Social mobility

    AQA
    GCSE

    Social mobility concerns the movement of individuals or groups between socio-economic strata. Analysis must distinguish between absolute mobility (structural changes in the economy) and relative mobility (comparative chances of individuals from different backgrounds). Candidates must evaluate the UK's status as a meritocracy, contrasting Functionalist models of role allocation with Marxist and Weberian critiques regarding class reproduction, social closure, and the persistence of the 'glass floor' protecting the affluent.

    0
    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    3
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Credit accurate distinction between intergenerational (between generations) and intragenerational (within a lifetime) mobility.
    • Award marks for application of functionalist theory (meritocracy, role allocation) versus Marxist theory (myth of meritocracy, reproduction of inequality).
    • Responses must explicitly reference sociological studies or data, such as Goldthorpe's Oxford Mobility Study or Sutton Trust reports.
    • Higher bands require evaluation of structural barriers, specifically the 'glass ceiling' for women or the 'glass floor' protecting the wealthy.

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Credit accurate distinction between intergenerational (between generations) and intragenerational (within a lifetime) mobility.
    • Award marks for application of functionalist theory (meritocracy, role allocation) versus Marxist theory (myth of meritocracy, reproduction of inequality).
    • Responses must explicitly reference sociological studies or data, such as Goldthorpe's Oxford Mobility Study or Sutton Trust reports.
    • Higher bands require evaluation of structural barriers, specifically the 'glass ceiling' for women or the 'glass floor' protecting the wealthy.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡When using the Item (source), explicitly quote the relevant phrase before analyzing it to secure AO2 marks.
    • 💡For 12-mark questions, ensure a 'for and against' structure: contrast Functionalist optimism with Marxist/Feminist pessimism.
    • 💡Define key terms like 'meritocracy' or 'ascribed status' in the opening sentence to establish AO1 immediately.
    • 💡Use connective phrases like 'However, conflict theorists would argue...' to demonstrate AO3 evaluation.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusing social mobility (change in status/class) with geographical mobility (migration).
    • Relying on anecdotal 'rags to riches' stories rather than sociological patterns or statistical trends.
    • Failing to distinguish between absolute mobility (total number moving up) and relative mobility (chances of moving up compared to others).

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Identify
    Describe
    Explain
    Discuss how far
    Examine
    Evaluate

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