1. Past paper mini essay questions Paper 1 Topic 2 Education

2. 2012 Jan Either: Discuss how far sociologists would agree that the social class background of pupils has a significant effect on their educational performance. Or: Discuss how far sociologists would agree that gender inequalities still exist within education in Britain.

3. 2011 June Either: Discuss how far sociologists would agree that a student’s etnic background is the main reason for differences in educational achievement. Or: Discuss how far sociologists would agree that peer group pressure has a significant effect on a student’s choice of subjects at school and of courses at college.

4. 2011 Jan Either: Discuss how far sociologists would agree that the way in which some pupils are grouped within a school has a significant effect on their educational performance. Or: Discuss how far sociologists would agree that the main function of schools is to teach children to become part of society.

5. 2010 June Either: Discuss how far sociologists would agree that educational reforms over the last 25 years have been successful in raising the achievement of all pupils. Or: Discuss how far sociologists would agree that the situation in a pupil’s home is a more important cause of educational under- achievement than the type of school he or she attends.

6. 2010 Specimen exam paper 2 Either: Discuss how far sociologists would agree that encouraging pupils to adopt British values has become in recent years the most important function of the education system. Or: Discuss how far sociologists would agree that parental attitudes are the most important influence on a child’s educational achievement.

7. Revision book Question 1 Either: Discuss how far sociologists would agree that gender is the most significant influence on pupils’ educational achievements in Britain today. Or: Discuss how far sociologists would agree that the most important function of the education system in Britain today is to encourage social cohesion.

8. Revision book Question 2 Either: Discuss how far sociologists would agree that ethnic background is the most important influence on pupils’ educational achievements in Britain today. Or: Discuss how far sociologists would agree that school-based factors are the most important influence on pupils’ educational achievements in Britain today.

9. 2010 Old syllabus To what extent would sociologists agree that educational reforms over the last 30 years have been successful in raising achievement amongst all pupils?

10. 2009 Old syllabus To what extent would sociologists agree that schools are the main cause of differences in educational achievement?

11. 2008 Old syllabus To what extent would sociologists agree that a pupil’s gender is the most important influence on his or her educational achievements?

12. 200 Old syllabus To what extent would sociologists agree that differences in family income are responsible for differences in educational achievement between social groups?

13. 2006 Old syllabus To what extent would sociologists agree that differences in home background are the most important cause of differences in educational achievement between ethnic groups?

14. 2005 Old syllabus To what extent would sociologists agree that a pupil’s social class is the most important influence on his or her educational achievements?

15. 2004 Old syllabus To what extent have recent improvements in girl’s achievements been the result of educational reforms rather than social changes?