A new survey shows there are seven social classes in the United Kingdom. This is four classes more than the traditional class system. Last century, there were just three classes in Britain – upper, middle, and working class. This system centered around people's wealth, education and job. The new survey, from the BBC, shows how the times have changed. The BBC says the old model is too simple and a new one is needed to show someone's class. This new model includes how rich you are, your schooling and your occupation, but adds several more points. These include savings, how many people you know, social networking and cultural interests and activities.

The BBC study is called the Great British Class Survey. More than 161,000 people answered questions about their life. The researchers looked at all the information and decided that Britain's way of measuring class needed modernising. The top class is the "elite" – the richest people. This is followed by the "established middle class," the "technical middle class," and the "new affluent workers". The three bottom classes are the "traditional working class," the "emergent service workers," and the poor. Six per cent of Britons are in the elite class. They have savings of more than $200,000 and went to a top university. Fifteen per cent are in the poor class. These earn less than $12,000 a year.