1. Unit 2: Education, Methods in Context and
Methods
Assessment for learning booklet
Name__________________________ Tutor
_______
HOW IS YOUR WORK ASSESSED?
AO1: Demonstrate Knowledge and Understanding
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the theories, methods, concepts and
various forms of evidence outlined in these specifications, and of the links between them.
Communicate knowledge and understanding in a clear and effective manner.
AO2: Analysis, Evaluation and Application and interpretation
Demonstrate skills of application, analysis, interpretation and evaluation as indicated in
these specifications.
THE ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING CYCLE
Teacher sets task
Student performs task
Teacher / student / peer marks task
Systematised feedback on task
Follow-up work
Feedback annotation
Annotation What does this mean? Follow-up
Straight line under a sentence It is not clear what this Write the sentence to improve
sentence means. QWC
Green dot Knowledge error Correct the knowledge error
A01 Accurate knowledge and Give yourself a pat on the
understanding back!

2. A02 Accurate analysis and Give yourself a pat on the
evaluation back!
Square brackets Irrelevant material Remove from answer and add
relevant psychological material
These are approximate grade boundaries for individual questions. Its hard to
give a totally accurate boundary for the questions as the exam board change
the boundaries for the exam slightly each year. I will use these as guide for us
to see what grade you are working at.
12 mark 20 mark
questions question
A 10 16
B 9 14
C 8 12
D 6 10
E 5 8
For each Question:
• You will be given a mark and a general comment for the answer.
• You should focus on the skills indicated below.
• You will be then given feedback on how clearly these skills have been displayed.
• You will be asked to complete follow-up tasks to help you to improve your answer.

3. Target Grade:
Assessment Mark Target √ / X
Methods in Context
1. Using material from Item B and
elsewhere, assess the strengths and /20
limitations of using one of the
following methods for investigating
applications and admissions to
secondary schools:
EITHER documents
OR official statistics.
Methods
2. Examine the advantages for
sociologists in using unstructured /20
interviews in their research.
3. Examine the advantages of using
personal documents in sociological /20
research.
In school VS out of School Processes
4. Outline the impact of teacher
labeling in relation to /12
underachievement.
5. What is meant by the term cultural
capital? /2
6. Explain three out of school factors /6
that may contribute to ethic
underachievement.
Social Policy
7. Using material from Item A and
elsewhere, assess the claim that
the main aim of education policies /20
in the last 25 years has been to
create an education market.

4. Item B
Investigating applications and admissions to secondary schools
Sociologists are interested in the processes by which pupils and their parents apply to,
and pupils are admitted to, secondary schools. Much evidence suggests that working-
class and minority ethnic group pupils are less likely to apply or to gain admission to higher
status schools with good results.
Sociologists sometimes study applications and admissions to secondary schools by
analysing documents. For example, study of the home/school contracts of high status
schools may show that they require parents to make commitments that poorer families
cannot make. Similarly, if researchers can obtain application forms and entrance test
papers, these can be analysed for cultural bias. However, documents do not always
convey a true picture of what really happens.
Sociologists may also study applications and admissions to secondary schools by using
official statistics. For example, a study of statistics shows that selective schools have a
lower proportion of pupils on free school meals. Similarly, official statistics can be used
to measure the effect of changes in admissions policies, for example when a school
changes from being non-selective to being selective. However, there may be no official
statistics available on factors that sociologists consider important.
1. Using material from Item B and elsewhere, assess the strengths and limitations of using
one of the following methods for investigating applications and admissions to
secondary schools:
EITHER documents
OR official statistics.
(20 marks)
AO1 – Knowledge and understanding /8
AO2 – Interpretation and Application, Analysis and Evaluation /12
Total Marks /20
General comment:

5. Achieved Partially Not
achieved achieved
Essay writing skills
Organisation and structure of the answer are coherent
The question has been approached in a logical & well argued style,
without plagiarism or simple rearrangement of course material.
A01
Knowledge and understanding are accurate.
Knowledge and understanding are well detailed.
A good range of relevant material has been selected.
All material is relevant to the title.
A02
Reasonably accurate interpretation of patterns and/or trends and/
or research data on both sides of the argument.
Interpret appropriate sociological knowledge/data and apply it to a
discussion.
Evaluation demonstrates sound analysis and understanding.
The answer is well focused and shows coherent elaboration and/or
a clear line of argument.
Consistently effective use of sociological terminology.
Follow- up tasks
AO1 – Knowledge and understanding
Add an additional knowledge paragraph
Remove knowledge errors (knowledge errors are indicated with a green dot)
Relocate phrases to improve readability to help with QWC.
Rewrite a paragraph to improve QWC
Examine the mark band that this falls within in and set a specific target for your next
assessment
A02
Improve application of sociological knowledge – making sure it is relevant to the educational
topic being discussed
Improve interpretation patterns of trends
Add evaluation points.
Develop evaluation points to improve their effectiveness.
Add sociological terminology.
Use different signposts to introduce evaluations
General
Add or improve a conclusion
Add or improve an opening paragraph
Other specific follow-up task:

6. 2. Examine the advantages for sociologists in using unstructured interviews in their research. (20 marks)
AO1 – Knowledge and understanding /10
AO2 – Interpretation and Application, Analysis and Evaluation /10
Total Marks /20
General comment:
Achieve Partially Not
d achieve achieve
d d
Essay writing skills
Organisation and structure of the answer are coherent
The question has been approached in a logical & well argued style,
without plagiarism or simple rearrangement of course material.
A01
Knowledge and understanding are accurate.
Knowledge and understanding are well detailed.
A good range of relevant material has been selected.
All material is relevant to the title.
A02
Reasonably accurate interpretation of patterns and/or trends and/or
research data on both sides of the argument.
Interpret appropriate sociological knowledge/data and apply it to a
discussion.
Evaluation demonstrates sound analysis and understanding.
The answer is well focused and shows coherent elaboration and/or a
clear line of argument.
Follow-up tasks
AO1 – Knowledge and understanding
Add an additional knowledge paragraph
Remove knowledge errors (knowledge errors are indicated with a green dot)
Relocate phrases to improve readability to help with QWC.
Rewrite a paragraph to improve QWC
Examine the mark band that this falls within in and set a specific target for your next assessment
A02
Improve application of sociological knowledge
Improve analysis – explain why things are valid/reliable etc
Add evaluation points
Develop evaluation points to improve their effectiveness.
Add sociological terminology.
Use different signposts to introduce evaluations
General
Add or improve a conclusion

7. Add or improve an opening paragraph
3. Examine the advantages of using personal documents in sociological research. (20 marks)
AO1 – Knowledge and understanding /10
AO2 – Interpretation and Application, Analysis and Evaluation /10
Total Marks /20
General comment:
Achieve Partially Not
d achieve achieve
d d
Essay writing skills
Organisation and structure of the answer are coherent
The question has been approached in a logical & well argued style,
without plagiarism or simple rearrangement of course material.
A01
Knowledge and understanding are accurate.
Knowledge and understanding are well detailed.
A good range of relevant material has been selected.
All material is relevant to the title.
A02
Reasonably accurate interpretation of patterns and/or trends and/or
research data on both sides of the argument.
Interpret appropriate sociological knowledge/data and apply it to a
discussion.
Evaluation demonstrates sound analysis and understanding.
The answer is well focused and shows coherent elaboration and/or a
clear line of argument.
Follow-up tasks
AO1 – Knowledge and understanding
Add an additional knowledge paragraph
Remove knowledge errors (knowledge errors are indicated with a green dot)
Relocate phrases to improve readability to help with QWC.
Rewrite a paragraph to improve QWC
Examine the mark band that this falls within in and set a specific target for your next assessment
A02
Improve application of sociological knowledge
Improve analysis – explain why things are valid/reliable etc
Add evaluation points
Develop evaluation points to improve their effectiveness.
Add sociological terminology.
Use different signposts to introduce evaluations
General

8. Add or improve a conclusion
Add or improve an opening paragraph
4. Outline the impact of teacher labeling in relation to underachievement. (12 marks)
AO1 – Knowledge and understanding /8
AO2 – Interpretation and Application, Analysis and Evaluation /4
Total Marks /12
General comment:
Achieve Partially Not
d achieve achieve
d d
Essay writing skills
Organisation and structure of the answer are coherent
The question has been approached in a logical & well argued style,
without plagiarism or simple rearrangement of course material.
A01
Knowledge and understanding are accurate.
Knowledge and understanding are well detailed.
A good range of relevant material has been selected.
All material is relevant to the title.
A02
Reasonably accurate interpretation of patterns and/or trends and/or
research data on both sides of the argument.
Interpret appropriate sociological knowledge/data and apply it to a
discussion.
Evaluation demonstrates sound analysis and understanding.
The answer is well focused and shows coherent elaboration and/or a
clear line of argument.
Follow-up tasks
AO1 – Knowledge and understanding
Add an additional knowledge paragraph
Remove knowledge errors (knowledge errors are indicated with a green dot)
Relocate phrases to improve readability to help with QWC.
Rewrite a paragraph to improve QWC
Examine the mark band that this falls within in and set a specific target for your next assessment
A02
Improve application of sociological knowledge
Improve analysis – explain why things are valid/reliable etc
Add evaluation points
Develop evaluation points to improve their effectiveness.
Add sociological terminology.
Use different signposts to introduce evaluations

9. General
Add or improve a conclusion
Add or improve an opening paragraph
5. What is meant by the term cultural capital? (2 marks)
6. Explain three out of school factors that may contribute to ethic underachievement. (6
marks)
Question 5 /2
Question 6 /6
General comment:
Achieve Partially Not
d achieve achieve
d d
Writing skills
Organisation and structure of the answer are coherent
A01
Knowledge and understanding are accurate.
A good range of relevant material has been selected.
All material is relevant to the title.
Follow- up tasks
AO1 – Knowledge and understanding
Add an additional knowledge paragraph
Remove knowledge errors (knowledge errors are indicated with a green dot)
Relocate phrases to improve readability to help with QWC.
Rewrite a paragraph to improve QWC
Examine the mark band that this falls within in and set a specific target for your
next assessment
General
Use bullet points to clearly show three defined points
Specific Target

10. Item A
For the last 25 years, the main aim of government education policies has been to create
an education market. Marketisation policies such as league tables and open enrolment
aim to create competition between schools and to increase parental choice. It was
claimed that such policies would raise standards.
Competition for ‘customers’ in the education market means that teachers and schools
now have to work hard to get the best results for their pupils. Schools that do not
produce good exam results will lose pupils and funding.
However, some government policies, such as Education Maintenance Allowances
(EMAs), help educationally disadvantaged social groups. Such policies are more
concerned with creating equality of educational opportunity than with producing an
education market.
7. Using material from Item A and elsewhere, assess the claim that the main aim of
education policies in the last 25 years has been to create an education market. (20
marks)
AO1 – Knowledge and understanding /8
AO2 – Interpretation and Application, Analysis and Evaluation /12
Total Marks /20
General comment:
Achieve Partially Not
d achieve achieve
d d
Essay writing skills
Organisation and structure of the answer are coherent
The question has been approached in a logical & well argued style,
without plagiarism or simple rearrangement of course material.
A01
Knowledge and understanding are accurate.
Knowledge and understanding are well detailed.
A good range of relevant material has been selected.
All material is relevant to the title.
A02
Reasonably accurate interpretation of patterns and/or trends and/or
research data on both sides of the argument.
Interpret appropriate sociological knowledge/data and apply it to a

11. discussion.
Evaluation demonstrates sound analysis and understanding.
The answer is well focused and shows coherent elaboration and/or a
clear line of argument.
Follow-up tasks
AO1 – Knowledge and understanding
Add an additional knowledge paragraph
Remove knowledge errors (knowledge errors are indicated with a green dot)
Relocate phrases to improve readability to help with QWC.
Rewrite a paragraph to improve QWC
Examine the mark band that this falls within in and set a specific target for your next assessment
A02
Improve application of sociological knowledge
Improve analysis
Add evaluation points – try and evaluate from theoretical perspectives
Develop evaluation points to improve their effectiveness.
Add sociological terminology.
Use different signposts to introduce evaluations
General
Add or improve a conclusion
Add or improve an opening paragraph