A level sociology revision help

What exam board are you on?

I got an A in AQA Sociology (1 Mark off an A*), and taught myself the subject in a year.

The textbooks I would advise are the AQA endorsed books, for example in the link below:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/AQA-A-Level-Sociology-Book-One-Including-AS-Level-Book-one-by-Hal-Westergaard-Rob-Webb-Annie-Townend/213471304?iid=383112934585&chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=383112934585&targetid=521080617011&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9045654&poi=&campaignid=1782815736&mkgroupid=70885937242&rlsatarget=aud-629407026705la-521080617011&abcId=1139356&merchantid=6995734&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5MLrBRClARIsAPG0WGycqo_3Zte5ewUPME936yrlaII7V8Gg-2H50hi1K9c8lnRri8wLJA0aAkaxEALw_wcB

The advice I have is to basically divide each section up. So basically in paper 1, you have 3 sections (education, methods in context, research methods), and within those 3 sections are 5 or more smaller sub-sections.

So for research methods you could have a smaller sub-section of secondary data.

I would advise making flash cards for all of the smaller sub-sections, and pairing these with an essay plan for each smaller sub section, so planning 3 points with examples you’d write for a question on secondary data etc.

There are only so many questions they can ask (they just change the wording slightly), so if you have a rough idea of what you’d write for each point, you should do pretty well.

I’d also make sure you get the essay structure sorted and do lots of past papers/ essay questions. Worst case you have a memory blank in the exam, you can still write a decent answer using different points from other sub-sections, especially if your answer is well structured. The mark schemes seem to be less focused than other subjects I.e. often you don’t need really specific points about exact theorists/ theories etc. but as long as what you’re writing does fit in with the question, you can get high marks for just having 3 highly developed paragraphs etc.

I also don’t think you need dates or anything (I didn’t use many dates), but I would advise making sure you know some theorists names or the study names. Maybe aiming for 3 per sub section? Worst case you won’t loose marks for not having loads of theorists names.

If you need any more advice/ help, don’t hesitate to message.