Australian History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship Test Scope Statement and Test Specifications from 2006

The study of World History (Stage 4) and Australian History (Stage 5), incorporating Civics and Citizenship, contributes to the development of the following foundational knowledge and skills (see page 16 of the History syllabus):

• understanding historical terms and concepts, sequencing key events and explaining continuity and change

• comprehending, using and evaluating sources as evidence

• understanding different perspectives and interpretations of the past

• understanding and applying skills of historical inquiry

• communicating historical information.

The study of Global Geography (Stage 4) and Australian Geography (Stage 5), incorporating Civics and Citizenship, contributes to the development of the following foundational knowledge and skills (see page 15 of the Geography syllabus):

• analysing and using geographical tools

• gathering, analysing and evaluating data from a variety of sources

• critically assessing the ideas and opinions of others, evaluating arguments, expressing their own ideas and arguments and presenting geographical information to different audiences

• understanding geographical processes and inquiry through fieldwork.

In the Australian History, Civics and Citizenship section of the test, questions will be drawn from the following sections of the syllabus:

• Topic 5: Australia in the Vietnam War Era

• Topic 6: Changing Rights and Freedoms

• Topic 7: People Power and Politics in the Post-war Period

• Topic 8: Australia’s Social and Cultural History in the Post-war Period

• Historical Skills (syllabus, page 16) and the Working Historically sections of each of Topics 5, 6, 7, and 8.

In the Australian Geography, Civics and Citizenship section of the test, questions will be drawn from:

• Focus Area 5A3: Issues in Australian Environments

• Focus Area 5A4: Australia in Its Regional and Global Contexts

• Geographical Tools and Skills (syllabus, pages 18–21).

Both sections of the test will include questions that allow students to demonstrate their knowledge about, and understanding of, civics and informed and active citizenship.

Test Specifications
The Australian History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship test will be of two hours duration plus 10 minutes reading time. It will consist of two sections, Australian History, Civics and Citizenship and Australian Geography, Civics and Citizenship. These two sections will alternate as Section 1 and Section 2. All questions are compulsory. Questions may be based on stimulus material. When stimulus material is used, one or more questions may draw on that material.

Section 1
Australian History, Civics and Citizenship (50 marks)
Part A (20 marks) 20 questions in objective-response format.
Part B (30 marks) 3–4 short-response questions and 1 extended-response question.

Section 2
Australian Geography, Civics and Citizenship (50 marks)
Part A (20 marks) 20 questions in objective-response format.
Part B (30 marks) 3–4 short-response questions and 1 extended-response question.

The objective-response questions are to be answered on the answer sheets provided. Short-response and extended-response questions are to be answered in the spaces provided.

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View the 2006 School Certificate Australian History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship Specimen Test (including Mapping Grid) Acrobat PDF file (1.9MB)