CAIE A Level 9699

Sociology 2024 · May/June · Paper 42

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6 Questions Q&A Available
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This CAIE A Level Sociology Paper 42 focuses on major debates in globalisation, media, and religion, especially how transnational organisations, migration, media power, and religious institutions affect inequality, development, and social change. The questions are essay-based evaluation prompts, so students can expect to analyse arguments, weigh different sociological perspectives, and reach a justified conclusion rather than answer multiple-choice or calculation questions.…

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Questions & Model Answers 6 Qs

Q1
Essay 35 marks
'Transnational organisations have contributed to an increase in global inequality.' Evaluate this view.
A strong answer would assess how transnational organisations (TNCs, international financial institutions, and global corporations) may increase global inequality by concentrating wealth, investment, and decision-making power in richer countries, exploiting cheap labour in poorer countries, and creating dependency through unequal trade and debt relations. It would also consider counter-arguments that transnational organisations can reduce inequality by creating jobs, transferring technology, increasing foreign investment, and integrating developing countries into the global economy. A balanced conclusion should judge the extent to which transnational organisations are responsible compared with other causes such as state policies, historical colonialism, and unequal access to education, technology, and markets.
This is the expected evaluative content for a 35-mark essay on global inequality.
Q2
Essay 35 marks
'Global migration has only negative consequences for developing countries.' Evaluate this view.
A strong answer would examine negative consequences such as brain drain, loss of skilled workers, family separation, exploitation of migrant labour, and social tensions. It would also evaluate positive consequences including remittances, reduced unemployment, skill acquisition, diaspora links, and the return of migrants with new knowledge and capital. A balanced conclusion should assess whether the overall impact depends on the type of migration, the policies of sending and receiving states, and the economic and social conditions of the developing country.
This is the expected evaluative content for a 35-mark essay on global migration.
Q3
Essay 35 marks
'Postmodernists have exaggerated the influence of the media in people's lives today.' Evaluate this view.
A strong answer would consider postmodernist claims that media saturation, fragmentation, and the blurring of reality and representation make the media highly influential in shaping identity, consumption, and lifestyles. It would then evaluate criticisms that audiences are active, media effects are limited or mediated by social factors, and that class, gender, ethnicity, and age still shape media influence. A balanced conclusion should judge whether postmodernists overstate media power or whether contemporary digital media have genuinely increased its influence.
This is the expected evaluative content for a 35-mark essay on media influence.
Q4
Essay 35 marks
'Governments have no control over media content.' Evaluate this view.
A strong answer would assess arguments that governments can control media content through censorship, laws, regulation, licensing, ownership, propaganda, and pressure on media organisations. It would also consider limits on control, such as the influence of global media corporations, the internet, social media, market forces, and the difficulty of regulating transnational communication. A balanced conclusion should decide whether government control is substantial, partial, or increasingly weakened in the digital age.
This is the expected evaluative content for a 35-mark essay on government control of media.
Q5
Essay 35 marks
'Religious organisations serve the interests of the ruling class.' Evaluate this view.
A strong answer would explain Marxist views that religion acts as an ideological tool supporting ruling-class domination by legitimising inequality, encouraging obedience, and distracting people from exploitation. It would also evaluate alternative perspectives, such as functionalist views that religion promotes social cohesion, feminist views that it may support patriarchy, and evidence that religious organisations can challenge power through liberation theology, civil rights activism, and social reform. A balanced conclusion should assess whether religious organisations mainly support ruling-class interests or can also oppose them.
This is the expected evaluative content for a 35-mark essay on religion and class power.
Q6
Essay 35 marks
'Religion has less social significance today than in the past.' Evaluate this view.
A strong answer would discuss secularisation arguments that religion has declined in influence due to modernisation, rationalisation, scientific thinking, and declining participation in religious institutions. It would also evaluate evidence that religion remains socially significant through identity, politics, community life, fundamentalism, and the growth of religion in some parts of the world. A balanced conclusion should consider whether religion has declined in traditional institutional terms but remains significant in new or transformed ways.
This is the expected evaluative content for a 35-mark essay on the social significance of religion.
Paper Details
Board CAIE
Level A Level
Subject Sociology
Code 9699
Year 2024
Session May/June
Paper No. Paper 42
Q&A 6 questions
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