S1 Social studies (Third level / Fourth level): What to Teach (Scotland)

Your Teacher Information Pack for S1 Social studies (Third level / Fourth level) in Scotland: the curriculum structure, our short summaries with links to the official wording, and key dates.

Curriculum for Excellence levels are a guide, not year groups: learners move through levels at their own pace. Third and fourth levels are both covered in S1–S3; schools decide the pace.

Plan the whole year: open this course in the Year Planner – every lesson dated around your term dates, with a coverage check. Free.

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What to teach

Below are the experiences and outcomes with their official codes, in our own short summaries. Each code links to the official document.

Third level

People, past events and societies

• SOC 3-01a Using period knowledge to interpret evidence.
• SOC 3-02a Linking past events to Scotland's development as a nation.
• SOC 3-03a Explaining why migrant groups settled and their impact.
• SOC 3-04a Comparing past lifestyles and values with Scotland or Europe.
• SOC 3-05a Causes of major change and effects on people's lives.
• SOC 3-06a Motives in a turning point and its consequences.
• SOC 3-06b Causes of a past conflict and effects on people.

Official wording

People, place and environment

• SOC 3-07a Landscape-shaping processes and their impact on regions.
• SOC 3-08a Consequences of an environmental issue and how to manage it.
• SOC 3-10a Climate, features and living things of a different environment.
• SOC 3-11a Social and economic differences between countries and reducing them.
• SOC 3-12a Causes of weather patterns in a climate zone.
• SOC 3-13a How landscapes shape settlement and economic activity.
• SOC 3-14a Using maps and GIS to present conclusions.

Official wording

People in society, economy and business

• SOC 3-15a Interpreting evidence on current issues.
• SOC 3-16a Why a group faces inequality and how to address it.
• SOC 3-17a Comparing citizens' rights with a contrasting society.
• SOC 3-17b How information shapes personal choices and decisions.
• SOC 3-18a How political decision-making arrangements are shaped.
• SOC 3-19a Country interdependence and effects on development.
• SOC 3-19b Effectiveness of responses to a recent international crisis.
• SOC 3-20a Ethical issues in business and how businesses meet needs.
• SOC 3-20b Globalised trade's impact on work and employment.
• SOC 3-21a Budgeting and managing finance, savings, and borrowing.

Official wording

Fourth level

People, past events and societies

• SOC 4-01a Weighing conflicting sources to support an argument.
• SOC 4-02a Presenting arguments on respecting others' heritage.
• SOC 4-04a Explaining past inequality and how it was addressed.
• SOC 4-04b Consequences of conflicting world belief systems.
• SOC 4-04c Power's effect on citizens' rights in two societies.
• SOC 4-05a Social, political and economic impacts of technology.
• SOC 4-05b Changes in a Scottish industry and their impact.
• SOC 4-05c Meeting of cultures and its impact on societies.
• SOC 4-06a Relative importance of factors behind an event.
• SOC 4-06b Changing nature of conflict and empathy with those involved.
• SOC 4-06c Attempts to resolve international conflict and their effectiveness.
• SOC 4-06d Impact of expanding power and influence.

Official wording

People, place and environment

• SOC 4-07a How physical systems shape Earth's surface.
• SOC 4-08a Sustainability of key natural resources.
• SOC 4-09a Agriculture's environmental impact and sustainability.
• SOC 4-09b Transport infrastructure impact and sustainable systems.
• SOC 4-10a Human activity's impact on an area.
• SOC 4-10b Development of an urban area and its implications.
• SOC 4-10c Development of an economic activity and its impact.
• SOC 4-11a Globalised trade, interdependence, and effects on people.
• SOC 4-11b Control of natural resources and state power.
• SOC 4-11c Population structure compared with another country.
• SOC 4-12a Threats to climate zones, including climate change.
• SOC 4-12b Climate change impacts on a region and possible responses.
• SOC 4-12c Relationship between weather and air pressure.
• SOC 4-14a Specialised maps and GIS for human and physical patterns.

Official wording

People in society, economy and business

• SOC 4-15a Weighing conflicting sources to support an argument.
• SOC 4-16a Whether the state or individuals should meet needs.
• SOC 4-16b Investigating a social issue and people's attitudes.
• SOC 4-16c Factors behind multicultural societies and related issues.
• SOC 4-17a Individuals' and groups' role in a political event.
• SOC 4-17b Media's role in democracy and influence on citizens.
• SOC 4-17c Comparing two world ideologies and their effects.
• SOC 4-18a Effects of decision-making bodies on people's lives.
• SOC 4-18b Reasons some people vote less, and why participation matters.
• SOC 4-18c Actions and motives of groups using non-democratic means.
• SOC 4-19a Expanding power's effects on cultures and experiences.
• SOC 4-19b Effectiveness of international organisations in meeting aims.
• SOC 4-20a How economic factors affect individuals and communities.
• SOC 4-20b Purposes of private, public, and voluntary organisations.
• SOC 4-20c Working practices across different business types.
• SOC 4-21a Suitability of finance options for different businesses.
• SOC 4-21b Preparing and presenting financial information for decisions.
• SOC 4-22a Departments and personnel, and their effect on success.
• SOC 4-22b Internal and external factors in business planning.

Official wording

Assessments and key dates

Qualifications Scotland exams 2027: Mon, 26 April 2027 to Thu, 3 June 2027 (timetable). There are no national tests of curriculum levels; teachers judge progress using the Benchmarks.

Official documents

• education.gov.scot/Documents/social-studies-eo.pdf

Trusted free resources

• Education Scotland – the official curriculum site.
• BBC Bitesize – videos and quizzes by nation and stage.

Links only: we don't copy their content and we aren't connected to these organisations.

More packs

Social studies – Early level · Social studies – First level · Social studies – Second level · Social studies – Third level · Social studies – Fourth level · P1 Social studies · P2 Social studies · P3 Social studies · All Scotland packs · Find another TIP