One commonly cited disadvantage of private schools is that they can increase...

• A. They always cost nothing.
• B. They guarantee equal opportunities for all.
• C. Inequalities due to selective admissions and access costs.
• D. They have identical resources as state schools.

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is how private schools can widen social inequality. Private schools are funded by fees and often use selective admissions, so families with more money or stronger credentials are more able to access them. This means pupils who can pay the fees and meet entry criteria typically gain access to better facilities, smaller class sizes, more extracurricular opportunities, and powerful networks, all of which can boost attainment and progression. Conversely, pupils from less affluent backgrounds face barriers to entry, which reinforces a gap in outcomes between private and state schools. The result is an increase in inequalities within the education system and in society more broadly.

The other statements don’t fit because private schools do not cost nothing, they do not guarantee equal opportunities, and they generally do not have identical resources to state schools; rather, they tend to offer more resources and opportunities, which contributes to unequal access.