Widely true, though as an undergrad in the US I (fairly unusually) wrote and orally defended a 120pp anthropology thesis; as a Masters student in England I wrot

Widely true, though as an undergrad in the US I (fairly unusually) wrote and orally defended a 120pp anthropology thesis; as a Masters student in England I wrote a 40pp thesis that was worth only 20% of my overall marks, but sat in an exam hall and handwrote essays for three days (for 70%) while being proctored by a fellow in a robe wearing a sword... In general my British peers were better-spoken and better-read than most American students, but not actually better academically I don't think. I don't think most education produces consistently good results, but it makes a space for some people who are motivated.