Religion — AS & A Level Sociology (9699) questions by topic
Secularisation, resacralisation and the social significance of religious belief and organisations make up this A Level topic, examined through four 35-mark evaluate essays drawn from 32 real questions set in 2023 to 2025 papers.
Every question uses the single command word evaluate, so marks hinge entirely on weighing a stated view against a counter-argument using named theories and study evidence, not on adding extra description once the view is explained. Because every mark here depends on sustained argument, drafting a complete essay and checking it against the mark scheme at once shows whether definitional and measurement difficulties, a repeated route to higher marks, have actually been raised.
What examiners look for
- Strong answers consider the difficulties of defining and measuring secularisation or resacralisation before questioning whether religious belief today is as strong and widespread as in the past.
- Reports praise candidates who use distinctions between different religions and cultures rather than treating religious decline as uniform everywhere.
- Strong responses evaluate by challenging claims of declining influence with examples of religious organisations still performing significant social roles in particular societies.
- Strong essays on women and religion demonstrate the feminist view that religion is closely associated with patriarchy, then evaluate by citing evidence of more liberated female roles and the feminisation of religion.
May–June 2025, Paper 41
'The role of religion is to prevent conflict in society.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →'All societies are experiencing a decline in religiosity.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 42
'Functionalists provide the most convincing explanations of the role of religion.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →'A religious revival is occurring in Western societies.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 43
'Women have complete equality with men in religious organisations today.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →'Religion has little influence in Western societies today.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 41
'Religion serves to maintain the existing social order.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →'The growth of religious fundamentalism is a reaction to globalisation.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 42
'Religious organisations serve the interests of the ruling class.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →'Religion has less social significance today than in the past.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 43
'Many societies are experiencing a revival in religious belief.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →'Religion promotes social solidarity.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 41
'Women have no power within religious organisations.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →'The growth of new religious movements is evidence that secularisation has occurred.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 42
'Religion is an agent of social control.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →'The growth of new religious movements shows that religion remains a powerful influence in society.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 43
'Women have no power within religious organisations.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →'The growth of new religious movements is evidence that secularisation has occurred.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →February–March 2023, Paper 42
'Religion serves the interests of the rich and powerful.' Evaluate this view. [35] (Answer two questions in total, each from a different section. Section C: answer either Question…
Answer this question and get it marked →'There has been a clear decline in religious belief in all societies.' Evaluate this view. [35] (Answer two questions in total, each from a different section. Section C: answer…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 41
'The function of religion is to maintain social order.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →'Women have little power within religious organisations.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 42
'Religion is a source of conflict in society.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →'Resacrilisation is occurring in many societies.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 43
'Religion is an instrument of social control.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →'People are just as religious today as in the past.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 41
'Religion supports patriarchal values.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →'Religion has lost its social significance.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 42
'Rather than uniting people in society, religion is a source of conflict.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →'Religious organisations have little influence in society today.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 43
'Religion supports patriarchal values.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →'Religion has lost its social significance.' Evaluate this view. [35]
Answer this question and get it marked →Other AS & A Level Sociology topics
- The family (80)
- Socialisation, identity and methods of research (78)
- Education (64)
- Media (32)
- Globalisation (32)