Curriculum context

The Social sciences learning area assessments were administered in Term 3 of 2023. The assessments were informed by the relevant learning area statements from the 2023 draft version of the New Zealand Curriculum. At the time of the assessments, schools were not required to use the draft learning area statements.

The exception was the aspects of the te ao tangata | social sciences statement related to Aotearoa New Zealand histories (ANZH). Most schools would have been in the early stages of incorporating ANZH into their programmes.

Insight

Teaching with a focus on concepts supports students to develop more complex understandings in the social sciences. This insight focuses on the concept of democracy in Aotearoa New Zealand and illustrates how students with a strong grasp of the concept can explain it clearly, linking it to related ideas like equality, fairness, and representation. They also demonstrate knowledge of how the government works and provide examples that connect to their own experiences.

More information is available on the website of the Curriculum Insights and Progress Study.