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CUS3701: Curriculum Studies
May/June 2025 & May/June 2023 — Comprehensive Exam Revision Guide
⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆
College of Education — Curriculum and Instructional Studies
Exam Revision Guide
CUS3701
Module Code:
Curriculum Studies in Context
Module Name:
May/June 2025 & May/June 2023 & May/June 2024
Papers Covered:
100 marks (per paper)
Total Marks:
Curriculum and Instructional Studies
Department:
Understand deeply. Think critically. Apply practically. These notes are built from
verified exam question patterns, prescribed textbook content, and UNISA tutorial
feedback.
Exam Revision Notes | CUS3701 | May/June Examination 2026
,CUS3701 | Exam Revision Curriculum Studies — May/June 2025 & 2023
PAPER 1: MAY/JUNE 2025 EXAMINATION
CUS3701 — Curriculum Studies in Context — 100 Marks
Question 1 — Section A: Multiple Choice Questions [20 marks]
(1.1) [2 marks]
Question: The “curriculum as planned” refers to:
1. The role of the teacher in the class.
2. Teacher and learner reactions during lessons.
3. The explicit document also described as the “blueprint” for teaching.
4. The continuous assessment of learners.
Answer: Correct answer: 3.
The planned curriculum is the official, written document produced by education au-
thorities. It describes what should be taught, when, and how. It is sometimes called the
“blueprint” because it prescribes the intended scope, sequence, and outcomes. In South
Africa, CAPS serves as this planned document.
Exam Tip
Do not confuse the planned curriculum (written blueprint) with the enacted cur-
riculum (what actually happens in the classroom) or the assessed curriculum
(what is tested).
(1.2) [2 marks]
Question: A narrow description of “curriculum” as a concept entails a:
1. List of contents to be learnt.
2. Learning and teaching situation.
3. Broad set of all learner experiences at school.
4. Reflection of societal values and political context.
Page 2 of 42
,CUS3701 | Exam Revision Curriculum Studies — May/June 2025 & 2023
Answer: Correct answer: 1.
The narrow definition of curriculum refers simply to a list of subjects or content to
be covered, similar to a syllabus. It focuses on prescribed content only. The broader
definition, by contrast, includes all learning experiences, unintended learning, the hidden
curriculum, and societal context.
(1.3) [2 marks]
Question: Lev Vygotsky argued for a perspective in education.
1. Behaviourist
2. Socio-constructivist
3. Cognitivist
4. Humanist
Answer: Correct answer: 2.
Lev Vygotsky (1896–1934) was a Russian developmental psychologist who argued for
a socio-constructivist perspective. He held that cognitive development results from
social interaction. His key concepts include the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)
and scaffolding, both of which place learning within a social and cultural context.
(1.4) [2 marks]
Question: Which term refers to the implicit teaching that is not explicitly stated in the
curriculum?
1. Assessed curriculum
2. Enacted curriculum
3. Hidden curriculum
4. Planned curriculum
Answer: Correct answer: 3.
The hidden curriculum refers to the unofficial, unwritten set of norms, values, and
behaviours that learners acquire at school but that are not formally stated. Examples
Page 3 of 42
, CUS3701 | Exam Revision Curriculum Studies — May/June 2025 & 2023
include punctuality, respect for authority, and gender expectations embedded in school
culture.
Watch Out
Some sources use “covert curriculum” as a synonym for hidden curriculum, but in
the CUS3701 textbook, “hidden curriculum” is the preferred term.
(1.5) [2 marks]
Question: The cognitive dimension of Bloom’s revised taxonomy includes which six skills
(from lower to higher order)?
1. Know, comprehend, apply, analyse, synthesise, evaluate
2. Remember, understand, apply, analyse, evaluate, create
3. Identify, describe, explain, compare, assess, design
4. Recall, define, illustrate, classify, judge, produce
Answer: Correct answer: 2.
Bloom’s revised taxonomy (Anderson & Krathwohl, 2001) restructured the original
1956 taxonomy. The six cognitive levels from lowest to highest are:
Level Description
Remember Retrieve relevant knowledge from memory
Understand Construct meaning from instructional messages
Apply Use a procedure in a given situation
Analyse Break material into parts, detect relationships
Evaluate Make judgements based on criteria
Create Combine elements to form a new product
Exam Tip
The key change in the revised taxonomy is that Synthesis became Create (moved
to the top), and Evaluation became Evaluate (moved one step down). Always use
the revised version in CUS3701 answers.
Page 4 of 42
]]
CUS3701: Curriculum Studies
May/June 2025 & May/June 2023 — Comprehensive Exam Revision Guide
⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆ ⋄ ⋆
College of Education — Curriculum and Instructional Studies
Exam Revision Guide
CUS3701
Module Code:
Curriculum Studies in Context
Module Name:
May/June 2025 & May/June 2023 & May/June 2024
Papers Covered:
100 marks (per paper)
Total Marks:
Curriculum and Instructional Studies
Department:
Understand deeply. Think critically. Apply practically. These notes are built from
verified exam question patterns, prescribed textbook content, and UNISA tutorial
feedback.
Exam Revision Notes | CUS3701 | May/June Examination 2026
,CUS3701 | Exam Revision Curriculum Studies — May/June 2025 & 2023
PAPER 1: MAY/JUNE 2025 EXAMINATION
CUS3701 — Curriculum Studies in Context — 100 Marks
Question 1 — Section A: Multiple Choice Questions [20 marks]
(1.1) [2 marks]
Question: The “curriculum as planned” refers to:
1. The role of the teacher in the class.
2. Teacher and learner reactions during lessons.
3. The explicit document also described as the “blueprint” for teaching.
4. The continuous assessment of learners.
Answer: Correct answer: 3.
The planned curriculum is the official, written document produced by education au-
thorities. It describes what should be taught, when, and how. It is sometimes called the
“blueprint” because it prescribes the intended scope, sequence, and outcomes. In South
Africa, CAPS serves as this planned document.
Exam Tip
Do not confuse the planned curriculum (written blueprint) with the enacted cur-
riculum (what actually happens in the classroom) or the assessed curriculum
(what is tested).
(1.2) [2 marks]
Question: A narrow description of “curriculum” as a concept entails a:
1. List of contents to be learnt.
2. Learning and teaching situation.
3. Broad set of all learner experiences at school.
4. Reflection of societal values and political context.
Page 2 of 42
,CUS3701 | Exam Revision Curriculum Studies — May/June 2025 & 2023
Answer: Correct answer: 1.
The narrow definition of curriculum refers simply to a list of subjects or content to
be covered, similar to a syllabus. It focuses on prescribed content only. The broader
definition, by contrast, includes all learning experiences, unintended learning, the hidden
curriculum, and societal context.
(1.3) [2 marks]
Question: Lev Vygotsky argued for a perspective in education.
1. Behaviourist
2. Socio-constructivist
3. Cognitivist
4. Humanist
Answer: Correct answer: 2.
Lev Vygotsky (1896–1934) was a Russian developmental psychologist who argued for
a socio-constructivist perspective. He held that cognitive development results from
social interaction. His key concepts include the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)
and scaffolding, both of which place learning within a social and cultural context.
(1.4) [2 marks]
Question: Which term refers to the implicit teaching that is not explicitly stated in the
curriculum?
1. Assessed curriculum
2. Enacted curriculum
3. Hidden curriculum
4. Planned curriculum
Answer: Correct answer: 3.
The hidden curriculum refers to the unofficial, unwritten set of norms, values, and
behaviours that learners acquire at school but that are not formally stated. Examples
Page 3 of 42
, CUS3701 | Exam Revision Curriculum Studies — May/June 2025 & 2023
include punctuality, respect for authority, and gender expectations embedded in school
culture.
Watch Out
Some sources use “covert curriculum” as a synonym for hidden curriculum, but in
the CUS3701 textbook, “hidden curriculum” is the preferred term.
(1.5) [2 marks]
Question: The cognitive dimension of Bloom’s revised taxonomy includes which six skills
(from lower to higher order)?
1. Know, comprehend, apply, analyse, synthesise, evaluate
2. Remember, understand, apply, analyse, evaluate, create
3. Identify, describe, explain, compare, assess, design
4. Recall, define, illustrate, classify, judge, produce
Answer: Correct answer: 2.
Bloom’s revised taxonomy (Anderson & Krathwohl, 2001) restructured the original
1956 taxonomy. The six cognitive levels from lowest to highest are:
Level Description
Remember Retrieve relevant knowledge from memory
Understand Construct meaning from instructional messages
Apply Use a procedure in a given situation
Analyse Break material into parts, detect relationships
Evaluate Make judgements based on criteria
Create Combine elements to form a new product
Exam Tip
The key change in the revised taxonomy is that Synthesis became Create (moved
to the top), and Evaluation became Evaluate (moved one step down). Always use
the revised version in CUS3701 answers.
Page 4 of 42
