Which is listed as a reason why some working-class children may underachieve?

• A. Access to private tutors
• B. Higher parental involvement
• C. Lacking funds for materials
• D. More opportunities in high-status schools.

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is how material deprivation affects school performance. When families don’t have funds for learning materials, students can’t access the resources they need to study effectively—textbooks, stationery, calculators, transport to school, or internet access at home. This practical barrier directly limits the help a pupil can get with tasks, revision, and completing assignments, which can slow progress and lower grades.

Other options point to advantages that tend to boost achievement, not diminish it: private tutoring requires extra money and tends to widen gaps; higher parental involvement is usually linked to better outcomes; and more opportunities in high-status schools would generally support rather than hinder achievement. So lacking funds for materials best explains why some working-class children may underachieve.