Performance on a battery of neuropsychological tests was examined in groups of normal 55‐ to 70‐year‐olds who were stratified on the basis of educational level. As has been reported in younger samples, those with more education performed significantly better than less well‐educated groups. These findings were discussed in the context of other studies. A hypothesis was suggested that a higher educational level may relate more to the onset and course of age‐related decline rather than to the ultimate level of such decline.