Paper 1 Questions and Answers
Perfectly Arranged 2024
Outline two reasons why marketisation policies may produce inequality of educational achievement
between social classes. 4 marks. -CORRECT ANS-Cream skimming (1) successful schools can attract high
achievers, who are more likely to be middle class (1)
Schools can establish their own catchment areas (1) middle class parents can afford to move into the
catchment areas of better schools (1)
Outline three reasons for gender differences in educational achievement. 6 marks -CORRECT ANS-
Laddish Subcultures (1) Boys are more likely to join anti-school subcultures that prevent them from
achieving (1)
Changes in the job market (1) more jobs for women/decline in traditionally male dominated jobs
increase girls/decrease boys motivation (1)
Feminisation of education (1) more female teachers as role models today gives girls an advantage over
boys (1)
Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which the education may serve the needs of
capitalism. (10 marks) -CORRECT ANS-Althusser: Education reproduces class inequality by transmitting
ideas from generation to generation and failing the working classes deliberately. "each new generation
of workers is forced to ... to survive".
Bowles and Gintis: Correspondence Principle, there are parallels between school and work as they both
have hierarchies, in which pupils and workers are always at the bottom. Makes them passive and less
likely to rebel at work. "not wanting to overthrow this unequal system".
Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations of social class
differences in educational achievement. (30 marks) -CORRECT ANS-Material deprivation, Gibson and
Asthana - pointed out that there is correlation between low household income and poor educational
performance. Eg, high levels of sickness in poorer homes may mean more absence from school and
falling behind, less able to afford the hidden costs of education etc.
Labeling, Howard Becker, Labeling and the Ideal Pupil: Becker found that teachers tend to have an "ideal
pupil" which is traditionally middle class. This pupil speaks in the elaborated speech code, is polite and
well dressed - Rosenthal and Jacobson argued that positive teacher labelling can lead to a self-fulfilling
prophecy, in which the student internalizes the label given to them and the label becomes true in
practice.
Cultural capital - Middle class parents are better educated and can help their students with homework.
More familiar with the elaborated code so can better read school prospectuses etc. Use their social
Perfectly Arranged 2024
Outline two reasons why marketisation policies may produce inequality of educational achievement
between social classes. 4 marks. -CORRECT ANS-Cream skimming (1) successful schools can attract high
achievers, who are more likely to be middle class (1)
Schools can establish their own catchment areas (1) middle class parents can afford to move into the
catchment areas of better schools (1)
Outline three reasons for gender differences in educational achievement. 6 marks -CORRECT ANS-
Laddish Subcultures (1) Boys are more likely to join anti-school subcultures that prevent them from
achieving (1)
Changes in the job market (1) more jobs for women/decline in traditionally male dominated jobs
increase girls/decrease boys motivation (1)
Feminisation of education (1) more female teachers as role models today gives girls an advantage over
boys (1)
Applying material from Item A, analyse two ways in which the education may serve the needs of
capitalism. (10 marks) -CORRECT ANS-Althusser: Education reproduces class inequality by transmitting
ideas from generation to generation and failing the working classes deliberately. "each new generation
of workers is forced to ... to survive".
Bowles and Gintis: Correspondence Principle, there are parallels between school and work as they both
have hierarchies, in which pupils and workers are always at the bottom. Makes them passive and less
likely to rebel at work. "not wanting to overthrow this unequal system".
Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate sociological explanations of social class
differences in educational achievement. (30 marks) -CORRECT ANS-Material deprivation, Gibson and
Asthana - pointed out that there is correlation between low household income and poor educational
performance. Eg, high levels of sickness in poorer homes may mean more absence from school and
falling behind, less able to afford the hidden costs of education etc.
Labeling, Howard Becker, Labeling and the Ideal Pupil: Becker found that teachers tend to have an "ideal
pupil" which is traditionally middle class. This pupil speaks in the elaborated speech code, is polite and
well dressed - Rosenthal and Jacobson argued that positive teacher labelling can lead to a self-fulfilling
prophecy, in which the student internalizes the label given to them and the label becomes true in
practice.
Cultural capital - Middle class parents are better educated and can help their students with homework.
More familiar with the elaborated code so can better read school prospectuses etc. Use their social
