Cambridge International AS & A Level Cambridge International AS & A Level
PSYCHOLOGY 9990/13
SOCIOLOGY 9699/13
Paper 1 Approaches, issues and debates May/June 2026
Paper 1 Socialisation, Identity and Methods of Research May/June 2026
MARK SCHEME
1 hour 30 minutes
Maximum Mark: 60
You must answer on the enclosed answer booklet.
*
You will need: Answer booklet (enclosed)
Published
INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer four questions in total:
Section A: answer all questions.
Section B: answer either Question 4 or Question 5. This mark scheme contains the instructions and marking guidance that our examiners used to mark
● Follow the instructions on the front cover of the answer booklet. If you need additional answer paper, candidate responses for this component.
*
ask the invigilator for a continuation booklet.
Before they start marking, examiners complete a standardisation process. They review a range of candidate
responses and discuss the mark scheme in detail to agree which answers can and cannot be accepted.
Examiners award marks where it is clear that candidate responses have met the requirements of the mark
INFORMATION scheme. These requirements may vary between different components or different versions of the same
● The total mark for this paper is 60. component, depending on the exact requirements of the question and the candidate responses seen during
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ]. the standardisation process.
Sometimes, our mark schemes may allow marks to be awarded to responses which contain elements that
are factually incorrect or for content not covered by the syllabus. We do this in response to the demands of a
specific question to support candidates and make sure that our assessments are fair. However, these
allowances should not be used as a guide for teaching and learning.
We cannot discuss the mark scheme with schools, and we recommend that schools read the mark scheme
together with the assessment material and the Principal Examiner Report for Teachers.
This document has 4 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.
DC (SL) 354539/1 This document consists of 20 printed pages.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
, 9990/13 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2026
2 PUBLISHED
General marking principles
Section A
All examiners must apply these marking principles when marking candidate responses.
Answer all questions in this section.
1 Examiners must award marks for each response in line with:
1 Describe two types of questionnaire. [4]
• the specific content defined in the mark scheme
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the level descriptions
2 (a) Explain two features of the interpretivist approach to sociological research. [8]
• the standard of response required as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.
2 Examiners must award whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).
(b) Explain one strength and one limitation of structured interviews as a research method. [6]
3 Examiners must award marks positively. This means that:
3 ‘The family has little influence in shaping class identity.’ • marks are not deducted for errors or omissions
• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers as defined in the mark scheme and also for other valid answers which go beyond the
(a) Explain this view. [10] scope of the syllabus and mark scheme referring to your team leader as appropriate
• the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar are judged only when the mark scheme indicates that these features are specifically
assessed in the question. However, the meaning of all responses must be unambiguous.
(b) Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6]
4 Examiners must consistently apply the requirements of the mark scheme and any rules for what to do when candidates have not followed
instructions correctly.
Section B 5 Examiners must use the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme, unless limited by the quality of the candidate responses seen.
Answer one question in this section. 6 Examiners must award marks according to the mark scheme and must not award marks with grade thresholds or grade descriptions in
mind.
EITHER
4 Evaluate the view that the media is the most significant influence in shaping an
individual’s identity. [26]
OR
5 Evaluate the view that practical factors are more important than theoretical factors in influencing
the choice of research method. [26]
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 2 of 20
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 9699/13/M/J/26
, 9990/13 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2026
3 PUBLISHED
Social Sciences-Specific Marking Principles
BLANK PAGE (for point-based marking)
1 Components using point-based marking:
• Point marking is often used to reward knowledge, understanding and application of skills. We give credit where the candidate’s answer
shows relevant knowledge, understanding and application of skills in answering the question. We do not give credit where the answer
shows confusion.
From this it follows that we:
a DO credit answers which are worded differently from the mark scheme if they clearly convey the same meaning (unless the mark
scheme requires a specific term)
b DO credit alternative answers/examples which are not written in the mark scheme if they are correct
c DO credit answers where candidates give more than one correct answer in one prompt/numbered/scaffolded space where extended
writing is required rather than list-type answers. For example, questions that require n reasons (e.g. State two reasons …).
d DO NOT credit answers simply for using a ‘key term’ unless that is all that is required. (Check for evidence it is understood and not used
wrongly.)
e DO NOT credit answers which are obviously self-contradicting or trying to cover all possibilities
f DO NOT give further credit for what is effectively repetition of a correct point already credited unless the language itself is being tested.
This applies equally to ‘mirror statements’ (i.e. polluted/not polluted).
g DO NOT require spellings to be correct, unless this is part of the test. However spellings of syllabus terms must allow for clear and
unambiguous separation from other syllabus terms with which they may be confused (e.g. corrasion/corrosion)
2 Presentation of mark scheme:
• Slashes (/) or the word ‘or’ separate alternative ways of making the same point.
• Semi colons (;) bullet points (•) or figures in brackets (1) separate different points.
• Content in the answer column in brackets is for examiner information/context to clarify the marking but is not required to earn the mark
(except Accounting syllabuses where they indicate negative numbers).
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 3 of 20
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 9699/13/M/J/26
PSYCHOLOGY 9990/13
SOCIOLOGY 9699/13
Paper 1 Approaches, issues and debates May/June 2026
Paper 1 Socialisation, Identity and Methods of Research May/June 2026
MARK SCHEME
1 hour 30 minutes
Maximum Mark: 60
You must answer on the enclosed answer booklet.
*
You will need: Answer booklet (enclosed)
Published
INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer four questions in total:
Section A: answer all questions.
Section B: answer either Question 4 or Question 5. This mark scheme contains the instructions and marking guidance that our examiners used to mark
● Follow the instructions on the front cover of the answer booklet. If you need additional answer paper, candidate responses for this component.
*
ask the invigilator for a continuation booklet.
Before they start marking, examiners complete a standardisation process. They review a range of candidate
responses and discuss the mark scheme in detail to agree which answers can and cannot be accepted.
Examiners award marks where it is clear that candidate responses have met the requirements of the mark
INFORMATION scheme. These requirements may vary between different components or different versions of the same
● The total mark for this paper is 60. component, depending on the exact requirements of the question and the candidate responses seen during
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ]. the standardisation process.
Sometimes, our mark schemes may allow marks to be awarded to responses which contain elements that
are factually incorrect or for content not covered by the syllabus. We do this in response to the demands of a
specific question to support candidates and make sure that our assessments are fair. However, these
allowances should not be used as a guide for teaching and learning.
We cannot discuss the mark scheme with schools, and we recommend that schools read the mark scheme
together with the assessment material and the Principal Examiner Report for Teachers.
This document has 4 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.
DC (SL) 354539/1 This document consists of 20 printed pages.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
, 9990/13 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2026
2 PUBLISHED
General marking principles
Section A
All examiners must apply these marking principles when marking candidate responses.
Answer all questions in this section.
1 Examiners must award marks for each response in line with:
1 Describe two types of questionnaire. [4]
• the specific content defined in the mark scheme
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the level descriptions
2 (a) Explain two features of the interpretivist approach to sociological research. [8]
• the standard of response required as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.
2 Examiners must award whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).
(b) Explain one strength and one limitation of structured interviews as a research method. [6]
3 Examiners must award marks positively. This means that:
3 ‘The family has little influence in shaping class identity.’ • marks are not deducted for errors or omissions
• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers as defined in the mark scheme and also for other valid answers which go beyond the
(a) Explain this view. [10] scope of the syllabus and mark scheme referring to your team leader as appropriate
• the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar are judged only when the mark scheme indicates that these features are specifically
assessed in the question. However, the meaning of all responses must be unambiguous.
(b) Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. [6]
4 Examiners must consistently apply the requirements of the mark scheme and any rules for what to do when candidates have not followed
instructions correctly.
Section B 5 Examiners must use the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme, unless limited by the quality of the candidate responses seen.
Answer one question in this section. 6 Examiners must award marks according to the mark scheme and must not award marks with grade thresholds or grade descriptions in
mind.
EITHER
4 Evaluate the view that the media is the most significant influence in shaping an
individual’s identity. [26]
OR
5 Evaluate the view that practical factors are more important than theoretical factors in influencing
the choice of research method. [26]
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 2 of 20
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 9699/13/M/J/26
, 9990/13 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2026
3 PUBLISHED
Social Sciences-Specific Marking Principles
BLANK PAGE (for point-based marking)
1 Components using point-based marking:
• Point marking is often used to reward knowledge, understanding and application of skills. We give credit where the candidate’s answer
shows relevant knowledge, understanding and application of skills in answering the question. We do not give credit where the answer
shows confusion.
From this it follows that we:
a DO credit answers which are worded differently from the mark scheme if they clearly convey the same meaning (unless the mark
scheme requires a specific term)
b DO credit alternative answers/examples which are not written in the mark scheme if they are correct
c DO credit answers where candidates give more than one correct answer in one prompt/numbered/scaffolded space where extended
writing is required rather than list-type answers. For example, questions that require n reasons (e.g. State two reasons …).
d DO NOT credit answers simply for using a ‘key term’ unless that is all that is required. (Check for evidence it is understood and not used
wrongly.)
e DO NOT credit answers which are obviously self-contradicting or trying to cover all possibilities
f DO NOT give further credit for what is effectively repetition of a correct point already credited unless the language itself is being tested.
This applies equally to ‘mirror statements’ (i.e. polluted/not polluted).
g DO NOT require spellings to be correct, unless this is part of the test. However spellings of syllabus terms must allow for clear and
unambiguous separation from other syllabus terms with which they may be confused (e.g. corrasion/corrosion)
2 Presentation of mark scheme:
• Slashes (/) or the word ‘or’ separate alternative ways of making the same point.
• Semi colons (;) bullet points (•) or figures in brackets (1) separate different points.
• Content in the answer column in brackets is for examiner information/context to clarify the marking but is not required to earn the mark
(except Accounting syllabuses where they indicate negative numbers).
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 3 of 20
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 9699/13/M/J/26
