Social studies

1. Identify basic structures of governance for:

• Canada’s parliamentary system and its three branches

• First Nations, Metis and Inuit (FNMI) 

• Local, provincial and federal governments.

2. Recognize how individuals and communities have rights and responsibilities at the local, national and global level via institutions and processes such as citizenship, elections, human rights, treaties and land claims, activism and laws.

3. Know about key events and conflicts that consider FNMI and Francophone contributions and perspectives.

4. Understand historical perspectives and social change related to ongoing legacies and injustices.

5. Be familiar with Canadian maps and other information sources that are used to illustrate various geographic, human, regional, political and cultural features of Canada. (Make sure you know the location of all provinces, territories and the great lakes.)

6. Recognize immigration patterns and communities.

7. Understand and apply environmental concepts such as stewardship, sustainability, influence and activism.

8. Understand and apply economic concepts such as

• Concepts that describe people and behvaviours such as consumers, producers, goods, services, scarcity, wants and needs, supply and demand

• Concepts that describe the government’s role in economic systems such as free market, mixed economy, financial institutions, production and consumption, distribution, exchange of goods and services, natural resources, economic disparity, growth and decline, stability and instability, interdependence.

Low complexity questions direct test-takers to find one piece of information in the text or recall one piece of information. Sometimes the question will direct you to a specific place in the text to find the answer. 

You can identify low complexity questions by looking for the following questions starters:

Look for questions that direct test-takers to look at the source

• Select the paragraph that focuses most directly on…

Some questions will ask test-takers to recall one fact  using your background knowledge

• Which of the following provinces is “Writing⁠-⁠on⁠-⁠Stone” located in?

Moderate complexity questions, which are used most often, require a two-step thinking process that involves the application of a procedure, concept or skill. The connection between the test question and source is not immediately apparent and can only be made using the concept, skill or procedure. To make this indirect connection in social studies, test-takers must be able to interpret a variety of sources, and then extend their understanding to recognize common themes or concepts (e.g., roles and responsibilities of three levels of government) in order to respond to the test question. 

Look for questions that ask test-takers to identify common themes or concepts:  

• Which of the following headlines refers to a government action that would likely result in lower voter turnout rates than in previous elections? 

• Which of the freedoms listed in the information most directly guarantees the right of citizens to criticize government decisions?

Look for questions that ask test-takers to move between the source and test question to find multiple responses:

• Select four arguments that are contained in the article. 

• Select two results of the situation depicted in the cartoon.

Look for questions that ask test-takers to draw on background knowledge to provide a response based on synthesis, argument, interpretation and reasoning. The sources clearly support the response so these aren’t high complexity questions 

• Select the appropriate level of government responsible for each of the following issues. 

• From the perspective of a Canadian consumer the cartoon most accurately demonstrates that---. 

• Source III demonstrates that the first⁠-⁠past⁠-⁠the⁠-⁠post electoral system---.

In a high complexity question, candidates might still have to apply conceptual knowledge, a skill or a procedure. However, that cognitive work won’t lead directly to an answer. Instead, the answer depends on reasoning, logic and generalization, and the answer isn’t apparent. Candidates will often be asked to evaluate information or draw a conclusion. In addition, they might have to consult more than one source. 

• The most likely reason that Prime Minister John A. Macdonald is depicted in the position portrayed in Source II is that his decision would have an impact on---.

• Which of the following generalizations regarding both sources could be applicable to present day Canada?

• Based on the sources, a critic of the first⁠-⁠past⁠-⁠the⁠-⁠post electoral system would most likely argue that the proportional representation electoral system would---.