The Meritocracy Debate Flashcards

1️⃣ Familiarise yourself with the flashcards:

Look through all the flashcards to see what's on both sides.
Make sure you understand the information on each card. If something's unclear, click the link to the revision notes at the bottom of the page for more details.

2️⃣ Test yourself:

Look at the question or prompt on each card and try to remember the answer before flipping it over.
Check the answer and make a note of any cards you find challenging and need to go over more.

3️⃣ Consistently Review and Practice:

Use spaced repetition: spend more time on the cards you struggle with and go over them more often.
Regularly review all the flashcards to help you better understand and retain the information over time.

Note: We may include questions that have multiple correct answers. It's useful to remember specific examples to understand these concepts better.

PERSONALISED 1-TO-1 TUTORING

Get support with clear explanations, practice and feedback (Ages 5 to 16).

Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to remove ads

What is meritocracy?

A system where people get rewards for their ability and effort. Family background should not decide your chances.

Everyone has the same chance to try and to succeed. Rules are fair and do not favour any group.

They say modern society and schools are mainly meritocratic. Tests sort people by ability so the best do the most important jobs.

They mean society says it rewards ability and effort, but background still shapes success. Class, gender, and ethnicity can still matter.

Achieved status is a position you earn by your actions. Meritocracy says status should be achieved, not given at birth.

Ascribed status is a position you are born into, like class. It can give unfair advantages or barriers.

Cultural capital is skills and knowledge from home, like vocabulary and confidence. It can help in school and interviews, giving some people an edge.

Some families can afford tutors, books, and a quiet space. These help grades and job chances, so outcomes are not only about effort.

Schools use exams to rank pupils by ability. Critics say unequal resources and support make it less fair.

Social mobility is moving up or down the class system. High mobility supports meritocracy; low mobility suggests background still matters.

Equality of opportunity means equal chances to try. Equality of outcome means equal results; meritocracy aims for the first, not the second.