Education and Reasearch Methods Exam practice questions
4 Mark Questions
(1) Outline two ways in which globalization may have had an influence on educational policies in the UK.
(4 marks) (from Paper 1 November 2021 past paper)
(2) Outline two factors external to schools that may affect social class differences in educational
achievement. (4 Marks) (from Paper 1 November 2020 past paper)
(3) Outline two criticisms of schools selecting pupils by ability. (4 Marks) (from Paper 1 June 2019 past
paper)
(4) Outline two reasons why marketisation policies may produce inequality of educational achievement
between social classes. (4 Marks) (from Paper 1 June 2018 past paper)
(5) Outline two factors internally in school that may affect social class differences in educational
achievement (4 Marks)
6 Mark Questions
(1) Outline three reasons why some working-class boys join anti-school subcultures (6 marks) (from Paper
1 November 2021 past paper)
(2) Outline box three functions that the education system performs for society. (6 Marks) (from Paper 1
November 2020 past paper)
(3) Outline three ways in which the characteristics of schools may be similar to the box characteristics of
workplaces. (6 Marks) (from Paper 1 June 2019 past paper)
(4) Outline three reasons for gender differences in educational achievement. (6 marks) (from Paper 1 June
2018 past paper)
10 Mark Questions
(1) ITEM A: Some sociologists claim that the curriculum taught in schools today prioritizes some cultures
over others. Research also suggests that teacher expectations can be based on stereotypes. Teaching
and learning in schools may affect the educational experiences of minority ethnic groups.
Applying material from Item A, analyze two ways in which teaching and learning in schools may affect
the educational experiences of minority ethnic groups (10 marks) (from Paper 1 November 2021 past
paper)
(2) ITEM A: Businesses compete with each other to attract customers. Another route to success for
businesses is to provide unique products for their customers. The introduction of marketisation
policies into the state education system means that schools are run like businesses.
Applying material from Item A, analyze two ways in which marketisation policies have led to schools
being run like businesses. (10 marks) (from Paper 1 November 2020 past paper)
(3) ITEM A: Some sociologists suggest that pupils of different social classes have different experiences in
schools. The curriculum may place a higher value on middle-class cultural capital and place some pupils
at a disadvantage. Both teacher-pupil relationships and interactions within peer groups are likely to
affect how pupils of different social classes see themselves.
4 Mark Questions
(1) Outline two ways in which globalization may have had an influence on educational policies in the UK.
(4 marks) (from Paper 1 November 2021 past paper)
(2) Outline two factors external to schools that may affect social class differences in educational
achievement. (4 Marks) (from Paper 1 November 2020 past paper)
(3) Outline two criticisms of schools selecting pupils by ability. (4 Marks) (from Paper 1 June 2019 past
paper)
(4) Outline two reasons why marketisation policies may produce inequality of educational achievement
between social classes. (4 Marks) (from Paper 1 June 2018 past paper)
(5) Outline two factors internally in school that may affect social class differences in educational
achievement (4 Marks)
6 Mark Questions
(1) Outline three reasons why some working-class boys join anti-school subcultures (6 marks) (from Paper
1 November 2021 past paper)
(2) Outline box three functions that the education system performs for society. (6 Marks) (from Paper 1
November 2020 past paper)
(3) Outline three ways in which the characteristics of schools may be similar to the box characteristics of
workplaces. (6 Marks) (from Paper 1 June 2019 past paper)
(4) Outline three reasons for gender differences in educational achievement. (6 marks) (from Paper 1 June
2018 past paper)
10 Mark Questions
(1) ITEM A: Some sociologists claim that the curriculum taught in schools today prioritizes some cultures
over others. Research also suggests that teacher expectations can be based on stereotypes. Teaching
and learning in schools may affect the educational experiences of minority ethnic groups.
Applying material from Item A, analyze two ways in which teaching and learning in schools may affect
the educational experiences of minority ethnic groups (10 marks) (from Paper 1 November 2021 past
paper)
(2) ITEM A: Businesses compete with each other to attract customers. Another route to success for
businesses is to provide unique products for their customers. The introduction of marketisation
policies into the state education system means that schools are run like businesses.
Applying material from Item A, analyze two ways in which marketisation policies have led to schools
being run like businesses. (10 marks) (from Paper 1 November 2020 past paper)
(3) ITEM A: Some sociologists suggest that pupils of different social classes have different experiences in
schools. The curriculum may place a higher value on middle-class cultural capital and place some pupils
at a disadvantage. Both teacher-pupil relationships and interactions within peer groups are likely to
affect how pupils of different social classes see themselves.
