Why does the author mention coaching?
Supporters of selective schools say they give clever children from poor homes a route that comprehensive schools do not. The claim is attractive, but the evidence it needs is missing. For selection to help the poor, selective schools would have to admit many poor children, and in practice entry tests favour those whose parents can pay for coaching. The result is that selective schools tend to enrol fewer disadvantaged pupils than their local areas contain. Meanwhile, the schools left behind lose their strongest pupils and, with them, much of their academic atmosphere. It may be that some selected children do better than they otherwise would. But a system should be judged by what happens to all its pupils, and judged that way, selection is hard to defend on the ground of social mobility.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. To explain why entry tests favour children from families who can afford to pay
- Step 1: The author says entry tests favour those whose parents can pay for coaching.
- Step 2: That explains why few disadvantaged pupils are admitted.
Answer
To explain why entry tests favour children from families who can afford to pay.
Why not the others: The author does not praise coaching, discuss tutors, doubt poor children's ability or recommend interviews.
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