CAIE A Level 9699

Sociology 2022 · Oct/Nov · Paper 42

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6 Questions Q&A Available
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This CAIE A Level Sociology paper focuses on major contemporary sociology topics, especially globalisation, migration, media, and religion, with a strong emphasis on evaluating competing sociological arguments. The questions are essay-based “evaluate this view” prompts, so students should expect extended structured responses rather than multiple choice or calculations, and each answer needs clear knowledge, analysis, and judgement.…

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Questions & Model Answers 6 Qs

Q1
Essay 35 marks
'Global inequality is best explained by the continuing impact of colonialism.' Evaluate this view.
A strong answer would explain how colonialism created long-term economic, political and social inequalities between countries, including unequal trade patterns, extraction of resources, underdevelopment, and the legacy of imperial borders and institutions. It would also evaluate alternative explanations such as neo-colonialism, dependency theory, world-systems theory, global capitalism, debt, transnational corporations, and internal factors within states. A balanced conclusion would assess the extent to which colonialism remains important compared with other causes of global inequality.
This is the expected evaluative content for a 35-mark essay question.
Q2
Essay 35 marks
'Global migration has entirely negative consequences for migrant groups.' Evaluate this view.
A strong answer would discuss negative consequences such as exploitation, discrimination, insecure work, family separation, legal vulnerability, and social exclusion. It would also evaluate positive consequences including improved income, remittances, social mobility, access to education and safety, and the creation of transnational networks. The answer should consider differences between voluntary and forced migration, and between skilled and unskilled migrants, before reaching a balanced judgement on whether consequences are entirely negative.
This is the expected evaluative content for a 35-mark essay question.
Q3
Essay 35 marks
'Media content is controlled by the owners of the media.' Evaluate this view.
A strong answer would explain ownership-based control through perspectives such as Marxism, the propaganda model, and the role of media concentration, profit motives, and editorial influence. It would evaluate limits to owner control, including professional norms, audience demand, state regulation, advertising pressures, digital media, and the influence of journalists, producers, and other institutions. A balanced conclusion should assess how far owners shape media content compared with other forces.
This is the expected evaluative content for a 35-mark essay question.
Q4
Essay 35 marks
'The new media is a powerful tool through which people are able to challenge government authority.' Evaluate this view.
A strong answer would discuss how new media can support activism, rapid communication, citizen journalism, online protest, and the spread of dissenting views, making it easier to challenge governments. It would also evaluate limitations such as surveillance, censorship, misinformation, platform control, digital divides, and the ability of states to regulate or manipulate online spaces. A balanced conclusion should judge the extent to which new media empowers opposition to government authority.
This is the expected evaluative content for a 35-mark essay question.
Q5
Essay 35 marks
'Rather than uniting people in society, religion is a source of conflict.' Evaluate this view.
A strong answer would explain how religion can generate conflict through sectarianism, fundamentalism, religious competition, identity politics, and clashes over values, power, and resources. It would also evaluate the view that religion can unite people through shared beliefs, moral consensus, community cohesion, and social support. The answer should consider both inter-religious and intra-religious conflict, and conclude with a balanced assessment of whether religion is more divisive than unifying.
This is the expected evaluative content for a 35-mark essay question.
Q6
Essay 35 marks
'Religious organisations have little influence in society today.' Evaluate this view.
A strong answer would assess arguments that religious organisations have declining influence due to secularisation, pluralism, and the separation of religion from politics and public life. It would also evaluate evidence of continuing influence through moral campaigns, education, welfare provision, political lobbying, community leadership, and global religious movements. A balanced conclusion should judge whether religious organisations still shape society in significant ways despite reduced authority in some contexts.
This is the expected evaluative content for a 35-mark essay question.
Paper Details
Board CAIE
Level A Level
Subject Sociology
Code 9699
Year 2022
Session Oct/Nov
Paper No. Paper 42
Q&A 6 questions
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Quick Tips
  • Read each question carefully before answering
  • Allocate time based on marks (≈1 min/mark)
  • Attempt all questions — partial marks count