Sociology GCSE
Meritocracy
What Meritocracy means in Sociology GCSE, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of Meritocracy
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
A society where individuals achieve their status and position based on their own talent, ability, and effort, rather than inherited wealth.
A system where individuals are rewarded based on their talent, ability, and effort, rather than their social background.
Topics that use Meritocracy
- Education (AQA GCSE)
- Social stratification (AQA GCSE)
Related terms
- Cultural Capital
- Bourgeoisie
- Life Chances
- Patriarchy
- Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
- Social Stratification
- Correspondence Principle
- Hidden Curriculum
Using Meritocracy in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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