Course Structure and Content forHigher Subjects

General Information

National Qualifications are:

• for young people in S4, S5, S6 as part of their Senior Phase in Curriculumfor Excellence

• offered in a wide range of subjects and at different levels

• designed to progress learning. Most learners start their journey towards formalqualifications with National 4 and/or National 5 courses progressing from the Level 3and 4 Experiences and Outcomes in the Broad General Education.

• designed and quality assured by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) anddelivered by schools , in accordance with SQA guidelines and requirements.

Unit Assessment

Unit Assessments are required for all National Qualifications. The number ofunits will vary depending on subject/level.

• They assess the learning within each subject during the course of the year

• Units are assessed as pass or fail by the school, following SQA quality assuranceto meet national standards

• They ensure that required skills, knowledge and understanding have been achieved

• Unit Assessments are carried out by schools in accordance with SQA guidelinesand requirements

• One of seven methods of assessment can be used:

Assignment

Case Study

Practical Activity

Performance

Portfolio

Project

Question paper/test

alificationsSESSMENT

Course Assessment

Course Assessments form part of Higherqualifications (together with Unit Assessments),and assess the application of learning across the course.

• They usually consist of two components from the seven methods of assessment. Many courses have an Assignment and a Question Paper (exam) which aremarked by the SQA. For practical reasons, other courses have components which are assessed by schools. A few subjects are entirely assessed by schools inaccordance with SQA guidelines and requirements.

• They are graded from A to D or as No Award

• They ensure that required skills, knowledge and understanding have been achieved

• They are set by the SQA

Results

• National certificates and results are sent out by post bythe SQA in early August

• Learners can also sign up to receive their results by textand/or email through MySQA (

• Certificates show both courses and units that havebeen passed

• Units passed by the learner will appear on certificates,even if the overall course is not passed

• Higher courses will be graded A to D or as No Award

• Grades A to C are a Pass; D recognises achievement

• Details of courses taken but not passed are given in thecovering letter that accompanies the certificate.NATIONAL

1

NATIONAL

Subject Specific Information(Click on the Subject name to go to SQA website)

Administration and IT (Higher)

3 Units, Assignment and Exam
Administrative Theory and Practice

IT Solutions for Administrators

Communication in Administration
Assignment (70 marks)(2 hours) + Question Paper (30 marks)(1 hour)

Art and Design (Higher)
2 Units, Portfolio and Exam
Expressive Activity
Design Activity
Portfolio (160 marks) + Question Paper (60 marks)(2 hours)

Business Management (Higher)
3 Units, Assignment and Exam
Understanding Business

Management of People and Finance

Management of Marketing and Operations
Assignment (30 marks) + Question paper (70 marks)(2 hours 15 min)

Chemistry (Higher)
4 Units, Assignment and Exam
Chemical Changes and Structure

Researching Chemistry

Nature’s Chemistry

Chemistry in Society
Assignment (20 marks) + Question paper (100 marks)(2hours 30 min)
Computer Science (Higher)
2 Units, Assignment and exam
Software Design and Development

Information System Design and Development
Assignment (60 marks) + Question paper (90 marks)(2 hours)

Design and Manufacture (Higher)
2 Units, Assignment and exam
Design

Materials and Manufacturing
Assignment (70 marks) + Question paper (70 marks)(2 hours)
Drama (Higher)
2 Units, Performance and exam
Drama Skills

Production Skills
Performance (60 marks) + Question paper (40 marks)(2 hours)

Engineering Science (Higher)
3 Units, Assignment and exam
Engineering Contexts and Challenges

Electronics and Control

Mechanisms and Structures
Assignment (60 marks) + Question paper (90 marks)(2 hours)
English (Higher)
2 Units, Portfolio and exam(2 papers)
Analysis and Evaluation

Creation and Production
Portfolio (30 marks) + Question paper (70 marks)(Paper 1=30 marks/1 hr 30 min)(Paper 2=40 marks/1 hr 30 min)
Geography (Higher)
3 Units, Assignment and exam
Physical Environments

Human Environments

Global Issues
Assignment (30 marks) + Question paper (60 marks)(2 hours 15 min)
History (Higher)
3 Units, Assignment and exam
Scottish History

British History

European and World History
Assignment (30 marks) + Question paper (60 marks)(2 hours 20 min)
Human Biology (Higher)
4 Units, Assignment and exam
Human Cells

Physiology and Health

Neurobiology and Communication

Immunology and Public Health
Assignment (20 marks) + Question paper (100 marks)(2 hours 30 min)

Mathematics (Higher)
3 Units and exam
Expressions and Functions

Relationships and Calculus

Applications
Question paper (130 marks)(Paper 1=60 marks/1 hour 10 min)(Paper 2=70 marks/1 hour 30 min)

Modern Languages (Higher) (French, German, Spanish)
2 Units, Performance and exam
Understanding Language

Using Language
Performance (30 marks) + Question paper (70 marks)(Paper 1=40 marks)(Paper 2=30 marks)

Modern Studies (Higher)
3 Units, Assignment and exam
Democracy in Scotland and the United Kingdom
Social Issues in the United Kingdom
International Issues
Assignment (30 marks) + Question paper (60 marks)(2 hours 15 min)

Music (Higher)
3 Units, Performance and exam
Performing Skills

Composing Skills

Understanding Music
Performance (60 marks) + Question paper (40 marks)(1 hour)

Music Technology (Higher)
3 Units, Performance and exam
Music Technology Skills

Music Technology in Context

Music Technology Understanding 20th and 21st Century Music
Assignment (70 marks) + Question paper (30marks)(45 min)

Physical Education (Higher)
2 Units, Performance and exam
Performance Skills

Factors Impacting on Performance
Performance (60 marks) + Question paper (40 marks)(1 hour 30 min)
Physics (Higher)
4 Units, Assignment and exam
Our Dynamic Universe

Particles and Waves

Electricity

Researching Physics
Assignment (20 marks) + Question paper (100 marks)(2 hours 30 min)

Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies (Higher)
3 Units, Assignment and exam
World Religion

Morality and Belief

Religious and Philosophical Questions
Assignment (30 marks) + Question paper (60 marks)(2 hours 15 min)