Education and inequality: past paper questions
Real questions on education and inequality
The newest 20 of 183 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 9699/13 · May/June 2026 · Q3a[10]
Explain this view.
See it on the paper → - 9699/13 · May/June 2026 · Q3b[6]
Using sociological material, give one argument against this view. Section B Answer one question in this section. EITHER
See it on the paper → - 9699/21 · May/June 2026 · Q5[26]
Evaluate the view that social class is the main factor influencing family diversity.
See it on the paper → - 9699/31 · May/June 2026 · Q1[4]
Describe two ways IQ tests might discriminate against some ethnic groups.
See it on the paper → - 9699/31 · May/June 2026 · Q2[8]
Explain two ways the curriculum can affect girls’ educational attainment.
See it on the paper → - 9699/31 · May/June 2026 · Q3[12]
‘In school a pupil’s social class has no relevance.’ Using sociological material, give two arguments against this view.
See it on the paper → - 9699/32 · May/June 2026 · Q1[4]
Describe two ways schools prepare some pupils for working-class jobs.
See it on the paper → - 9699/32 · May/June 2026 · Q2[8]
Explain two reasons why schools may be unsuccessful in teaching the norms of society to all pupils.
See it on the paper → - 9699/32 · May/June 2026 · Q3[12]
‘A pupil’s ethnicity has no impact on their educational attainment at school.’ Using sociological material, give two arguments against this view.
See it on the paper → - 9699/32 · May/June 2026 · Q4[26]
Evaluate the Marxist view that education systems legitimise social inequality.
See it on the paper → - 9699/33 · May/June 2026 · Q2[8]
Explain two reasons why boys might achieve less at school than girls.
See it on the paper → - 9699/33 · May/June 2026 · Q3[12]
‘Family income has no influence on a child’s educational attainment.’ Using sociological material, give two arguments against this view.
See it on the paper → - 9699/33 · May/June 2026 · Q4[26]
Evaluate the view that education systems ensure that the workforce has appropriate skills and attitudes.
See it on the paper → - 9699/32 · February/March 2026 · Q3[12]
‘Education ensures that the important roles in society are filled by the most suitable people.’ Using sociological material, give two arguments against this view.
See it on the paper → - 9699/32 · February/March 2026 · Q4[26]
Evaluate the view that class is the most important influence on educational attainment.
See it on the paper → - 9699/11 · October/November 2025 · Q1[4]
Describe two positive social sanctions.
See it on the paper → - 9699/11 · October/November 2025 · Q2a[8]
Explain two difficulties in gaining access to a study group.
See it on the paper → - 9699/13 · October/November 2025 · Q4[26]
Evaluate the view that age identities are clear and fixed. OR
See it on the paper → - 9699/21 · October/November 2025 · Q4[26]
Evaluate the view that the nuclear family is no longer the dominant family structure. OR
See it on the paper → - 9699/23 · October/November 2025 · Q3a[10]
Explain this view.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Comprehensive responses • Full answers explained how inequalities in opportunity within the education system related to access to important roles in society. These could be related, for example, through the concept of social closure, or through how some pupils are defined as unsuitable for some roles or may be discouraged from aspiring to them though types of school, streaming or subject allocatio...
— Examiner report, February/March 2026, 9699/32 Q3 (Cambridge)
Comprehensive responses • Well-balanced essays included clear arguments for class being an important influence on educational attainment. They also included evidence that ethnicity and gender are important and explained how individual characteristics and hard work can affect outcomes. • Candidates were particularly successful in terms of applying relevant sociological material on cultural factors...
— Examiner report, February/March 2026, 9699/32 Q4 (Cambridge)
To achieve full marks, candidates need to provide only two clear and developed points. If these points are made with good reference to concepts, theories and evidence and applied to the question, a response can achieve 10 marks. Weaker candidates tended to write generally about education or gender but failed to connect the two key points within the question together. Stronger answers were able to...
— Examiner report, February/March 2025, 9699/12 Q3(a) (Cambridge)
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