9699 · Cambridge International AS Level
Sociology (9699) Exam Tips
If you look at examiner reports for AS Sociology (9699), one phrase appears like clockwork: 'Candidates juxtaposed different theoretical perspectives instead of evaluating the claim.' Many students believe that an essay is a shopping list of theories. They write one paragraph on …
Papers
2
Total marks
120
Time limit
3h
Grade scale
abcdeu
Additional note
Calculator policy
A calculator is not normally required for this subject.
2
Papers
5
Strategies
5
Mistakes
- If you look at examiner reports for AS Sociology (9699), one phrase appears like clockwork: 'Candidates juxtaposed different theoretical perspectives instead of evaluating the claim.' Many students believe that an essay is a shopping list of theories. They write one paragraph on Functionalism, one on Marxism, and another on Feminism, hoping the examiner will do the math and award them an A. This is the juxtaposition trap, and it caps your Analysis and Evaluation (AO3) marks at Level 3 out of 5. Top scorers do not write side-by-side summaries. They treat their essays as a live courtroom debate. When evaluating a view (such as the idea that the nuclear family is no longer dominant or that interpretivism is the best research approach), they constantly bring theories into direct conflict. Rather than writing 'Marxists say X' and starting a new paragraph with 'Feminists say Y', a high-scoring student writes: 'While Marxists argue that the family functions as an ideological state apparatus, this view is heavily challenged by radical feminists who argue that the primary site of oppression is not capitalism, but patriarchal control.' Every paragraph must explicitly refer back to the core wording of the prompt, assessing its validity through integrated comparative analysis.
Tips are paraphrased for study purposes from exam structure data and marking patterns. Always verify against your official syllabus and mark scheme.