Free AQA GCSE Sociology (8192) Exam Questions and Answers
AQA GCSE Sociology (8192) is AQA's GCSE Sociology qualification, specification 8192, taken in England. The questions here come from AQA's published question papers from November 2020 to June 2025, plus its specimen papers, with answers and marking guidance taken from AQA's own mark schemes. Written-answer questions let you work out your answer and then reveal what the mark scheme accepts; diagrams, graphs and source material appear with the questions that use them.
If you searched for AQA GCSE Sociology (8192) dumps, an ExamTopics discussion or a free PDF, this is the question bank for it: practice questions with verified answers and explanations, a timed practice test and updates whenever AQA changes the exam.
Last updated: October 13, 2026
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Question #1
What term is commonly used by sociologists to describe partners who live together without either being married or in a civil partnership?
Correct answer: B
Explanation
1 mark for B.
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Question #2
What term is commonly used by sociologists to describe a family in which a woman holds power and authority?
Correct answer: A
Explanation
1 mark for A.
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Question #3
Describe what sociologists mean by kinship.
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Correct answer: Kinship refers to the social relationships derived from blood ties and marriage (including adoption or civil partnerships), e.g. husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins.
Explanation
3 marks, level marked (AO1). 3 marks: coherent description with few inaccuracies, good knowledge and understanding. 2 marks: partial description mixing relevant and irrelevant material, some inaccuracies and omissions. 1 mark: fragments of knowledge, some inaccurate or irrelevant. 0: nothing worthy of credit. Indicative content: social relationships from blood ties and marriage; familial ties such as husbands and wives, siblings, aunts and uncles, cousins; relationships based on adoption or civil partnerships.
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Question #4
Identify and describe one example of how a grandparent can contribute to family life.
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Correct answer: A grandparent can help with childcare, looking after young grandchildren so parents avoid the cost of private childcare. Other accepted examples: economic support (giving or lending money, gifts) or emotional and moral support (listening, talking, offering advice).
Explanation
3 marks, level marked (AO1). Identify one example and describe it. 3 marks: coherent description with few inaccuracies. 2 marks: partial description with some inaccuracies or omissions. 1 mark: fragments of knowledge. 0: nothing creditable. Indicative content: childcare; economic support; emotional and moral support.
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Question #5
Identify and explain one advantage of using a mixed methods approach to investigate conjugal role relationships.
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Correct answer: A mixed methods approach lets the researcher gather both quantitative and qualitative data, giving a more complete picture of conjugal roles (methodological pluralism). It builds on the strengths of each method, and the findings can be cross-checked (triangulation).
Explanation
4 marks: 1 for a relevant advantage (AO1), 3 for explanation applied to conjugal roles (AO2). Accepted advantages: a more complete picture (methodological pluralism); building on the strengths of quantitative and qualitative methods; triangulation. Explanation points: qualitative methods give rich insight into people's experiences, quantitative methods show connections between variables, patterns and trends. Narrative adds meaning to numbers, and statistics add precision and allow comparison. Findings from one method can be cross-checked against the other. 4 marks need a detailed, well-developed explanation well applied to conjugal roles. 3 marks have some inaccuracies or omissions. 2 marks are largely inaccurate or weakly applied. 1 mark is for the advantage alone.
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Question #6
Identify one ethical issue that you would need to consider when investigating relationships within families and explain how you would deal with this issue in your investigation.
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Correct answer: Possible ethical issues: informed consent, confidentiality, anonymity, or avoiding harm. For example, with informed consent, tell family members what the research is about and get their agreement before taking part. Or keep personal details private and use pseudonyms, so family members can speak openly without fear of upsetting each other.
Explanation
4 marks: 1 for a relevant ethical issue (AO1), 3 for explaining how you would deal with it in research on family relationships (AO2). Accepted issues: anonymity (names not revealed in the report or data collection); avoiding harm (no harm to anyone involved); confidentiality (personal details kept between researcher and respondent, so each family member can speak openly without fear of upsetting others); informed consent (respondents know what the research involves and agree to take part). 4 marks need a detailed, well-developed explanation applied to families. 3 marks have some inaccuracies or omissions. 2 marks are largely inaccurate or weakly applied. 1 mark is for the issue alone.
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Question #7
Discuss how far sociologists would agree that changes in the law are the main reason for the pattern of divorce in Britain since 1969.
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Correct answer: A strong answer weighs legal change against other explanations for the pattern of divorce since 1969. Legal changes include the Divorce Reform Act 1969, the 1984 legislation and the Family Law Act 1996, which made divorce easier, quicker and cheaper, with divorce rising after the 1969 Act. Other explanations are the changing status of women and their financial independence, less stigma and changing attitudes, secularisation, and media influence. Sociological perspectives: functionalists (Fletcher and Parsons: people place higher value and expectations on marriage), Marxists (class differences, Hart, economic change) and feminists (Millett, patriarchy; most petitions come from women). The answer should reach an evidence-based judgement on how far legal change is the main reason.
Explanation
12 marks: AO1 4, AO2 4, AO3 4, using a best-fit approach across the three. Level 4 (10–12): detailed knowledge with a wide range of precise specialist terms, sustained application to the question, developed critical analysis and evaluation, and well-constructed arguments with supported, evidence-based conclusions. Level 3 (7–9): good knowledge but lacking detail, good application with some omissions, a logical argument, and judgements that may be indistinct or underdeveloped. Level 2 (4–6): limited knowledge, limited application with significant inaccuracies, a limited attempt at evaluation, and possible inconsistencies or contradictory conclusions. Level 1 (1–3): fragments of knowledge, little or no application, assertion rather than evaluation. 0: nothing worthy of credit. Indicative content, which need not all be covered: functionalist, Marxist and feminist views of divorce; divorce law changes (1969, 1984, 1996); the status of women; attitudes and reduced stigma; secularisation; and media coverage. Evaluation points: the rise in divorce after the 1969 Act; whether women have achieved financial independence; whether divorce is acceptable in all sections of society; whether secularisation varies between social groups; the media's influence on attitudes. A conclusion on how far evidence supports legal change as the main reason is needed.
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Question #8
Discuss how far sociologists would agree that the nuclear family is still considered the norm in Britain today.
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Correct answer: Key points: the nuclear family is still seen as the norm by functionalists, New Right and the 'cereal packet' image, but growing family diversity (lone parents, same-sex families etc.) challenges this; Marxists and feminists criticise the nuclear family. A judgement on how far the evidence supports the nuclear family still being the norm is needed.
Explanation
12-mark extended answer, marked on knowledge and understanding (AO1), application (AO2) and analysis/evaluation (AO3) using a best-fit approach. Level 1 (1–3 marks) is fragments of knowledge, little application, assertion and cursory conclusions. 0 marks for nothing worthy of credit. Indicative content, AO1: functionalism, New Right, feminism, Marxism, family diversity and statistics on change, the cereal packet image. AO2: functionalists stress the nuclear family's essential functions for society. The New Right says it is the best way for children to become stable adults (Charles Murray may be cited). Feminists see nuclear families as patriarchal. Marxists see them socialising children into capitalist values. Rapoports on increasing diversity, for example more lone parents and same-sex families. Advertisers depict the nuclear family as the norm. AO3: evaluate each perspective, for example whether the nuclear family still provides essential functions, is the best form for raising children, supports capitalism, or is still patriarchal. Evaluate the impact of diversity (in 2019 the UK had 2.9 million lone parent families, up 14.5% since 1999) and whether the cereal packet image remains the stereotype. Finish with an evidence-based judgement on how far the nuclear family is considered the norm. Students need not cover all points. Other relevant points are credited.
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Question #9
What term is commonly used by sociologists to describe the grouping of students of different academic levels in the same class?
Correct answer: B
Explanation
1 mark for B (Mixed ability).
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Question #10
What term is commonly used by sociologists to describe a state school that does not select pupils on the basis of their ability?
Correct answer: A
Explanation
1 mark for A (Comprehensive).
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