2025 OCR AS LEVEL SOCIOLOGY H180/02 Researching and Understanding Social Inequalities
Question Paper & Mark Scheme (Merged) May 2025 [VERIFIED]
© OCR 2025 OCR is an exempt
[601/3996/1] DC Charity Turn over
(ST/CGW)
338207/2
, 2
Section A
Read the source material.
Source A
Comparison of attainment between students eligible for Free School Meals and those not eligible for
Free School Meals (2019)
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Age 5 Age 7 Age 11 Age 16 Age 19
achieved an achieved an achieved achieved achieved 2
acceptable acceptable an acceptable an acceptable or more
level of level of reading level of ability pass in English A levels
developmen ability in reading, and Maths
t writing and GCSEs
maths
FSM (Eligible for Free School Meals) Not eligible for Free School Meals
The graph above shows the percentage of students who achieve expected measures of attainment
(an agreed acceptable level set by the government) at different ages during children’s education in
the UK. It compares students who are eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) with students who are not
eligible for Free School Meals.
To be eligible for Free School Meals pupils usually have to come from families who receive one of
a range of benefits and so represent some of the poorest children in the country. Around 15% of
schoolchildren receive free school meals.
The graph was compiled from official statistics from the Department for Education.
© OCR 2025 H180/02 Jun25
, 3
Source B
© womendeliver.org, Women Deliver. Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions. Link to
material - womendeliver.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Global_Report_English.pdf
© OCR 2025 H180/02 Jun25 Turn over
, 4
1 Using data from Source A, describe two conclusions on the comparison of attainment between
students eligible for free school meals, and those not eligible for free school meals. [4]
2* With reference to Source B explain why sociologists might use quota sampling in order to obtain
a sample when carrying out research. [9]
3* With reference to Source A, explain the limitations of using quantitative data to study social
inequalities in relation to educational attainment. [12]
4* Using Source B and your wider sociological knowledge, explain and evaluate the use of online
questionnaires to investigate public opinion about gender equality across the world. [20]
Section B
5* Outline two ways in which gender inequalities in UK society have decreased. [10]
6* Assess functionalist explanations of social inequality. [20]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
© OCR 2025 H180/02 Jun25
Question Paper & Mark Scheme (Merged) May 2025 [VERIFIED]
© OCR 2025 OCR is an exempt
[601/3996/1] DC Charity Turn over
(ST/CGW)
338207/2
, 2
Section A
Read the source material.
Source A
Comparison of attainment between students eligible for Free School Meals and those not eligible for
Free School Meals (2019)
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Age 5 Age 7 Age 11 Age 16 Age 19
achieved an achieved an achieved achieved achieved 2
acceptable acceptable an acceptable an acceptable or more
level of level of reading level of ability pass in English A levels
developmen ability in reading, and Maths
t writing and GCSEs
maths
FSM (Eligible for Free School Meals) Not eligible for Free School Meals
The graph above shows the percentage of students who achieve expected measures of attainment
(an agreed acceptable level set by the government) at different ages during children’s education in
the UK. It compares students who are eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) with students who are not
eligible for Free School Meals.
To be eligible for Free School Meals pupils usually have to come from families who receive one of
a range of benefits and so represent some of the poorest children in the country. Around 15% of
schoolchildren receive free school meals.
The graph was compiled from official statistics from the Department for Education.
© OCR 2025 H180/02 Jun25
, 3
Source B
© womendeliver.org, Women Deliver. Item removed due to third party copyright restrictions. Link to
material - womendeliver.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Global_Report_English.pdf
© OCR 2025 H180/02 Jun25 Turn over
, 4
1 Using data from Source A, describe two conclusions on the comparison of attainment between
students eligible for free school meals, and those not eligible for free school meals. [4]
2* With reference to Source B explain why sociologists might use quota sampling in order to obtain
a sample when carrying out research. [9]
3* With reference to Source A, explain the limitations of using quantitative data to study social
inequalities in relation to educational attainment. [12]
4* Using Source B and your wider sociological knowledge, explain and evaluate the use of online
questionnaires to investigate public opinion about gender equality across the world. [20]
Section B
5* Outline two ways in which gender inequalities in UK society have decreased. [10]
6* Assess functionalist explanations of social inequality. [20]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
© OCR 2025 H180/02 Jun25
