Numerous investigations have used father's occupation as the central index in reports showing, in heterogeneous samples, a definite relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and measured intelligence on academic achievement in favour of the upper SES individual. Thus, commonly used terms have emerged, such as "middle-class bias" and "formal language." However, fewer studies, of homogeneous samples, have involved the family environment as an additional influence on behaviour. In a sample of male first-year university undergraduates, the study reports that, even after high school academic selection processes, verbal meaning (IQ sub-test) and verbal expression (Grade 12 subject) were significantly correlated with father's occupation (SES) and home environment "possessions," in favour of the upper SES individual. It would appear that formal education is still hindered or enhanced by the home situation. (Author)