CIE IGCSE 0495 Sociology

Are you an overwhelmed Sociology student who simply has no idea how to study or where to start? Are you an ambitious learner who cannot seem to get the scores you aspire for, despite your unwavering efforts? Well, this document might help (no promises)! Here, I’ve compiled the tricks of the trade to studying for sociology, from an enthusiastic student who scored Top in the World for it! What worked for me may not work for you, but as a student who picked up the subject purely out of interest with little hope of doing well (especially without a teacher), I’d be thrilled if these tips could be helpful to fellow students in the community! ~ Elina

1. Know your subject!

Do some research before choosing to take the subject, check out the subject content, specimen papers, watch videos on those who have taken it. Do you want to learn it out of interest? Is it a requirement or benefit to learn for the field you wish to enter? What does taking this subject demand and what can you supply? Of course, this applies mostly to those who are still unsure if they should give it a shot. My advice? If it fascinates you and you’re willing to commit, go for it! Albeit tricky, Sociology is incredibly enlightening and fulfilling to learn, even as a ‘science’ student like me! Do note, though, that it is largely essay-based and you do require some academic writing skill which may be an uphill battle to develop, but is absolutely possible with the right intention and effort.

2. Be strategic - gain focus!

Look over some past year papers to observe the question structure and figure out what you want to focus on - remember that you have choices of which chapter you’d like to answer questions from on both papers (other than chapter 1, research and methods, which is compulsory), use this as an advantage and focus on the chapters you score better on (or have more interest in) as some schools may teach you all the chapters. Learning all the chapters is ABSOLUTELY to your benefit and they are all interlinked, but if you are short on time, make sure you don’t waste the little time you have left on questions you won’t be answering.

3. Syllabus - the guideline

Use it to your advantage! Look through the syllabus thoroughly and take note of important parts such as content you’ll be learning, the examination style (mark allocation, structuring of the questions, and command words where applicable). I suggest keeping a print out of the syllabus by your side throughout your revision and note-making process! This way, you minimise the chance of missing topics and spending too much time on unnecessary information you will not be tested on - that being said, questions on the exam could very well contain content that is not directly stated in the syllabus, so making sure you’re well-read in every topic minimises the risk!

• The subject content section of the syllabus should be your principal focus. Also do take note that from 2025 onwards there is a new and improved syllabus! Make sure to look through what you’re required to study and tend to each and every required topic. There are also checklists provided so you can check your understanding, resources are just a simple search away~

4. Be consistent, determined and study smart!

Start memorising earlier! Try studying your terminology and concepts every day or as much as you can. Consistent revision could solidify your understanding, reveal doubts and ensure you score those few extra marks. Utilise active recall and testing techniques too! This applies for both essay-structured questions and defining terminology. Using flashcards, blurting or any other method of your choice can reveal gray areas in the syllabus. And, after all, the terminology questions still contain marks that you can get, no matter how little, they could be a saving grace and this is really the only part of the sociology exam that is as simple as memorisation.

5. Past Papers - the Unsung Hero

• Do AS MANY as possible! Practice may not make perfect, but it does make progress! As crucial as it is to grind through never ending pages of questions, it’s equally important to review the papers you have already done. Personally, I habitually mark pages I have doubts on with page markers or sticky notes and look through all my completed papers question by question to mentally test myself and ensure I can tackle whatever comes my way - although, do not panic if you don’t get the chance to look through all of them before the exam, prioritise what will help you score the most!
• Complete within the allocated time, full length. If you find it tedious to do sociology past year papers due to the multitude of essays and generally long, drawn out structure, cut it up into digestible chunks! When I simply didn’t have the energy, I would do just part-questions at a time to make the whole task seem a little less daunting. It is also handy to have a write out a framework of your essay upon reading the question to help you with structuring and ensuring you include the entirety of your points with precision. However, keep in mind that the content of your answer alone is not sufficient to score in the top band, justification is equally key. Timing yourself is also absolutely necessary!
• Look through mark schemes - this is the golden ticket. Find out how Cambridge wants you to answer and compare this with your own answers - how well do their expectations align with your responses? Evaluate this. If you’re studying without guidance and are suffering from the lack of resources, leverage the mark schemes available and use them to find theories and causation that you don’t know or aren’t confident in.
• Write it out. Oftentimes, we overestimate our own knowledge when we have a book or resource in front of us, but when we actually do papers, we realise our understanding isn’t as complete as we thought it was. You could call this blurting, making notes (without reference) or however you like - personally, I simply took a sheet of paper and wrote down everything I could think of for each chapter or sub-topic with an in depth explanation of each theory (for example, for Unit 1, you would write an explanation of the Hawthorne effect and its impact on research results). Then, I cross-checked this with the resources I had or had made, this could be done with notes, textbooks or any resource available! Cater to your personal needs!

6. Learn from your mistakes - record them!

Take note of all the concepts you often forget, don’t fully understand or you find new. You could make a document for this, use any website or resource you could find to understand the concepts you don’t know, but prioritise using resources that align with the IGCSE syllabus, an official textbook helps too. Whenever you find concepts or theories you are missing, add them to your document. This especially applies to questions you find difficult and respective answers provided in mark schemes, I suggest taking note of both! The mark scheme provides you with content that examiners expect to see in your answers, so remembering such information gives you the upper hand. Of course, you are not expected to follow the mark scheme to the T and the points provided are generally not extensive, it may still be helpful to take note of since some points cannot be found in textbooks or other resources - trust me, putting in the effort to make this document from the get-go will save you! Don’t forget to revise this document as well!

7. Resources - simple but mighty

Check out every resource you can find online! Many have done this very exam before you, so never be afraid to reach out to fellow students who are willing to help! Sample answers are also released by Cambridge themselves, providing tips on how to score there and what is missing in the candidates' answers to get maximum marks. For this particular syllabus, take note especially that Cambridge requires you to use sociological theories, explanation and terminology in your answers, even if some may seem to be ‘common sense’. A ‘common sense’ answer will most likely be marked down.

• Youtube channels such as @baiiba, r/igcse resources and their discord server, paper discussions, explanation videos and crash courses which outline each chapter are all spectacular resources you can use online! Do keep in mind that many people in the IGCSE student community are very willing to help and guide you on the do’s and dont’s of your syllabus, do reach out! Beware, though, that some of these resources are student-made and can sometimes contain errors, we’re human after all!

8. Proof-reading - better be safe than sorry!

Do this during practice and for exams. The highest band of marks always requires thorough explanation and development, show the examiner that you know  what you’re writing about. IGCSE sociology requires you to be articulate and precise with your knowledge. Proof-read your papers once you’ve completed them and always try to leave ample time before submitting your exam papers to proof-read and edit, ensure everything is coherent and explained to the necessary extent (which is generally as much as possible). 

Learning sociology is like having a beautiful yet needy flower plant: if you tend to it earnestly and water it with care, you’ll be able to bask in its beauty and revel in fascination, otherwise, it could seem prickly and unapproachable. Regardless, I wish everyone the best of luck in their IGCSE examinations! This is but a mere step in a much grander scheme, so do your best and pursue your passions with urgency!