1970 British Cohort Study Age 21 Sub Study – first steps into adulthood

The Age 21 Sub Study was conducted with a 10% representative sample of cohort members from across Britain. It was the first survey since the Age 16 Sweep, Youthscan.

The 1,647 cohort members who took part answered questions about their qualifications, training and employment, as well as their family, relationships and health. We also asked their views on employment and education and about how their life was progressing.

Importantly, the Age 21 Sub Study collected valuable information about levels of literacy and numeracy among young adults in Britain. Cohort members were asked to rate themselves on a range of skills, including writing, reading and carrying out mathematical calculations. They also completed a series of 17 tasks designed to assess their reading, writing, comprehension and simple mathematical skills. These tasks provided an objective measure of cohort members’ abilities which could be compared to their self-assessments.

Data from this sub study would be subsequently used to underpin a number of important government adult education, employment and training initiatives in the 2000s.

Find out more about the BCS70 Age 21 Sub Study.