Which option does not describe the formal curriculum?

• A. Planned syllabus of subjects and content
• B. Hidden messages about norms transmitted through routines and teacher attitudes
• C. Taught content that is assessed through exams
• D. Knowledge organized for instruction

Answer: (B)

You're being tested on the difference between the formal and the hidden curriculum. The formal curriculum is the explicit, planned content schools deliver: a planned syllabus of subjects and content, the taught content that is assessed through exams, and the knowledge organized for instruction. The option describing hidden messages about norms transmitted through routines and teacher attitudes points to the hidden curriculum—values and norms learned through the school environment rather than through official content. That’s why it does not describe the formal curriculum. The other statements fit the formal curriculum because they refer to the planned material, what is taught and tested, and how knowledge is organized for instruction.