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9699_m26_er 2026 March Sociology 9699 Examiner Report · Cambridge CAIE AS & A Level

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9699_m26_er2026 March Sociology 9699 Examiner Report

This examiner report covers Cambridge AS & A Level Sociology (9699) from the 2026 March session. Written by the principal examiner, it provides detailed commentary on candidate performance across all paper components — highlighting the most common mistakes, misconceptions, and what distinguished top-scoring answers from weaker ones. This is one of the most valuable revision tools available, yet most students never read it.

Also referenced as: 9699_m26_er · 9699/f/m/26 · 9699 Feb/March 2026

This examiner report covers all paper components for Sociology (9699) in this session. Read it after completing each question paper to understand where the cohort gained and lost marks, and how your approach compares to the examiner's expectations.

Examiner reports are the highest-value revision resource most students overlook. For Sociology (9699), read each section of this report alongside the corresponding question paper. Note which questions had the lowest success rate — these are the topics you should prioritise. The examiner often explains exactly what was required for full marks, giving you a template for structuring your own answers.

Examiner Insights

Based on analysis of 3 official Cambridge documents (2023, 2025)

1

Evaluation by juxtaposition instead of explicit evaluation

Essay evaluation was often delivered by juxtaposition.9699 Paper 1, March 2025

How to fix: Do not just present Perspective A then Perspective B and assume the contrast speaks for itself. After presenting each perspective, explicitly state its strengths and weaknesses: 'However, this view can be criticised because...' or 'A strength of this argument is...'.

2

Common-sense or anecdotal evidence instead of sociological material

Candidates relied on common sense/anecdotal evidence.9699 Paper 2, March 2023

How to fix: Every point must be supported by a named study, theory, or sociological concept. Replace 'In my experience...' with 'Parsons argues that...' or 'Oakley's research found that...'. Personal anecdotes earn no credit.

3

Writing too much on low-mark questions

How to fix: Check the marks available before writing. A 2-mark question needs 2–3 sentences. Save your time and detail for the high-mark essay. Writing a full paragraph on a 2-mark question wastes time you need for Q3b.

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All Sociology (9699) Papers — 2026 March

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More Sociology (9699) Past Papers

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Sociology Exam Guide: How to Score Higher

Top mistakes, scoring patterns & answer frameworks from 3 official Cambridge documents