This document provides advice for students preparing to write the Social Studies 11 Provincial Exam. It recommends students study course terms and names using flashcards or Quizlet. For the essay questions, students should plan their responses using charts before writing to ensure they cover all relevant time periods and topics. Sample charts include chronologies and SPELLS+- frameworks. The document stresses writing legibly, using all the allotted time, and not changing multiple choice answers unless certain.

1. Preparing for the Social Studies 11
Provincial Exam

2. Look at the Exam Specifications

3. How to Study
• Know the language of
the course.
– Use flash cards or
Quizlet to study names
and terms.
– Do not waste
time studying
terms and
names you
already know!
Karl Marx
The creator of Communism
(Marxism).
He believed in materialism – only
things you can touch and feel are
real.
He wanted a world where everyone
was equal.

4. Writing the Test - Essays
• There are two essay
questions.
• Write both of them.
• The test writing time is
long – you should have
plenty of time.
• If you are short of time, it
is better to write two
mediocre answers than
just one good one.

6. Writing the Test - Essays
• Many students make the mistake of
just relying on common knowledge
• Make sure you use specific course
content and employ terms we have
learned.
• Always plan before you write.
• Never just write off the top of your
head.
• There is little to no space in the
booklet to use, so use any space in
the multiple choice booklet to plan.

7. Writing the Test – Essays
Sample Charts
• The kind of chart you
should use depends on the
question.
• A history question might
ask you to cover a time
period – like from 1914-
2000. If so use a
chronology chart like the
one to the left, to make
sure you use information
from the whole time
period.

8. Writing the Test – Essays
Sample Charts
• A chronology question that
asks you to assess something
over a time span could use a
diagram like the one to the
right – for example:
– “The most important influence
on Canadian government
policy during the 20th Century
was the United States.” Assess
the truth of this statement
making reference to events
throughout the time period
1914-2000.

9. Writing the Test – Essays
Sample Charts
• SPELLS+- social, political,
economic, legal, long term, short
term, positive, negative
– Not all of these categories might
relate to any given question, but if
several do, then making a chart that
includes them will help you write a
thorough paper that doesn’t miss
important material.
– This chart might accompany the
question: Assess how much Canada
changed as a result of World War I.

10. Writing the Test – Essays
• Write small. One of our biggest complaints about the essay
booklet is that it does not give enough space. We have
complained for years and nothing has been done about it. Once
again, write small!
• Write legibly. If a marker cannot read your writing it cannot be
credited. If your handwriting is as bad as mine, print!
• Use all of the time allowed. Once you leave the test, you cannot
return. Do not rush. Check your work and edit neatly (there is
no space to write a good copy, so do not rewrite).
• If you go back and check multiple choice items, do not change
them unless you are 100% sure. First guesses are often the
best.