Question 1

SOURCE TEXT:
Item C

The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) produced a report on university enrolment by personal characteristics from 2014/15 to 2018/19. This report found that the vast majority of students that attend university are from white backgrounds, although the number of students from minority ethnic backgrounds is increasing year on year.

[Image of a bar chart showing university enrolment by ethnicity from 2014-15 to 2018-19]

Source: HESA 2020

QUESTION:
Identify and explain one factor which may account for the relatively low numbers of students from some minority ethnic backgrounds attending university, as referred to in Item C.

Accepted Answer

First, identify a sociological factor that explains ethnic differences in educational achievement (e.g., institutional racism, material deprivation, cultural factors). Then, explain how this factor works to create disadvantages. Finally, link your explanation to the outcome shown in Item C (lower university attendance for some groups).

Question 2

What mistakes do candidates make on this AQA GCSE question?

Accepted Answer

Making stereotypical or racist generalisations instead of using sociological concepts. For example, saying 'their parents don't care about education' instead of discussing concepts like cultural capital.

How to approach this question

Full Answer

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Practice the full AQA GCSE Sociology Paper 2

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