Once quantitative access to a level equalises, advantaged groups preserve their position by securing the qualitatively better tracks, institutions and subjects within it.
Lucas proposed EMI in 2001 as the successor to MMI: when everyone attends, the competition moves inside. Which set, which stream, which subjects, which institution. A system can therefore show complete equality of access and undiminished inequality of outcome, with no rule anywhere having been broken.
In practice
- A school where every pupil takes the same exams sorts them by set, and the sets predict destination better than the exams do.
- A graduate scheme open to all universities recruits overwhelmingly from four.