Aiming for A/A* in AQA A-Level Sociology

Course Code: T0114 £289.00

ABOUT THIS COURSE

This A/A* course, revised and updated for Autumn 2022 is aimed specifically on how to ensure your students achieve the highest marks in AQA A-Level Sociology. It will focus on exploring the characteristics of work produced by students at the highest levels and delve into a range of teaching materials and strategies designed to ensure that students achieve the top grades of A and A*.

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

  • Take away teaching ideas and approaches that challenge and develop A and A* students
  • Explore exemplar materials to identify characteristics of outstanding work
  • Explore thinking deeply, synoptic links and A)3 Analysis
  • Take away strategies and approaches to maximise students’ marks in the examination
  • Scrutinise and discuss exemplar A* and A grade answers
  • Insights into what success looks like in examinations
  • Find out more about to give the most effective feedback to A/A* calibre students
  • Take away methods to best prepare students for exam success

PROGRAMME

Thinking Deeply, Synoptic Links and AO3 Analysis To Access A/A*

10.00 – 10.40am
  • Strategies to embed thinking in TLA – examiners reward evidence of thinking
  • Teaching methods to encourage deep thinking and reflection among students - moving away from regurgitation of information
  • Strategies to develop students’ synoptic links, including signposting these to examiners
  • Making synoptic links – why are women more religious than men?
  • Make AO3 Evaluation stronger (and easier!) through making comparisons to similar or different sociological theories’
 

Morning Break

10.40 – 11.00am

Maximising exam performance: review where top marks are lost and how to avoid them

11.00 – 12.00pm
  • Ensuring you’re A/A* students know exactly what examiners are looking for, how to structure answers and the skills needed
  • Embed Assessment Objectives in TLA - Stay focused on the end-goal’
  • The 4 & 6 mark questions on Paper 1 and Paper 3
  • Excellent starters and plenaries
  • How to maximise marks in the two types of 10 marks exam questions
  • How to best approach and structure 20 & 30 mark exam questions to achieve top band
  • Teaching strategies to maximise marks in the exams’

Exemplar A and A* Grade Answers

12.00 – 1.00pm
  • Grade descriptors, activities, practical teaching strategies
  • Model answers for Paper 1 Education and Paper 3 Crime and Deviance
  • Candidate style answers and commentaries - what examiners look for
  • Peer marking and its role in improving skills – teaching students how an examiner recognises a top band answer
 

Lunch

1.00 – 2.00pm

Effective Feedback for A/A* Students - Comments, not Marks

2.00 – 2.45pm
  • Feedback strategies to stretch able students to maximise their potential – asking questions as feedback, no mark just feedback, amending answers using mark schemes
  • Feedback suggestions…
  • Exploring ways to use feedback to support able students in improving their marks
  • What an examiner looks for in a top band essay using exemplars
  • Going beyond a template, getting students to understand what a top-grade essay looks like.
  • Effective feedback strategies, to encourage better evaluation and conclusion writing skills.
 

Afternoon Break

2.45 – 3.30pm
  • Preparing For Exam Success
  • Effective teaching strategies to support your high ability students in preparing for examinations
  • 3 steps to revision success
  • How to get high ability students to take ownership of their revision
  • Balancing exam technique and specification requirements whilst encouraging student engagement with sociology in the wider world and signposting to HE
A-Level - Code: T0114

Aiming for A/A* in AQA A-Level Sociology

COURSE LEADER

Rizwana Patel is a senior educational leader known for driving transformative change and securing outstanding educational outcomes. With a proven track record in strategic vision and collaboration, they excel in analysing management data and cultivating partnerships with diverse stakeholders.

Currently a Team Leader/Examiner at AQA, Rizwana ensures the quality and consistency of exam papers and mark schemes. Rizwana also plays an integral roles in the Senior Leadership Team at Tauheedul Islam Girls High School, where they lead successful initiatives, provided consultancy support, and demonstrated strong data analysis skills to drive improvement.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

  • Teachers of AQA A level Sociology
  • Heads of Sociology
  • Heads of Social Science

THIS COURSE INCLUDES

  • A specially prepared folder of detailed notes, practical advice and guidance
  • Notes prepared by the educational experts leading the course
  • Expert produced PowerPoint presentations
  • CPD Certificate of attendance
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