Purpose
Achievement Criteria
Explanatory Note 1
Demonstrate understanding of perspectives on a contemporary social issue involves:
- describing a contemporary social issue
- describing differing perspectives and how these influence people's viewpoints in relation to the contemporary social issue
- describing differing responses in relation to perspectives on the contemporary social issue
- including relevant evidence in the description.
Explain perspectives on a contemporary social issue involves:
- discussing how differing perspectives have influenced responses in relation to the contemporary social issue
- explaining impacts of the responses to the contemporary social issue
- using evidence to support the explanation.
Examine perspectives on a contemporary social issue involves:
- examining implications of the differing perspectives and responses on society in relation to the contemporary social issue
- using evidence to develop the explanation.
Explanatory Note 2
Perspectives shape our ways of looking at the world and how we make sense of it.
For the purpose of this achievement standard, perspectives are identified within a broad category such as liberal, conservative, social, environmental, indigenous, political, or economic; they are not always directly opposed. Discussion of perspectives typically includes consideration of values and beliefs that influence a viewpoint and related actions or responses.
Viewpoints are what people think about a contemporary social issue. Within everyday actions, people express an opinion or viewpoint about an idea, issue, or event.
Explanatory Note 3
A contemporary social issue refers to an issue that is currently affecting various people or places.
Explanatory Note 4
Impacts are the direct effects on individuals, groups, or places. These could be short or long term, positive or negative.
Implications are the wider consequences for society. For the purpose of this achievement standard, implications are wider consequences that arise from the differing perspectives and responses in relation to the contemporary social issue.
Shared Explanatory Note
Refer to the NCEA glossary for Māori, Pacific, and further subject-specific terms and concepts.
This achievement standard is derived from the Social Sciences Learning Area at Level 6 of The New Zealand Curriculum: Learning Media, Ministry of Education, 2007.
External Assessment Specifications
The External Assessment Specifications are published by NZQA and can be found on their website using this link:
NZQA Social Studies
Unpacking the Standard
Mātauranga Māori constitutes concepts and principles that are richly detailed, complex, and fundamental to Māoridom. It is important to remember that the practice of these are wider and more varied than their use within the proposed NCEA Achievement Standards and supporting documentation.
We also recognise that the cultures, languages, and identities of the Pacific Islands are diverse, varied, and unique. Therefore the Pacific concepts, contexts, and principles that have been incorporated within NCEA Achievement Standards may have wide-ranging understandings and applications across and within the diversity of Pacific communities. It is not our intention to define what these concepts mean but rather offer some ways that they could be understood and applied within different subjects that kaiako and students alike can explore.
Mātauranga Māori constitutes concepts and principles that are richly detailed, complex, and fundamental to Māoridom. It is important to remember that the practice of these are wider and more varied than their use within the proposed NCEA Achievement Standards and supporting documentation.
We also recognise that the cultures, languages, and identities of the Pacific Islands are diverse, varied, and unique. Therefore the Pacific concepts, contexts, and principles that have been incorporated within NCEA Achievement Standards may have wide-ranging understandings and applications across and within the diversity of Pacific communities. It is not our intention to define what these concepts mean but rather offer some ways that they could be understood and applied within different subjects that kaiako and students alike can explore.
The intent of the Standard
This Standard allows students to explore how differing perspectives influence people’s viewpoints, and how these perspectives and viewpoints influence responses to contemporary social issues. A contemporary social issue refers to an issue that is currently affecting various people or places. They are often the consequence of factors beyond an individual’s control which can include historical influences. In this Standard, focus should be on the contemporary aspect of a social issue.
Studying different perspectives and viewpoints is key to Social Studies. Perspectives and viewpoints are not always directly opposed and can share similarities. This Standard encourages ākonga to understand that there are multiple ways to understand an issue. Ākonga will engage with multiple perspectives to understand how and why people have differing viewpoints on a contemporary social issue.
This Achievement Standard relates to the Significant Learning in which ākonga explore the values behind diverse perspectives between groups that underpin viewpoints and responses. Additional Significant Learning can be clustered as part of the practice of Social Studies inquiry and linked to a social issue. For example, the following Significant Learning can be clustered to explore a social issue:
- explore how power is exerted to influence multiple aspects of society and the impact on groups and communities
- investigate the ways groups and communities are responding to challenges and opportunities related to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- explore different views about human rights and how they are valued and applied.
Making reliable judgements
To achieve this Standard, ākonga will describe a contemporary social issue in the examination. They will also describe differing perspectives in relation to a contemporary social issue and how these perspectives influence people’s viewpoints about it. Ākonga should focus on two or more people or groups to ensure a range of perspectives is captured within their description. Ākonga will also describe differing responses in relation to the perspectives on a contemporary social issue and include relevant evidence in their description.
To explain perspectives on a contemporary social issue, ākonga will discuss how the differing perspectives have influenced responses to the contemporary social issue. Ākonga will clearly demonstrate this link between perspectives on the contemporary social issue and related responses and include relevant evidence in their description. Ākonga will also discuss the impacts of the responses and use evidence to support their explanation. An impact is the direct effect of an action on individuals, groups, or places. It can be short or long term, and positive or negative.
At higher levels of achievement, ākonga will examine the implications of differing perspectives and responses on society. Implications refer to the wider consequences for society, including real and possible consequences. When examining the perspectives, ākonga will include inference and consideration of the relationship between the contemporary social issue and groups within society. At higher levels of achievement, ākonga will also use evidence to develop their explanation.
Collecting evidence
Refer to the External Assessment Specifications for further information.
Possible contexts
This Standard supports opportunities to include use of te ao Māori perspectives, mātauranga Māori, and concepts related to Te Tiriti o Waitangi if appropriate to the contemporary social issue.
There is opportunity for ākonga to carry out a Social Studies inquiry prior to assessment so they can practise and receive feedback on related skills. In doing so, ākonga can engage with people and/or groups who have responded to a contemporary social issue. They can also practice the analysis and synthesis of information.
Examples of contemporary social issues include:
- the protection of land rights
- discrimination and bias within different institutions and systems
- attitudes to youth activism
- mining for resources
- child poverty
- access to healthcare
- the cost of housing, for example, rentals
- the rising cost of living
- gender discrimination and inequity
- participation in democratic processes
- climate change and related issues
- access to and/or cost of education.
The intent of the Standard
This Standard allows students to explore how differing perspectives influence people’s viewpoints, and how these perspectives and viewpoints influence responses to contemporary social issues. A contemporary social issue refers to an issue that is currently affecting various people or places. They are often the consequence of factors beyond an individual’s control which can include historical influences. In this Standard, focus should be on the contemporary aspect of a social issue.
Studying different perspectives and viewpoints is key to Social Studies. Perspectives and viewpoints are not always directly opposed and can share similarities. This Standard encourages ākonga to understand that there are multiple ways to understand an issue. Ākonga will engage with multiple perspectives to understand how and why people have differing viewpoints on a contemporary social issue.
This Achievement Standard relates to the Significant Learning in which ākonga explore the values behind diverse perspectives between groups that underpin viewpoints and responses. Additional Significant Learning can be clustered as part of the practice of Social Studies inquiry and linked to a social issue. For example, the following Significant Learning can be clustered to explore a social issue:
- explore how power is exerted to influence multiple aspects of society and the impact on groups and communities
- investigate the ways groups and communities are responding to challenges and opportunities related to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- explore different views about human rights and how they are valued and applied.
Making reliable judgements
To achieve this Standard, ākonga will describe a contemporary social issue in the examination. They will also describe differing perspectives in relation to a contemporary social issue and how these perspectives influence people’s viewpoints about it. Ākonga should focus on two or more people or groups to ensure a range of perspectives is captured within their description. Ākonga will also describe differing responses in relation to the perspectives on a contemporary social issue and include relevant evidence in their description.
To explain perspectives on a contemporary social issue, ākonga will discuss how the differing perspectives have influenced responses to the contemporary social issue. Ākonga will clearly demonstrate this link between perspectives on the contemporary social issue and related responses and include relevant evidence in their description. Ākonga will also discuss the impacts of the responses and use evidence to support their explanation. An impact is the direct effect of an action on individuals, groups, or places. It can be short or long term, and positive or negative.
At higher levels of achievement, ākonga will examine the implications of differing perspectives and responses on society. Implications refer to the wider consequences for society, including real and possible consequences. When examining the perspectives, ākonga will include inference and consideration of the relationship between the contemporary social issue and groups within society. At higher levels of achievement, ākonga will also use evidence to develop their explanation.
Collecting evidence
Refer to the External Assessment Specifications for further information.
Possible contexts
This Standard supports opportunities to include use of te ao Māori perspectives, mātauranga Māori, and concepts related to Te Tiriti o Waitangi if appropriate to the contemporary social issue.
There is opportunity for ākonga to carry out a Social Studies inquiry prior to assessment so they can practise and receive feedback on related skills. In doing so, ākonga can engage with people and/or groups who have responded to a contemporary social issue. They can also practice the analysis and synthesis of information.
Examples of contemporary social issues include:
- the protection of land rights
- discrimination and bias within different institutions and systems
- attitudes to youth activism
- mining for resources
- child poverty
- access to healthcare
- the cost of housing, for example, rentals
- the rising cost of living
- gender discrimination and inequity
- participation in democratic processes
- climate change and related issues
- access to and/or cost of education.
Standard Exclusions
This Standard has one or more exclusions, or Standards that assess the same or similar learning. These Standards are excluded against one another to prevent assessing the same learning twice. You can only use credits gained from one of these standards towards your NCEA qualification.
Find out more about the NCEA Level 1 Exclusions List.
Standard Exclusions
This Standard has one or more exclusions, or Standards that assess the same or similar learning. These Standards are excluded against one another to prevent assessing the same learning twice. You can only use credits gained from one of these standards towards your NCEA qualification.
Find out more about the NCEA Level 1 Exclusions List.
Literacy and Numeracy Requirements
This Achievement Standard has been approved for literacy in the transition period (2024-2027).
Full information on the co-requisite during the transition period: Standards approved for NCEA Co-requisite during the transition period (2024-2027).
Literacy and Numeracy Requirements
This Achievement Standard has been approved for literacy in the transition period (2024-2027).
Full information on the co-requisite during the transition period: Standards approved for NCEA Co-requisite during the transition period (2024-2027).