This course will prepare you for sitting your GCSE Sociology. It is the same as you would study if you attended school.

We provide you with support for 12 months but it is entirely up to you how quickly you work through and when you sit the exams.

Exams take place once a year in May/June.

You can choose to receive your course materials by email or receive a hard copy delivered in folders that is yours to keep.

Throughout the course you are fully supported so if you come across anything you are unsure of you can contact your tutor by email. You also have a support team by telephone.

At the end of each section you will complete an assignment which you will email to your tutor. This doesn't count towards your end grade but it allows the tutor to ensure you are on the right track and help iron out any problem areas. Assignments consist of exam style questions so are effectively mini mock exams. The idea is that by the end of the course you are fully up to speed and confident you will achieve the grade you require.

There are no entry requirements for the course.

Qualification code: 8192

Unit 1: Families

• Functions of families
• Family forms
• Conjugal role relationships
• Changing relationships within families
• Criticisms of families
• Divorce

Unit 2: Education

• Roles and functions and education
• The relationship between education and capitalism
• Educational achievement
• Processes within schools

Unit 3: Crime and Deviance

• The social construction of crime and deviance
• Social Control
• Criminal and deviant behaviour
• Data on crime

Unit 4: Social Stratification

• Functionalist theory of stratification
• Socio-economic class
• Life chances
• Poverty as a social issue
• Power and authority
• Power relationships

Unit 5: Sociological Research Methods

• Research design
• Quantitative and qualitative methods
• Different types of data
• Primary and secondary sources
• Interpretation on data
• Practical issues
• Ethical issues

Exams take place in May/June of each year. It is the responsibility of the student to book their exams. Exam centres will charge and the price can vary so it is wise to investigate prior to enrolment.

You can search for a list of UK exam centres here:

To achieve a GCSE in Sociology you will be assessed across all the above units. Students will be assessed across two exam papers as detailed below:

Paper 1: The Sociology of Families and Education

• Type: Written Examination
• Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Weighting: 50% of the GCSE
• Total Marks: 100
• Assessed: Section A has two multiple choice questions followed by a range of short and extended responses
• Assessed: Section B has two multiple choice questions followed by a range of short and extended responses

Paper 2: The Sociology of Crime and Deviance and Social Stratification

• Type: Written Examination
• Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Weighting: 50% of A Level
• Total Marks: 100
• Assessed: Section A has two multiple choice questions followed by a range of short and extended responses
• Assessed: Section B has two multiple choice questions followed by a range of short and extended responses