Due to Covid-19, most of us students have experienced significant changes on our educational journey. For example, distanced, virtual learning from home and teachers and peers isolating. Such issues have had a detrimental impact on students' progress and confidence in their subjects. 

As a year 13, A-level student, various aspects of my schooling have been disrupted by the coronavirus. In year 11, I was unable to sit my GCSE exams, as they went to predicted grades. The majority of my first year of A-levels was completed over microsoft team calls. I found this considerably less effective for my learning, and faced difficulties when trying to understand topic areas on my own at home, without a group of peers or a teacher to turn to. Overall, I felt less motivated and optimistic about my A-levels, due to circumstances.

Though I recognise the pandemic was out of anyone's control, I hoped that decisions made by the government and exam boards would be suitable, considering the turnmoil us as pupils have faced. On Monday 7th February, the AQA exam board released the A-level changes for Summer 2022. Personally, I felt apprehensive regarding this date, as it would finally reveal how our official exams would adapt to such a unique academic time period. I study English literature, Psychology and Sociology. After looking at the changes to Psychology A-level I felt pleased, as a substantial amount of content had been removed from the specification, making our assessment fairer and providing us with a focus point for our revision. 

However, Sociology changes have brought about contreversy in places of education and in the media. Essentially, AQA pointed out the topics which the paper would focus on, only to explain that "students will still be expected to draw out links with other content studied in this specification." This has disappointed teachers and students accross the UK, as ultimately no content has been cut from the specification, leaving us with no guidance in our revision, or change in the exam due to Covid. It seems Sociology has been altered differently, compared to other A-level subjects. Unfortunately, this has heightened exam stress and has left A-level Sociology students anxious, with more preperation to do than those studying other subjects, which I believe is unfair. 

Furthermore, an uproar has risen on social media platforms, such as Twitter, with students and teachers complaining about the AQA Sociology changes. One teacher explains "Same content as before. Yet other A Level subjects have a third of content removed. Where is the logic?" Additionally, many students have mocked AQA, for informing us that the Sociology crime and deviance paper will include crime and deviance- "SO helpful", "Thanks AQA".

Understandably, Sociology students feel frustrated with the support given by the AQA exam board. What do you make of these changes?