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Exam Skills » How the Exams Work and What Examiners Reward

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

Cambridge spec: Assessment overview, assessment objectives and question structure

How Paper 1 and Paper 2 are built, and which questions you choose
The shape of every question, from part (a) to part (f)
The three assessment objectives and what each one rewards
A sensible timing plan for each paper

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The two papers at a glance

Everyone who takes Cambridge IGCSE Sociology sits two written papers. Both are marked out of 80, and each is worth 50% of your grade. Grades run from A* to G. There are no tiers, so every candidate takes the same papers.

📝 Paper 1

Research Methods, Identity and Inequality. 2 hours, 80 marks, 50%. You answer two questions of 40 marks each.

📖 Paper 2

Family, Education and Crime. 1 hour 45 minutes, 80 marks, 50%. You answer two questions of 40 marks each.

Key terms:

Structured question: a question split into lettered parts, each with its own marks.
Data response: a question that gives you source material to read and use in your answers.
Assessment objective: a skill the examiners are testing and give marks for.

How the syllabus is organised

The course has six topics. Three are examined in Paper 1 and three in Paper 2.

Paper 1: Research methods, Identity: self and society, and Social stratification and inequality. Teachers should teach all three.
Paper 2: Family, Education, and Crime, deviance and social control. Teachers should teach two of these three, and you must answer questions on two of them.

Research methods matters in every topic. The syllabus says that understanding research methods and their strengths and limitations underpins all the others. Expect a methods point to help you in almost any answer.

Which questions do you choose?

🎯 Paper 1

Question 1 on research methods is compulsory. Then you choose either Question 2 (Identity: self and society) or Question 3 (Social stratification and inequality).

🎯 Paper 2

Question 1 is Family, Question 2 is Education and Question 3 is Crime, deviance and social control. You answer two of the three.

Choose the topics you know best before you start writing.

The shape of every question

Every question is worth 40 marks, and the parts are always in the same order, so you can learn the pattern now.

Paper 1, Question 1 (research methods), parts (a) to (e)

(a)(i), (ii) and (iii): based on a source printed in the paper. Identify information, then explain reasons. [2, 4 and 6 marks]
(b): a short answer on methods knowledge. [2 marks]
(c): a short answer, for example one strength and one limitation. [4 marks]
(d): a short essay evaluating a methodological view, approach or concept. [10 marks]
(e): explain the methods and evidence you would choose to investigate a topic, with reasons. [12 marks]

All other questions, parts (a) to (f)

(a): define a term, in two parts. [2 and 2 marks]
(b): give two examples. [2 marks]
(c) and (d): knowledge of concepts, theories, evidence and views in a named area. [6 marks each]
(e): discuss an issue or view in depth, supporting your points with evidence. [8 marks]
(f): a short essay giving reasoned arguments on both sides of a debate. [14 marks]

This applies to Questions 2 and 3 on Paper 1 and to every question on Paper 2. For help with the source parts of Question 1, see Reading Sources, Tables, Charts and Graphs. For part (e), see Planning Your Own Research Investigation.

What examiners reward: the assessment objectives

Examiners mark with three assessment objectives (AOs). Each one is a different skill.

💡 AO1

Knowledge and understanding. Show you know the concepts, theories, evidence, views and research methods.

🔧 AO2

Interpretation and application. Use that knowledge to support a point, build an argument, or explain how it applies to the issue in the question.

⚖️ AO3

Analysis and evaluation. Explain strengths and limitations, develop arguments, and reach a conclusion based on the evidence.

The approximate weightings show where the marks are:

Whole qualification: AO1 39%, AO2 39%, AO3 22%.
Paper 1: AO1 35%, AO2 40%, AO3 25%.
Paper 2: AO1 43%, AO2 37%, AO3 20%.

So knowing things is not enough. Over three-fifths of the marks need you to apply, analyse or evaluate.

How the marks build from define to evaluate

The parts of a question climb like a ladder. Early parts mostly reward knowing a term or an example. Middle parts reward explaining and using evidence. The last parts reward the higher skills: building arguments, weighing them up and reaching a judgement.

Define or give: a short, accurate answer. Just the point, nothing extra.
Explain or describe: make a point, then say how or why, ideally with an example.
Discuss: develop several points in depth with evidence.
Evaluate: arguments for, arguments against, then a conclusion that answers the question.

In the longest parts, a list of facts is not enough. You are rewarded for arguments you develop and for a judgement you can support.

A timing plan

Marks are the best guide to time. Paper 1 gives you 120 minutes for 80 marks, which is about one and a half minutes per mark. Paper 2 gives you 105 minutes for 80 marks, which is a little over one minute per mark. Here is a plan you can adapt. It is advice, not an official rule.

Suggested timing

Paper 1, Question 1 (40 marks): about 60 minutes. For example, (a) 18 minutes, (b) and (c) 9 minutes, (d) 15 minutes and (e) 18 minutes.
Paper 1, Question 2 or 3 (40 marks): about 60 minutes. Roughly (a) and (b) 9 minutes, (c) and (d) 18 minutes, (e) 12 minutes and (f) 21 minutes.
Paper 2, each of your two questions (40 marks): about 50 minutes. Roughly (a) and (b) 8 minutes, (c) and (d) 16 minutes, (e) 10 minutes and (f) 16 minutes. Keep a few minutes at the end to check.

Do not run over on a 2-mark part. Spend the saved time on the 14-mark and 12-mark parts, where the biggest marks are.

Common mistakes

Answering a third question. You only need two per paper. Extra answers waste time you need for the high-mark parts.
Writing a lot for 2 marks. A short, accurate answer earns the marks. Save your energy for parts (e) and (f).
Only listing facts in (f). A list of knowledge is mainly AO1. Add arguments for, arguments against and a conclusion.
Skipping part (e) on Paper 1 Question 1. Question 1 is compulsory, and all its parts add up to 40 marks.

Exam-style question

A candidate is revising for Paper 1 and Paper 2.

(a) Identify two differences between Paper 1 and Paper 2 in the way candidates choose their questions. [2 marks]

(b) Explain two reasons why a candidate should plan their time using the marks for each part. [4 marks]

Model answer

(a) In Paper 1, Question 1 is compulsory (1), then the candidate chooses either Question 2 or Question 3, whereas in Paper 2 the candidate chooses two of the three questions (1).

(b) One reason is that the number of marks shows how much is expected, so a 2-mark part needs a short answer and a 14-mark part needs developed arguments (1), which stops the candidate over-writing small parts (1). A second reason is that each paper has a fixed time, so spending too long early leaves too little time for the high-mark parts such as (e) and (f) (1), where the most marks can be lost (1).

Exam tip

In a 2-mark part, count how many separate points it asks for, then give exactly that many, clearly separated.

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