Sociology A Level

Applications open:- Monday 4th November at 9.00am

Applications close:- 25th August 2026

Entry Requirements: - They vary for each course.

How to Apply: - Please apply via KentChoices.

Sociology is the study of society - how people interact in groups. A level Sociology examines social behaviour from a variety of perspectives: how it originates and then develops, and the ways people are organised into groups according to distinctions such as class, gender and race. We also look at the institutions and forces which shape and are shaped by groups within a society, such as the media, religion and education. It helps you to develop knowledge and understanding of the essential sociological theories and methods (such as Functionalism, Marxism and Feminism) with which sociologists make sense of the diversity of societies, and of the forces which have and will continue to shape social change. Sociology will help you to think about society in a new and critical light, questioning the status quo and developing a sophisticated understanding of the real issues that affect the society we live in.

Course Structure

In AQA A-level Sociology there are three exams, each accounting for one third of your A-level. The three exams last 2 hours and are worth 80 marks each. The exams consist of a mixture of short answer and extended writing questions.

Overview

You will learn a number of skills including the use of evidence to support your arguments, how to investigate facts, and critical thinking. It is relevant to the society you live in so you are bound to enjoy learning about topics that are relevant to everyday life.

Year 12: Topics of Study - Education, Methods in context, Theory and methods, Culture and Identity or Families and Households

Year 13: Topics of Study - Crime and deviance, Theory and methods, Beliefs in society or Stratification and differentiation

Grade 5's including Maths and English

Progression and Career Opportunities

Students can go into a variety of degree or job opportunities after studying A Level Sociology, providing an excellent starting point for any social science degree from Business, Economics, Psychology and Politics to Criminology, Law, Philosophy and even further Sociology. Sociology can lead to many career options including teaching, advertising, research, policing, marketing, journalism and business. Sociology is an academic subject teaching you transferable skills so really it’s up to you which area of work you choose to go into afterwards.