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The nature and persistence of poverty: AQA A‑Level Sociology questions

Every AQA A-Level Sociology exam question on The nature and persistence of poverty, 2020–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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356 questions

  1. Q18

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    2 marksThe nature and persistence of poverty
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 18: Define the term ‘absolute poverty’. [2 marks]

  2. Q22

    June 2025 · AS Paper 2

    20 marksResponses and solutions to povertyThe nature and persistence of poverty
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 AS Paper 2, question 22: Applying material from Item D and your knowledge, evaluate the view that the welfare state has failed to tackle the real causes of poverty. [20 marks]

  3. Q12

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    20 marksThe nature and persistence of poverty
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 12: Applying material from Item H and your knowledge, evaluate the view that poverty is functional and inevitable in society today. [20 marks]

  4. Q18

    June 2024 · AS Paper 2

    2 marksThe nature and persistence of poverty
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 18: Define the term ‘culture of poverty’. [2 marks]

  5. Q22

    June 2024 · AS Paper 2

    20 marksThe nature and persistence of poverty
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 22: Applying material from Item D and your knowledge, evaluate different sociological approaches to measuring the level of poverty in society. [20 marks]

  6. Q18

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    2 marksThe nature and persistence of poverty
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 18: Define the term ‘relative poverty’. [2 marks]

  7. Q12

    June 2022 · Paper 2

    20 marksThe nature and persistence of poverty
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 2, question 12: Applying material from Item H and your knowledge, evaluate the view that poverty is caused by structural factors. [20 marks]

  8. Q19

    November 2020 · AS Paper 2

    2 marksThe nature and persistence of poverty
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 AS Paper 2, question 19: Using one example, briefly explain one problem of using a relative definition of poverty. [2 marks]

  9. Q21

    November 2020 · AS Paper 2

    10 marksThe nature and persistence of povertyWork, worklessness and life chances
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 AS Paper 2, question 21: Outline and explain two ways in which globalisation has affected the extent of poverty in the UK today. [10 marks]

  10. Q22

    November 2020 · AS Paper 2

    20 marksThe nature and persistence of poverty
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 AS Paper 2, question 22: Applying material from Item D and your knowledge, evaluate the view that poverty is caused by the attitudes of the poor themselves. [20 marks]
All 10 questions on The nature and persistence of poverty, as a list
  1. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q18 (2 marks): Define the term ‘absolute poverty’. [2 marks]
  2. June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q22 (20 marks): Applying material from Item D and your knowledge, evaluate the view that the welfare state has failed to tackle the real causes of poverty. [20 marks]
  3. June 2024, Paper 2, Q12 (20 marks): Applying material from Item H and your knowledge, evaluate the view that poverty is functional and inevitable in society today. [20 marks]
  4. June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q18 (2 marks): Define the term ‘culture of poverty’. [2 marks]
  5. June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q22 (20 marks): Applying material from Item D and your knowledge, evaluate different sociological approaches to measuring the level of poverty in society. [20 marks]
  6. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q18 (2 marks): Define the term ‘relative poverty’. [2 marks]
  7. June 2022, Paper 2, Q12 (20 marks): Applying material from Item H and your knowledge, evaluate the view that poverty is caused by structural factors. [20 marks]
  8. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q19 (2 marks): Using one example, briefly explain one problem of using a relative definition of poverty. [2 marks]
  9. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q21 (10 marks): Outline and explain two ways in which globalisation has affected the extent of poverty in the UK today. [10 marks]
  10. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q22 (20 marks): Applying material from Item D and your knowledge, evaluate the view that poverty is caused by the attitudes of the poor themselves. [20 marks]

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