Crime, deviance and social control: past paper questions
Real questions on crime, deviance and social control
The newest 20 of 222 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 0495/21 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(i)[2]
discrimination
See it on the paper → - 0495/21 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(ii)[2]
probation.
See it on the paper → - 0495/21 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[2]
State two patterns of victimisation.
See it on the paper → - 0495/21 · October/November 2025 · Q3c[6]
Describe three ways informal agencies of social control can prevent crime.
See it on the paper → - 0495/21 · October/November 2025 · Q3d[6]
Explain three limitations of feminist explanations for crime.
See it on the paper → - 0495/21 · October/November 2025 · Q3e[8]
Discuss the view that ethnicity is an important factor in explaining why individuals commit crime. Your answer should include: • at least three developed points with evidence.
See it on the paper → - 0495/21 · October/November 2025 · Q3f[14]
Evaluate the view that rehabilitation is the most effective way to deal with crime. Your answer should include: • at least three arguments for and three arguments against • a conclusion.
See it on the paper → - 0495/22 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(i)[2]
unrecorded crime
See it on the paper → - 0495/22 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(ii)[2]
expressive crime.
See it on the paper → - 0495/22 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[2]
State two aims of punishment.
See it on the paper → - 0495/22 · October/November 2025 · Q3c[6]
Describe three features of strain theory.
See it on the paper → - 0495/22 · October/November 2025 · Q3d[6]
Explain three reasons why crimes are not always reported to the police.
See it on the paper → - 0495/22 · October/November 2025 · Q3e[8]
Discuss the view that moral panics lead to crime. Your answer should include: • at least three developed points with evidence.
See it on the paper → - 0495/22 · October/November 2025 · Q3f[14]
Evaluate the view that policing strategies are effective at preventing crime. Your answer should include: • at least three arguments for and three arguments against • a conclusion.
See it on the paper → - 0495/23 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(i)[2]
stereotyping
See it on the paper → - 0495/23 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(ii)[2]
property crime.
See it on the paper → - 0495/23 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[2]
State two types of crime with high rates of victimisation for elderly people.
See it on the paper → - 0495/23 · October/November 2025 · Q3c[6]
Explain three reasons why some youths join gangs.
See it on the paper → - 0495/23 · October/November 2025 · Q3d[6]
Explain three feminist views of crime.
See it on the paper → - 0495/23 · October/November 2025 · Q3e[8]
Discuss the limitations of self-report studies for measuring crime. Your answer should include: • at least three developed points with evidence.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
This term ‘master status’ was not well understood, with some candidates seeing it as a synonym for a successful criminal. The best answers linked to labelling theory and recognised that this was the main way a person became seen, e.g. as a criminal.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 0495/21 Q3(a) (Cambridge)
This conceptually challenging question was answered well by candidates who linked crime successfully to such ideas as consumerism, material/relative deprivation and inability to achieve the American Dream.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 0495/21 Q3(b) (Cambridge)
This question required candidates to compare and differentiate between the terms ‘crime’ and ‘deviance’. Answers generally demonstrated understanding of both terms but explanation was often limited to either breaking a law or a norm. More developed answers considered severity of punishment, perceived seriousness of the transgression and societal responses. Examples were also a good way to consolid...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 0495/21 Q3(c) (Cambridge)
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