How to Revise for GCSE Sociology: Tactics That Work

Revising for your sociology GCSE can feel pretty overwhelming, especially with all the key terms, concepts, theories, and studies you need to remember. It might seem like a lot, but don’t worry—there are ways to make your revision easier and more effective!

As a sociology and psychology teacher with over 10 years of experience, I will share some revision tips that will help you prepare for your exams with confidence and give you the best chance of smashing your sociology GCSE.

1. Know your specification

Knowing your GCSE Sociology specification is super important for revision because it tells you exactly what you need to know for your exams. Think of it like a checklist — it shows you all the key topics, concepts, theories, and studies that could come up in your exams.

The specification helps you understand how different topics are linked and what examiners expect you to know. By using it, you can make sure you’ve covered everything and feel more confident walking into your exams!

Top Tip: My students always find it helpful to look through the specification when they start revising. They highlight the topics they find the hardest, which makes it easier to see what they need to work on. In lessons, we use checklists (like the one below) to identify these areas. Highlight the topics you struggle with the most, and focus on those first. This will make you feel more prepared for your exams and help you gain confidence in the areas that require improvement.

Personal learning checklist for crime and deviance

2. Know your key terms and concepts

Knowing all of the key terms and concepts in GCSE Sociology is very important for your revision because they form the foundation of everything you’ll be tested on. Here’s why:

Understanding the basics: Key terms and concepts help you understand the main ideas in sociology. Without them, it’s hard to make sense of topics like family, education, crime, social stratification, and research methods.

Answering exam questions: Many exam questions will ask you to define, explain, or apply these terms. If you don’t know them well, it’s difficult to write clear, detailed answers that get top marks.

Making connections: Sociology is all about linking ideas together. Knowing key terms helps you connect different topics, theories, and studies, which is great for higher-level answers.

Using the right language: Examiners look for specific sociological language in your answers. Using the correct terms shows that you understand the subject and can think like a sociologist.

So, learning key terms and concepts isn’t just about memorising definitions—it's about giving yourself the tools to explain, apply, and analyse sociological ideas with confidence in your exams.

Top Tips: Review your exam specification, as some exam boards (such as AQA) provide a list of key terms and concepts you may need to define. Refer to the glossary at the back of your textbook to help you understand and define these terms accurately. 

Find a strategy that helps you learn these key terms; some examples are below:

• Build your own glossary in a notebook; regularly update and review it

• Create quick quizzes for yourself with multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, or matching exercises

• Create flashcards and add more depth over time with links to other areas

• Produce a mind map for each key concept that includes:

  • A definition

  • A sociologist and/or perspective

  • Detail about what it entails

  • Any strengths or disadvantages

  • Links to the key topics in sociology

3. Know your key studies/key thinkers

When revising for GCSE Sociology, knowing all of the key studies and thinkers is essential for success. Referencing sociologists like Durkheim, Oakley or Murray shows a deeper understanding of sociological theories and concepts. 

Although you could be asked to refer to specific key thinkers in an exam question, including key studies in your exam answers strengthens your arguments, providing solid evidence to support your points and improving your evaluation skills. It also helps you compare and contrast different perspectives, which is crucial for higher-mark answers.

Top Tip: I recommend that students create a summary of all key studies/thinkers covered in the course. This is where your exam specification is important, as some exam boards (such as AQA) provide a summary of all the key studies that you need to know. 

One effective strategy is to create a mind map or revision grid (below) for each key study/thinker, which includes the perspective they write from, the research method used, and any strengths and limitations of their research.

4. Know your sociological perspectives

Understanding key sociological perspectives like functionalism, Marxism, feminism, and interactionism is essential for GCSE Sociology revision. Applying these perspectives, particularly in the extended writing questions, strengthens your analysis, showing you can view issues from different angles—an important skill for evaluation questions. 

Knowing the different perspectives and how they link across topics like families, education, crime, and social stratification helps you make connections and see the bigger picture. Highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each perspective boosts your evaluation skills, which is key for securing top marks. Since examiners reward the effective application of sociological views, mastering perspectives can significantly improve your exam performance.

Top Tip: To better understand the sociological perspectives or theories, create a mind map or revision grid. This will help you connect ideas from across the course, making it easier to see how different concepts link together. It’s also an excellent way to prepare for the extended writing questions, as it allows you to organise your knowledge clearly and apply it effectively in your answers.

Revision grid summarising the functionalist perspective

5. Know some contemporary examples

Incorporating contemporary research and real-world examples into your GCSE Sociology revision is key to boosting your exam performance. Current examples make your answers more relevant and engaging, showing that you can apply sociological concepts to modern issues. 

They also strengthen your arguments by developing your analytical skills and providing solid evidence to support your points, which is crucial for the extended writing questions. Linking theories to recent events helps you understand and remember abstract ideas more easily. 

Since examiners reward well-supported answers, contemporary examples can help you meet assessment objectives while making your revision more interesting and relatable.

Top Tip: I encourage students to have at least one news app on their phones to stay updated with current events that connect to their sociology studies. Keeping up with the news helps you find real-world examples to support your exam answers. Contemporary issues like the Black Lives Matter movement, the cost of living crisis, and the conflict in Ukraine are excellent examples that link directly to key topics in the course.

6. Know your assessment objectives and command words

Understanding the assessment objectives (AOs) and command words is key to exam success in GCSE Sociology. AOs guide you on what the examiner expects, whether it’s demonstrating knowledge, applying concepts, or evaluating ideas. Recognising command words like “describe,” “explain,” or “discuss” helps you structure your answers correctly, ensuring you fully address the question. This maximises your marks by keeping your answers focused. 

Top Tip: Ensure that you are familiar with the AOs and command words. This reduces exam stress and improves time management, as you’ll know how much detail is needed for each question. Make it part of your revision to review these regularly to boost your confidence and performance in the exam.

7. Know your exam papers

Practicing past papers is one of the most effective ways to prepare for your GCSE Sociology exam. It helps you get familiar with the exam format, question types, and mark allocations, so there are no surprises on the day. Working through past papers improves your exam technique, allowing you to apply key sociological terms and concepts effectively. 

Reviewing your answers highlights any gaps in your knowledge and areas that need improvement. Plus, the more you practice, the more confident you’ll feel when facing the real exams. Don’t forget to check mark schemes and examiner’s reports alongside your answers to understand how marks are awarded and how to meet the assessment objectives.

Top Tip: When practicing past papers, set a timer to simulate real exam conditions. This will help you develop effective time management skills, ensuring you can complete all questions within the time limit on exam day.

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Explore our GCSE Sociology resources to kick-start your journey to exam success.

References

AQA (2021) GCSE Sociology Specification (8192), Version 1.1: https://cdn.sanity.io/files/p28bar15/green/22005e5d630f41170aad50fb0592ceab156b2176.pdf  Accessed 4 February 2025

WJEC Eduqas (2019) GCSE (9-1) Sociology Specification (C200QS), Version 2: https://www.wjec.co.uk/media/ysbbv1j4/eduqas-gcse-sociology-spec-from-2017-e.pdf Accessed 4 February 2025