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Differential educational achievement: AQA A‑Level Sociology questions

Every AQA A-Level Sociology exam question on Differential educational achievement, 2020–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

Find questions356

356 questions

  1. Q02

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    6 marksDifferential educational achievement
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 02: Outline three reasons for social class differences in who goes to university. [6 marks]

  2. Q03

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    10 marksDifferential educational achievementRelationships and processes within schools
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 03: Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which relationships and processes within schools may lead to gender differences in educational achievement. [

  3. Q04

    June 2025 · AS Paper 1

    10 marksDifferential educational achievement
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 04: Outline and explain two ways in which material deprivation may impact on social class differences in educational achievement. [10 marks]

  4. Q03

    June 2024 · Paper 1

    10 marksRelationships and processes within schoolsDifferential educational achievement
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1, question 03: Applying material from Item A, analyse two problems girls may experience as a result of relationships and processes in schools. [10 marks]

  5. Q02

    June 2024 · AS Paper 1

    2 marksDifferential educational achievement
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 02: Using one example, briefly explain how a factor internal to schools may affect ethnic differences in educational achievement. [2 marks]

  6. Q04

    June 2024 · AS Paper 1

    10 marksDifferential educational achievement
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 04: Outline and explain two ways in which inequalities in wider society may affect the educational achievement of working-class pupils. [10 marks]

  7. Q04

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    30 marksDifferential educational achievement
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 04: Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the importance of cultural factors in explaining patterns of educational achievement. [30 marks]

  8. Q01

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    2 marksDifferential educational achievement
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 01: Define the term ‘material deprivation’. [2 marks]

  9. Q05

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    20 marksDifferential educational achievement
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 05: Applying material from Item A and your knowledge, evaluate the impact of external factors on gender differences in educational achievement. [20 marks]

  10. Q03

    June 2022 · AS Paper 1

    6 marksDifferential educational achievementRelationships and processes within schools
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 1, question 03: Outline three criticisms that can be made of teacher labelling as an explanation of differences in pupil achievement. [6 marks]

  11. Q04

    June 2022 · AS Paper 1

    10 marksDifferential educational achievement
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 1, question 04: Outline and explain two ways in which changes in the labour market may influence the educational achievement of girls and boys. [10 marks]

  12. Q05

    June 2022 · AS Paper 1

    20 marksEducational policyDifferential educational achievement
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 1, question 05: Applying material from Item A and your knowledge, evaluate the view that government educational policies are effective in reducing social class inequalities in

  13. Q03

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    10 marksRelationships and processes within schoolsDifferential educational achievement
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 03: Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which teaching and learning in schools may affect the educational experiences of minority ethnic groups. [10

  14. Q04

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    30 marksRole and functions of educationDifferential educational achievement
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 04: Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the view that the education system is meritocratic. [30 marks]

  15. Q01

    November 2020 · Paper 1

    4 marksDifferential educational achievement
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1, question 01: Outline two factors external to schools that may affect social class differences in educational achievement. [4 marks]

  16. Q04

    November 2020 · Paper 1

    30 marksDifferential educational achievement
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1, question 04: Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations of gender differences in educational achievement. [30 marks]

  17. Q03

    November 2020 · AS Paper 1

    6 marksDifferential educational achievement
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 AS Paper 1, question 03: Outline three reasons why girls may be more successful in schools than boys. [6 marks]

  18. Q04

    November 2020 · AS Paper 1

    10 marksDifferential educational achievementRelationships and processes within schools
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 AS Paper 1, question 04: Outline and explain two ways in which teacher-pupil interactions may affect the educational achievement of pupils from minority ethnic groups. [10 marks]
All 18 questions on Differential educational achievement, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q02 (6 marks): Outline three reasons for social class differences in who goes to university. [6 marks]
  2. June 2025, Paper 1, Q03 (10 marks): Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which relationships and processes within schools may lead to gender differences in educational achievement. [
  3. June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q04 (10 marks): Outline and explain two ways in which material deprivation may impact on social class differences in educational achievement. [10 marks]
  4. June 2024, Paper 1, Q03 (10 marks): Applying material from Item A, analyse two problems girls may experience as a result of relationships and processes in schools. [10 marks]
  5. June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q02 (2 marks): Using one example, briefly explain how a factor internal to schools may affect ethnic differences in educational achievement. [2 marks]
  6. June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q04 (10 marks): Outline and explain two ways in which inequalities in wider society may affect the educational achievement of working-class pupils. [10 marks]
  7. June 2023, Paper 1, Q04 (30 marks): Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the importance of cultural factors in explaining patterns of educational achievement. [30 marks]
  8. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q01 (2 marks): Define the term ‘material deprivation’. [2 marks]
  9. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q05 (20 marks): Applying material from Item A and your knowledge, evaluate the impact of external factors on gender differences in educational achievement. [20 marks]
  10. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q03 (6 marks): Outline three criticisms that can be made of teacher labelling as an explanation of differences in pupil achievement. [6 marks]
  11. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q04 (10 marks): Outline and explain two ways in which changes in the labour market may influence the educational achievement of girls and boys. [10 marks]
  12. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q05 (20 marks): Applying material from Item A and your knowledge, evaluate the view that government educational policies are effective in reducing social class inequalities in
  13. November 2021, Paper 1, Q03 (10 marks): Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which teaching and learning in schools may affect the educational experiences of minority ethnic groups. [10
  14. November 2021, Paper 1, Q04 (30 marks): Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate the view that the education system is meritocratic. [30 marks]
  15. November 2020, Paper 1, Q01 (4 marks): Outline two factors external to schools that may affect social class differences in educational achievement. [4 marks]
  16. November 2020, Paper 1, Q04 (30 marks): Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations of gender differences in educational achievement. [30 marks]
  17. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q03 (6 marks): Outline three reasons why girls may be more successful in schools than boys. [6 marks]
  18. November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q04 (10 marks): Outline and explain two ways in which teacher-pupil interactions may affect the educational achievement of pupils from minority ethnic groups. [10 marks]

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