Social Studies
What the Social Studies domain tests
The Social Studies domain samples U.S. history, world history, civics/government, geography, and economics. Questions ask you to interpret sources, sequence events, explain cause and effect, and apply constitutional principles.
Core rules and concepts
- Civics: federalism divides power between national and state governments; separation of powers divides it among legislative, executive, and judicial branches; checks and balances let each branch limit the others.
- Key amendments: 13th abolishes slavery; 14th guarantees citizenship and equal protection; 15th protects voting rights by race.
- Economics: scarcity forces choices; opportunity cost is the next-best alternative; supply and demand set prices.
- Historical thinking: source, contextualize, and corroborate. A primary source reflects its author's perspective.
Worked example. A 1787 writer warns that a strong central government will threaten liberty and demands a bill of rights. This is an Anti-Federalist argument. Federalists such as Madison replied that a large republic and separated powers would control faction; the Bill of Rights was added to secure ratification.
Traps that cost marks
- Judging the past by present values (presentism).
- Treating one source as complete or neutral.
- Mixing up federal and state powers.
- Confusing the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.
- Assuming correlation proves causation.