AQA SOCIOLOGY LATEST EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PDF 2026
▶ Tripartite system (Education Act 1944). Answer: grammar, secondary
modern, technical schools, 11+ test taken to determine what school a child
is sent to
▶ Advantages of tripartite system. Answer: w/c benefit as it allows for
social mobility, grammar schools get good results
▶ Disadvantages of tripartite system. Answer: 11 is too early to determine
a child's future, 11+ was written in elaborated code so favoured m/c, 1 in 4
kids sent to the wrong school, legitimise social inequality.
▶ Comprehensive schools (1965). Answer: Free, non-selective, mixed
ability and background children attend.
▶ Disadvantages of a comprehensive school. Answer: obtain worse exam
results, 'myth of meritocracy' not ended up with a healthy social class mix,
mini tripartite system within a single school.
▶ Advantages of a comprehensive school. Answer: breaks down social
barriers, more equality of educational opportunity, more efficient, free
▶ Policies that promote the education market. Answer: Open enrolment,
publication of league tables, formula funding, business sponsorship of
schools, specialist schools (widen choice), intro. of tuition fees.
▶ Parentocracy. Answer: David (1993) argues marketised education leads
to a ________ (rule by parents). This shifts power away from the producers
(teachers and schools) to the consumers (parents) and encourage choice,
diversity and an increase in standards.
, ▶ Evidence of declining standards in schools. Answer: grade inflation,
increase in failing schools, easier exams, PISA test results - UK 2013 came
23rd for reading and 26th for maths.
▶ Marketisation became a. Answer: central theme in schools since the
Education Reform Act 1988 introduced by the Conservative government
(Thatcher).
▶ New Labour Policies (1997-2010). Answer: Specialist schools,
numeracy and literacy hours, City academies (2002), Curriculum 2000
(modular exams), Compensatory policies like sure start, Further education
(BTECs, diplomas), introduced financial grants for uni
▶ Coalition government policies (2010-2015). Answer: New style
academies (over 50% all schools now academies), free schools,
compensatory policies like FSM and pupil premium, Austerity programme
(reduce public spending to decrease the national deficit).
▶ The privatisation of education. Answer: the transfer of public assets (e.g.
schools) to private companies. Increasing trend towards privatisation in the
UK and globally meaning that education has become a source of profit for
capitalists. Molnar (2005) private sector is penetrating the education sector
indirectly (the cola-isation of schools) through vending machines, displays
of logos and sponsorship.
▶ Globalisation (inter-connectedness) of education policy. Answer: It's
important to consider that British society is heavily influenced by outside
factors e.g. the European union; Transnational corporations; immigration
and cultural produce such as fashion, film, books etc.
▶ Kelly (2009) globalisation. Answer: acknowledges the following effects
of globalisation on education: unis and private schools increasingly have to
market themselves globally, often setting up overseas branches, overseas
students are commodities as they pay higher fees
▶ Ball (2011). Answer: education has become a commodity subject to
business practice and financial logistics. Marxists say competition to drive
up standards is a myth used to legitimate the turning of education into
private profit.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PDF 2026
▶ Tripartite system (Education Act 1944). Answer: grammar, secondary
modern, technical schools, 11+ test taken to determine what school a child
is sent to
▶ Advantages of tripartite system. Answer: w/c benefit as it allows for
social mobility, grammar schools get good results
▶ Disadvantages of tripartite system. Answer: 11 is too early to determine
a child's future, 11+ was written in elaborated code so favoured m/c, 1 in 4
kids sent to the wrong school, legitimise social inequality.
▶ Comprehensive schools (1965). Answer: Free, non-selective, mixed
ability and background children attend.
▶ Disadvantages of a comprehensive school. Answer: obtain worse exam
results, 'myth of meritocracy' not ended up with a healthy social class mix,
mini tripartite system within a single school.
▶ Advantages of a comprehensive school. Answer: breaks down social
barriers, more equality of educational opportunity, more efficient, free
▶ Policies that promote the education market. Answer: Open enrolment,
publication of league tables, formula funding, business sponsorship of
schools, specialist schools (widen choice), intro. of tuition fees.
▶ Parentocracy. Answer: David (1993) argues marketised education leads
to a ________ (rule by parents). This shifts power away from the producers
(teachers and schools) to the consumers (parents) and encourage choice,
diversity and an increase in standards.
, ▶ Evidence of declining standards in schools. Answer: grade inflation,
increase in failing schools, easier exams, PISA test results - UK 2013 came
23rd for reading and 26th for maths.
▶ Marketisation became a. Answer: central theme in schools since the
Education Reform Act 1988 introduced by the Conservative government
(Thatcher).
▶ New Labour Policies (1997-2010). Answer: Specialist schools,
numeracy and literacy hours, City academies (2002), Curriculum 2000
(modular exams), Compensatory policies like sure start, Further education
(BTECs, diplomas), introduced financial grants for uni
▶ Coalition government policies (2010-2015). Answer: New style
academies (over 50% all schools now academies), free schools,
compensatory policies like FSM and pupil premium, Austerity programme
(reduce public spending to decrease the national deficit).
▶ The privatisation of education. Answer: the transfer of public assets (e.g.
schools) to private companies. Increasing trend towards privatisation in the
UK and globally meaning that education has become a source of profit for
capitalists. Molnar (2005) private sector is penetrating the education sector
indirectly (the cola-isation of schools) through vending machines, displays
of logos and sponsorship.
▶ Globalisation (inter-connectedness) of education policy. Answer: It's
important to consider that British society is heavily influenced by outside
factors e.g. the European union; Transnational corporations; immigration
and cultural produce such as fashion, film, books etc.
▶ Kelly (2009) globalisation. Answer: acknowledges the following effects
of globalisation on education: unis and private schools increasingly have to
market themselves globally, often setting up overseas branches, overseas
students are commodities as they pay higher fees
▶ Ball (2011). Answer: education has become a commodity subject to
business practice and financial logistics. Marxists say competition to drive
up standards is a myth used to legitimate the turning of education into
private profit.
