UK: University test fails to help poorer pupils

A US-style intelligence test seen by government advisers as helping disadvantaged youngsters get into university actually favours white boys from grammar schools, research has found, reports The Independent.

A government inquiry into university admissions, headed by Professor Steven Schwartz, vice-chancellor of Brunel University, recommended the use of American SATs - tests in maths, critical thinking and writing - as a means of helping to improve the chances of young people from disadvantaged homes getting a place at one of Britain's universities.

But, a team of researchers from the National Foundation for Educational Research has now concluded that they have the opposite effect, with males doing better than females, whites better other ethnic groups, and grammar schools better than comprehensives. Their findings echo concerns being expressed about the tests in the United States.

Full report on The Independent site