AS Cambridge Sociology 9699: 2026 Exam Changes and Trends | AS 剑桥社会学 9699：2026 年考试变化与趋势

📚 AS Cambridge Sociology 9699: 2026 Exam Changes and Trends | AS 剑桥社会学 9699：2026 年考试变化与趋势

From 2024, Cambridge International rolled out a significantly revised syllabus for AS Sociology (9699), replacing the previous specification that had shaped exams for nearly a decade. As we approach the 2026 exam series, understanding the structural, content, and assessment shifts is essential for both teachers and candidates. This article breaks down what has changed and explores emerging trends that will define the 2026 assessment, helping you prepare effectively and avoid common pitfalls.

自 2024 年起，剑桥国际针对 AS 社会学 (9699) 推出了大幅修订的新大纲，取代了此前主导考试近十年的旧版规范。随着 2026 年考季临近，理解结构、内容和评估方式上的变化对于教师和考生都至关重要。本文将剖析已发生的变革，并探讨将定义 2026 年考试的命题趋势，助你高效备考、避开常见误区。

1. Overview of Syllabus Reforms for 2024–2026 | 2024–2026 年大纲改革概览

The most visible reform is the increase in examination time for both AS papers. Previously, Paper 1 (Socialisation, identity and methods of research) and Paper 2 (The Family) each lasted 1 hour 30 minutes and carried 40 marks. The new specification extends each paper to 2 hours and raises the total marks to 60. This change reflects a deeper shift: questions now demand greater depth, extended writing, and more sustained argumentation. All candidates sitting the 2026 series will be assessed under this updated structure, so practice with timed essays and full-length mock papers is no longer optional — it is a necessity.

最直观的改革是两张 AS 试卷的考试时间均有延长。此前，试卷一（社会化、身份认同与研究方法）和试卷二（家庭）的时长均为 1 小时 30 分钟，总分 40 分。新大纲将每份试卷延长至 2 小时，并提升至 60 分。这一变化背后反映了更深层的转向：题目现在要求更深入的探讨、更长篇幅的写作和更持续有力的论证。所有参加 2026 年考试的学生都将基于这一更新结构接受评估，因此进行限时论文练习和完整模考已不再是可选项，而是必选项。

2. Paper 1: Socialisation, Identity and Methods — What Is New | 试卷一：社会化、身份认同与方法 —— 新变化

Paper 1 now consists entirely of compulsory questions, eliminating the element of choice that used to exist in the old Section B essay. The paper is divided into Section A (socialisation and identity) and Section B (methods of research), each containing structured questions that all must be answered. This means candidates cannot avoid any topic area, making comprehensive coverage across the entire specification vital. For example, a typical Section A question set includes a 'define', an 'identify and explain', and an extended 'assess' item; the latter require linking theories of identity — such as those of Cooley or Goffman — to contemporary socialisation agents like digital media and peer groups.

试卷一现在全部由必答题组成，取消了旧版 Section B 的小论文选题空间。试卷分为 A 部分（社会化与身份认同）和 B 部分（研究方法），每一部分都包含必须作答的结构化题目。这意味着考生无法回避任何主题领域，全面覆盖大纲的所有要点变得至关重要。例如，一组典型的 A 部分题目包含一个 "定义" 题、一个 "识别并解释" 题以及一个延伸性 "评估" 题；后者要求将身份认同理论——如库利或戈夫曼的理论——与数字媒体和同辈群体等当代社会化媒介联系起来。

The methods section (Section B) has been rebalanced to place more weight on methodological debates and the application of research concepts to unseen scenarios. Candidates may be presented with a short piece of research and asked to discuss the strengths and limitations of the approach used, or to suggest an alternative design. This shift favours students who can think like practising sociologists, not merely recite lists of advantages and disadvantages.

研究方法部分（B 部分）经过重新平衡，更侧重方法论辩论以及将研究概念应用于未知情境。考生可能会拿到一段简短的研究描述，并被要求讨论所用方法的优势与局限，或提出替代设计。这一转变有利于那些能像从业社会学家一样思考的学生，而不仅仅是背诵优势与劣势清单。

3. Paper 2: The Family — Evolving Content and Question Style | 试卷二：家庭 —— 内容演变与题型风格

Paper 2 (The Family) has undergone a parallel transformation. The extended duration allows the inclusion of more nuanced items on family diversity, contemporary relationship forms, and the intersection of family with policy, work, and technology. The 2024–2026 syllabus explicitly references 'family practices' and 'personal life' perspectives, reflecting the influence of sociologists like David Morgan and Carol Smart. As a result, 2026 candidates should expect questions that move beyond the classic nuclear/extended typologies and demand engagement with postmodern and individualisation theories.

试卷二（家庭）也经历了类似的转型。考试时长的增加使得有关家庭多样性、当代关系形态以及家庭与政策、工作和科技之交叉的更多精细化题目成为可能。2024–2026 年大纲明确提及 "家庭实践" 和 "个人生活" 视角，体现大卫·摩根、卡罗尔·斯马特等社会学家的影响。因此，2026 年的考生应预期题目会超越经典的核心/扩展家庭类型划分，要求运用后现代和个体化理论进行分析。

Moreover, the new Paper 2 follows the same all-compulsory format, with structured questions that frequently culminate in a high-mark 'evaluate' essay. A common 2026 trend will be the demand to assess the view that the family is in decline, using evidence from cohabitation rates, divorce statistics, and single-person households. Such questions explicitly reward the ability to weigh competing evidence rather than present a one-sided argument, aligning with higher-order marking criteria.

此外，新试卷二同样采用全必答形式，结构化问题常常以一道高分的 "评估题" 收尾。2026 年的一个常见趋势将是要求评估 "家庭正在衰落" 这一观点，并运用同居率、离婚数据和单人户统计作为证据。这类题目明确奖励的是权衡对立证据的能力，而非呈现单方面论点，这与高阶评分标准相一致。

4. Updated Command Words and Marking Criteria | 更新后的指令词与评分标准

The revised syllabus brings greater precision to command words. While 'define' and 'identify' remain in low-tariff questions, the central thrust has moved towards 'explain', 'analyse' and 'assess'. Mark schemes for 2026 will continue to demand that high-band responses show a sustained evaluation, not just descriptive accuracy. For instance, an 'Assess the Marxist view of the family' question (Paper 2) expects candidates to examine both supporting and challenging evidence, reference theoretical alternatives such as feminist and functionalist perspectives, and reach a justified conclusion — all within a single essay. Teachers are advised to incorporate explicit instruction on the distinction between 'analyse' (break down into components, show interrelationships) and 'assess' (make a judgement based on criteria).

修订后的教学大纲对指令词给出了更精确的界定。虽然 "定义" 和 "识别" 仍出现在低分值题目中，但重心已转向 "解释""分析" 和 "评估"。2026 年的评分方案将继续要求高分答卷展现持续的评鉴能力，而非仅仅描述准确。例如，一道 "评估马克思主义家庭观" 的题目（试卷二）期望考生同时考察支持性与挑战性证据，引用女性主义、功能主义等替代理论视角，并在单篇论文中得出有依据的结论。建议教师在教学中明确区分 "分析"（拆解成部分，显示相互关系）与 "评估"（基于标准做出判断）的含义。

Assessment Objective weightings further highlight the trend: AO1 (Knowledge and understanding) accounts for 40% of the AS mark, while AO2 (Application) and AO3 (Analysis and evaluation) together carry 60%. This weighting underscores that the 2026 exam is designed to probe how well candidates can use sociological knowledge, not just what they can recall. Successful students will spend less time memorising long lists of studies and more time practising how to connect those studies to specific question demands.

评估目标权重进一步凸显趋势：AO1（知识与理解）占 AS 总分的 40%，而 AO2（应用）与 AO3（分析与评估）合计占 60%。这一权重强调 2026 年考试旨在探测考生运用社会学知识的能力，而非仅仅回忆内容的能力。成功的学生将减少花费在背诵冗长研究清单上的时间，转而更多地练习如何将这些研究与具体题目要求联系起来。

5. Greater Emphasis on Evaluation and Synoptic Thinking | 更重视评估与综合思维

A clear trend in the 2024–2026 examiner reports is the penalisation of overly descriptive or 'all-for' vs 'all-against' essays. Markers are looking for balanced arguments that integrate theoretical perspectives, empirical evidence, and critical commentary. Synoptic links — for example, connecting family diversity in Paper 2 back to methods of research from Paper 1 — are no longer a bonus but an expectation. An answer that seamlessly weaves in a methodological critique of official divorce statistics when discussing marital breakdown will demonstrate the type of holistic thinking rewarded at the highest bands.

2024–2026 年考官报告的一个明显趋势是，对过分描述性或 "全盘支持" 与 "全盘反对" 式的论文进行扣分。阅卷人寻求的是将理论视角、经验证据和批判性评论融为一体的平衡论证。跨主题综合——例如，将试卷二的家庭多样性与试卷一的研究方法联系起来——已不再是加分项，而是期望项。一份在讨论婚姻破裂时流畅地融入对官方离婚统计进行方法论批判的答卷，将展示出最高分段所奖励的那种整体思维。

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6. Research Methods and the Digital Shift | 研究方法与数字化转向

The 2026 syllabus places a remarkable emphasis on digital research methods and online ethnography, reflecting real-world shifts in how sociologists collect data. Candidates should be prepared to answer questions about the ethical and practical challenges of using social media as a data source, the validity of online surveys, and the role of big data in contemporary sociology. This is not a fringe topic anymore; it is a core expectation that mirrors the methodological innovations discussed in recent Cambridge examiner feedback.

2026 年的大纲对数字研究方法和网络民族志给予了显著重视，这反映了社会学家收集数据的真实世界变化。考生应准备好回答有关使用社交媒体作为数据源的伦理和实践挑战、在线调查的有效性以及大数据在当代社会学中的角色等问题。这已不再是一个边缘话题，而是反映在近期剑桥考官反馈中的核心期待。

Additionally, classic methods such as participant observation, interviews, and questionnaires remain central, but the new questions often ask students to justify a methodological choice for a given context or to design a small piece of research. This procedural knowledge — understanding not just what a method is, but when and why it should be used — is a hallmark of the 2026 assessment philosophy.

此外，参与观察、访谈和问卷等经典方法依然是核心，但新题目常常要求学生为特定情境论证某种方法论选择的合理性，或设计一项小型研究。这种程序性知识——不仅理解某方法是什么，而且知道何时及为何使用——是 2026 年评估理念的显著标志。

7. Integration of Contemporary and Global Examples | 当代与全球案例的融合

While the syllabus remains rooted in UK-focused examples, exam trends increasingly reward the use of global and contemporary illustrations. In 2026, a candidate who can discuss family policy with reference not only to the UK but also to Scandinavian parental leave models or Singapore's pro-natalist strategies will stand out. This does not require exhaustive knowledge of other systems, but it signals an awareness of how sociological concepts operate across different contexts, a skill highly valued under the updated mark schemes. Moreover, references to events and trends from the 2020s — including the impact of the pandemic on family life, the rise of co-parenting apps, and shifts in gender roles — should be woven into essays to demonstrate currency.

尽管大纲仍然植根于以英国为主的案例，但考试趋势越来越奖励使用全球性和当代实例。在 2026 年，一个能在讨论家庭政策时不仅提及英国，还能引用北欧育儿假模式或新加坡的鼓励生育策略的考生将脱颖而出。这并不要求对其他体系有详尽的知识，但它显示出对社会学概念如何在不同情境中运作的觉察，这是更新版评分方案高度重视的一项技能。此外，有关 2020 年代的参考——包括疫情对家庭生活的影响、共同育儿应用的兴起以及性别角色的转变——应当被编织进论文以体现时效性。

8. Trends in Examiner Reports: Common Pitfalls to Avoid | 考官报告趋势：需要避免的常见误区

Every exam series, Cambridge publishes principal examiner reports that highlight recurring weaknesses. For the new syllabus, three issues have consistently emerged. First, many candidates still treat 'evaluate' questions as invitations to list points for and against without any evaluative thread or final judgement. Second, poor time management under the 2-hour format leads to incomplete essays — a fatal error when the final essay often carries 26 out of 60 marks. Third, generic, pre-learned introductions and conclusions add no value; examiners reward conclusions that genuinely stem from the preceding analysis. Addressing these pitfalls should be a central part of any 2026 revision plan.

每个考季，剑桥都会出版首席考官报告，揭示反复出现的薄弱环节。就新大纲而言，三个问题已持续浮现。第一，许多考生仍将 "评估" 题视为罗列支持与反对观点的邀请，缺乏任何评估主线或最终判断。第二，在 2 小时时长下时间管理不善，导致论文未完成——当最后一道论文题往往占 60 分中的 26 分时，这是一个致命的错误。第三，通用的、事先背好的引言与结论毫无价值；考官奖励的是真正源自前文分析的结论。针对这些误区的解决策略应成为任何 2026 年复习计划的核心部分。

The following table summarises the key structural differences that candidates moving to the 2026 exam must internalise:

下表总结了过渡到 2026 年考试的考生必须内化的关键结构差异：

Aspect	Old Syllabus (up to 2023)	New Syllabus (2024–2026)
Duration per paper 每卷时长	1 hour 30 minutes 1 小时 30 分钟	2 hours 2 小时
Maximum marks per paper 每卷最高分	40 40 分	60 60 分
Question choice 题目选择	Section B essay offered choice B 部分小论文有选择	All questions compulsory 所有题目必答
Command focus 指令重心	Describe, Explain 描述、解释	Analyse, Assess, Evaluate 分析、评估、评价

Mastering these structural elements will free up cognitive bandwidth for the demanding analytical writing the 2026 paper requires.

掌握这些结构要素将释放认知带宽，以应对 2026 年试卷所要求的高阶分析写作。

9. Effective Study Strategies for the 2026 Candidate | 2026 年考生的有效学习策略

To succeed in the 2026 AS Sociology exam, candidates must move beyond passive revision. Active planning of essay responses using 'D-E-A-L' frameworks (Define, Explain, Apply, Link back) can help structure time-constrained writing. Regular practice of full 2-hour papers under timed conditions is non-negotiable; many students underestimate the stamina needed. Peer marking using the official mark scheme also lifts performance, because it deepens understanding of where marks are won and lost. Additionally, creating a bank of evaluative phrases — such as 'However, this view can be challenged by...', 'On balance, the evidence suggests...' — and contemporary updates will sharpen the analytical edge that the 2026 exam demands.

要在 2026 年 AS 社会学考试中脱颖而出，考生必须超越被动复习。运用 "D-E-A-L" 框架（定义、解释、应用、回扣）主动规划论文回答，可以帮助结构时间紧迫的写作。在限时条件下完整演练 2 小时试卷是无可商榷的；许多学生低估了所需的耐力。使用官方评分方案进行同伴互评同样能提升表现，因为它加深了对得分与失分点的理解。此外，建立一个评估性用语库——例如 "然而，这一观点可能受到……的挑战""综合来看，证据表明……"——并储备当代时事更新，将磨砺出 2026 年考试所要求的分析锐度。

Finally, candidates should treat the examiner report as a revision guide in itself, extracting pattern observations and applying them to their own work. The 2026 exam will not surprise those who have aligned their preparation with the syllabus' explicit demands for evaluation, contemporary application, and methodological fluency.

最后，考生应将考官报告本身视作一份复习指南，从中提取模式观察并将其应用于自身作答。那些已使备考与大纲对评估、当代应用和方法论流畅性的明确要求保持一致的考生，2026 年的考试将不会令他们感到意外。

10. Outlook for 2026 and Beyond | 2026 年及以后的展望

While 2026 represents the third year of the 2024 syllabus, it is by no means a transitional year. The assessment style has stabilised, and the expectations are now well-established through specimen papers and live exams. Looking ahead, the integration of sociological theory with empirical application will only tighten, and digital society themes will likely expand further. Candidates who build strong methodological literacy and who cultivate the habit of asking 'how do we know what we claim to know?' will be best positioned not only for the AS but also for the rigours of A2. Use the 2026 challenge as an opportunity to truly think sociologically — that is the ultimate trend.

虽然 2026 年是 2024 年大纲的第三年，但它绝不是一个过渡年份。评估风格已趋稳定，期望要求也通过样卷和真实考试得到明确确立。展望未来，社会学理论与经验应用的结合只会更加紧密，数字社会主题很可能进一步扩展。那些培养起扎实方法论素养并养成追问 "我们如何得知自己所宣称知晓的一切？" 之习惯的考生，不仅将在 AS 中占据最佳位置，也将为 A2 的严谨要求做好准备。将 2026 年的挑战视作真正像社会学家一样思考的契机——那才是根本的趋势。

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