AQA SOCIOLOGY PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
2026
▶ Asian family structure. Answer: Lupton (2004) argues that adult
authority in Asian fams is similar to the way schools operate. Pryce adds
that Asian kids are more resistant to racism so develop self-worth.
▶ Wood et al (2010). Answer: Found evidence of discrimination in
employment, he sent three closely matched application forms to 1,000 job
vacancies using fictitious applicant names. Only 1/16 ethnic minority
offered an interview compared with 1/9 white applications.
▶ Ethnocentric curriculum. Answer: Coard (2005) argues that school
curriculum is enthocentric and based on white culture as Eng Lit is based of
British lit, European history and foreign language studies ignore non-
European history and languages and Christianity is the curriculums central
religion.
▶ Racialised expectations. Answer: Gillborn and Youdell found teachers
underestimate black students and were quicker to see there behaviour as
threatening.
▶ Lack of language skills and foreign qualifications. Answer: may cause
ethnic minorities not to perform well in school.
▶ The male gaze. Answer: the way males look girls up and down, seeing
them as sexual objects and making judgements about their appearance.
▶ Double standards. Answer: boys boast about their sexual exploits yet if
girls did the same they would be labelled 'slags'
▶ Ringrose (2013). Answer: 'frigid shaming' 'slut shaming' 'boffin identity'
, ▶ Gender's different clothing. Answer: Norman (1998) boys and girls are
often dressed differently growing up, boys in dungarees and girls in
dresses so boys are more likely to grow up liking practical subjects like PE
but girls are not.
▶ Boys and literacy. Answer: Dads and Sons Campaign, Reading
Champions, Playing for success are all campaigns to get more boys into
reading. Mothers often read to their children before bed so they associate
reading with being effeminate.
▶ Single-sex schooling. Answer: Students in these schools make less
gender specific subject choices and hold less stereotypical views. Leonard
(2006) found girls in these schools were more likely to pick science and
maths at A Level.
▶ Changes in the family. Answer: Women now take on the breadwinner
role when it used to be solely men.
▶ Sex Discrimination Act (1975). Answer: giving women more rights at
work.
▶ Equal Pay Act (1970). Answer: reduced the pay gap between men and
women.
▶ National Curriculum(1988). Answer: gave girls and boys the opportunity
to study the same subjects.
▶ GIST/WISE. Answer: help get girls to have an increased interest in
technology and science subjects.
▶ Mac and Ghail (1994). Answer: found the 'macho lads' in school found
working hard at school was effeminate and were anti-school so they
underachieved.
▶ Teachers and discipline. Answer: Teachers help reinforce gender
identities as male teachers have told boys off for 'behaving like girls' and
male teachers often 'rescue' female colleagues from disruptive students.
▶ Verbal abuse. Answer: Lees (1986) argues that boys use name-calling
to put girls down if the dress or behave in a certain way.
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED SOLUTIONS
2026
▶ Asian family structure. Answer: Lupton (2004) argues that adult
authority in Asian fams is similar to the way schools operate. Pryce adds
that Asian kids are more resistant to racism so develop self-worth.
▶ Wood et al (2010). Answer: Found evidence of discrimination in
employment, he sent three closely matched application forms to 1,000 job
vacancies using fictitious applicant names. Only 1/16 ethnic minority
offered an interview compared with 1/9 white applications.
▶ Ethnocentric curriculum. Answer: Coard (2005) argues that school
curriculum is enthocentric and based on white culture as Eng Lit is based of
British lit, European history and foreign language studies ignore non-
European history and languages and Christianity is the curriculums central
religion.
▶ Racialised expectations. Answer: Gillborn and Youdell found teachers
underestimate black students and were quicker to see there behaviour as
threatening.
▶ Lack of language skills and foreign qualifications. Answer: may cause
ethnic minorities not to perform well in school.
▶ The male gaze. Answer: the way males look girls up and down, seeing
them as sexual objects and making judgements about their appearance.
▶ Double standards. Answer: boys boast about their sexual exploits yet if
girls did the same they would be labelled 'slags'
▶ Ringrose (2013). Answer: 'frigid shaming' 'slut shaming' 'boffin identity'
, ▶ Gender's different clothing. Answer: Norman (1998) boys and girls are
often dressed differently growing up, boys in dungarees and girls in
dresses so boys are more likely to grow up liking practical subjects like PE
but girls are not.
▶ Boys and literacy. Answer: Dads and Sons Campaign, Reading
Champions, Playing for success are all campaigns to get more boys into
reading. Mothers often read to their children before bed so they associate
reading with being effeminate.
▶ Single-sex schooling. Answer: Students in these schools make less
gender specific subject choices and hold less stereotypical views. Leonard
(2006) found girls in these schools were more likely to pick science and
maths at A Level.
▶ Changes in the family. Answer: Women now take on the breadwinner
role when it used to be solely men.
▶ Sex Discrimination Act (1975). Answer: giving women more rights at
work.
▶ Equal Pay Act (1970). Answer: reduced the pay gap between men and
women.
▶ National Curriculum(1988). Answer: gave girls and boys the opportunity
to study the same subjects.
▶ GIST/WISE. Answer: help get girls to have an increased interest in
technology and science subjects.
▶ Mac and Ghail (1994). Answer: found the 'macho lads' in school found
working hard at school was effeminate and were anti-school so they
underachieved.
▶ Teachers and discipline. Answer: Teachers help reinforce gender
identities as male teachers have told boys off for 'behaving like girls' and
male teachers often 'rescue' female colleagues from disruptive students.
▶ Verbal abuse. Answer: Lees (1986) argues that boys use name-calling
to put girls down if the dress or behave in a certain way.
