hey i can help you too sociology is a interesting subject, particularly at A2.

btw, i disagree with the above person who said there isn't a structure.I knew everything for AS but didn't know the structure and came out with a D. after i learnt the structure and used it for a2 and AS retakes, i came out with A*. there is a structure you need to know for sociology aqa. if you don't know, you cant get higher than a C. here it is:

Application (e.g One sociologist who agrees with the item is parsons/ one sociologist who agrees with the above statement is...)

Knowledge ( Say what they talk about that relates to the question , eg Parsons said that the family is beneficial for society because...)

Evaluation (who supports/disagrees with them) . this is really imp as it carries most the marks

Application (refer back to the question)

REMEMBER APPLICATION, KNOWLEDGE EVALUATION APPLICATION!!!! my helpful teacher drilled this into us hehe ^_^ GOOD LUCK