A Level Sociology of Education Revision Bundle

A-Level Sociology of Education Revision Bundle

Everything you need to revise Education for AQA A-level sociology Paper 1 (7192/1), with notes at two depths so you can start early and finish fast.

Two sets of notes

• Mid-depth notes, 50 pages. Every topic on the specification in two to four pages, in the order most textbooks teach it. Each topic names the key studies with their dates, gives up-to-date statistics, and ends with a strengths and limitations table for the evaluation marks. An introduction sets out the Paper 1 question types and the methods in context checklist, and every page links to the matching section of revisesociology.com.
• At a Glance sheets, 15 in colour. One sheet per topic, with two for the bigger ones: class, ethnicity, gender and policy since 1997. Each fits the key theories, studies and statistics on a single page, along with how other perspectives criticise them, strengths and limitations, and exam hints. For the final weeks, and for printing and sticking on a wall.

Both are new for 2026, and the policy coverage runs right up to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.

The 11 topics

1. Functionalism
2. Marxism and neo-Marxism, including Willis's Learning to Labour
3. Neoliberalism and the New Right
4. Perspectives on education and work
5. Education policy 1944 to 1997
6. Education policy since 1997
7. Compensatory and vocational education, including T-levels and apprenticeships
8. Social class and achievement
9. Ethnicity and achievement, including institutional racism
10. Gender and education
11. Globalisation and education

Also inside

9 mind maps: an overview of the whole module, three on perspectives (functionalism, Marxism and the New Right) and five on social class and differential achievement (overview, material deprivation, cultural deprivation, cultural capital and in-school factors). Plus a globalisation and education mind map, and a colour-coded perspectives summary grid.

28 exam questions with model answers:

• 14 examples of the 4 and 6 mark outline questions, with answers
• 7 examples of the 10 mark analyse questions, with answers and guidance on using the item
• 7 essay plans for the 30 mark questions, in a How to Write Sociology Essays booklet

The essay booklet

It covers planning and writing 30 mark essays in general, then seven specific plans. Each appears first as a template, then with a full answer, with the skills shown in colour so you can see where the AO1, AO2 and AO3 marks are earned. The answers are deliberate overkill, so you can see the full range and take what you need.

• Evaluate the functionalist view of the role of education in society (30) — quick plan
• Evaluate the Marxist view of the role of education in society (30) — full essay
• Evaluate the view that home background is the main cause of differential educational achievement by social class (30) — full essay
• Evaluate the view that education policies since 1988 have improved equality of educational opportunity (30) — quick plan
• Evaluate the view that the main aim of education policies since 1988 has been to raise standards (30) — quick plan
• Evaluate the view that ethnic differences in educational achievement are primarily the result of school factors (30) — full essay
• Evaluate the view that in-school processes rather than external factors are the most important in explaining differences in educational achievement (30) — quick plan

In the exam the 30 mark question comes with an item you must refer to. These plans assume the material in the item is somewhere in the essay already, so adding "as suggested in the item" at the relevant point is all that is needed.

Written by someone who marked the paper

Karl Thompson taught A-level sociology for eighteen years and spent twelve as an AQA examiner, marking all three papers on the current specification. The notes are written to what the mark schemes actually reward: AO1 for knowledge, AO2 for application and AO3 for evaluation, which is where most marks are lost.

For teachers

The At a Glance sheets work as revision lessons and cover work, and the model answers as marking practice. For class or department use, please get in touch first.

A full rewrite is coming

The notes and sheets above are the current edition. A fully rewritten edition is in progress. Buy before the end of March 2027 and you will get it free when it is released.

PDFs in a single zip file, for your personal study. Pay what you like, from £5.99. Instant download.