AS Sociology SY2 feedback 2010 Principal Examiner Janis Griffiths

1. AS SociologySY2 feedback2010Principal ExaminerJanis Griffiths

2. Statistical screening • Purpose of screening • Impact of screening on the distribution of grades and grade boundaries

3. January series • Limited entry for SY 2 • Mostly re-sit candidates • Some polarisation of results

4. January series SY2 Qu 1 • Research methods generally well attempted. • Didn’t use cues in the item well • Many not defining the terms, or writing answers where it is not clear that they understand the meaning of the terms in the question.

5. January series - Options • Education most popular option • Some misunderstanding of key terms from specification – meritocracy not understood. • Misuse of research materials, some dated, not applicable,

6. June series • Larger entries for both SY 2. • Larger entry than for previous series, so centres new to WJEC coming on board. • More English centres attracted to specification

7. General observations • Fewer rubric errors • Some candidates attempting answers for which they had not been prepared. • Better at time planning • Misreading of questions apparent • Misunderstanding of ‘how’ and ‘why’

8. Knowledge • Some candidates were not equally reliable throughout the paper in SY 2 • Excellent Research Methods was not always supported by excellent Optional knowledge • Argument for integration of RM into options?

9. Structuring answers • Some weaknesses in the organisation and planning of answers • Not defining key terms • Limited deployment of paragraphs • Repetition • Limited use of evidence and AO 1 • Dated studies

10. Research Methods • Most clear on meaning of survey and many able to link it to theory. • Sampling proved to be very challenging. Many wrote about methods rather than sampling. • Complete confusion as to the meaning of ‘random’ • Limited attempt to address ‘why’ different forms of sampling are used.

11. Options • Few attempted ‘Community and culture’ or ‘Understanding Religion’ • Some centres appear to be offering more than one option – gain breadth but lose depth in some cases. • Limited transfer of AO1 so candidates mentioned studies in options but not in Research Methods where it is a requirement.

12. Option 1 Education • Most candidates fairly clear on labelling theory, and especially if linked to self-fulfilling prophecy, streaming and banding. • Some candidates used inappropriate studies • Many candidates misread culture as ethnicity and limited their answers

13. Option 2 Religion • Some excellent answers on fundamentalism, but some limited themselves to one religion only and became political in their answers. • The question of male domination of religion was not well addressed. Lots of detail on feminism, sometimes not linked to religion but not much on the notion of extent.

14. Option 3 Mass Media • Some excellent answers on moral panics • Not much on the notion of extent. Answers tended to polarise – media do or they do not promote stereotypes. • Some only used media examples • Some pre-prepared answers on media change

15. Improving performance • Learn key terms – these are the focus of questions • Read the questions carefully, noting commands and debates. • Plan answers following clear and logical order • Avoid ‘stream of consciousness’ • Paragraph correctly • Use AO1 to support points

16. Special plea • Computer written answers – many are very difficult to read (small cramped fonts etc) • Please – double spacing and size 12 or 14 fonts. Serif fonts tend to be easier than sans-serif for extended writing.

17. For further information, please contact the subject officer at the WJEC Joanna Lewis 245 Western Avenue Cardiff CF5 2YX joanna.lewis@wjec.co.uk