National Qualifications were introduced in a phased way from 2014 – this document was produced by SQA and SCQF to relate the new qualifications to those that parents and employers may be more familiar with. Courses at National 1 to 4 are ungraded and are internally assessed by the staff in schools and colleges and are quality assured by SQA Courses at National 5 to Advanced Higher are graded A to D

Course assessment for N5, Higher and Advanced Higher is carried out using one or two of the following : Assignment Case Study Practical Activity Performance Portfolio Project Question Paper/test These assessments are externally marked by SQA or internally marked and quality assured by SQA. SQA assessing and marking is done by appointees – experienced teachers and lecturers who also deliver the qualifications..

Removal of mandatory unit assessments ‘The removal of mandatory unit assessments has the distinct purpose of reducing the amount of assessment experienced by young people taking national qualifications and the workload created as a result of administering the units.’ Scottish Government Policy Statement, March 2017 In September 2016, the CFE Management Board ratified ANQ decision to remove mandatory units and unit assessments from National 5 to Advanced Higher courses, and enhance the course assessment. Some teachers’ groups expressed the view that that the cumulative impact of typically having to undertake three unit assessments, course assignments, prelims and a final exam for each course was too great. This was especially the case in the context of one year courses, which was a common approach, and was detracting from providing sufficient time for high quality learning and teaching. www.sqa.org.uknqchanges http://news.gov.scot/news/refocusing-national-qualifications http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0051/00516166.pdf

Removal of mandatory unit assessments Session 2017-18: National 5 Session 2018-19: Higher Session 2019-20: Advanced Higher You will see that the units are being removed over the next three years, starting with National 5 then Higher then Advanced Higher. The revisions that you hear about for National 5 will be mirrored for Higher and AH

Revisions to National 5 No changes to the aims, rationale or content of the courses An opportunity to streamline the course documents Course assessments have been strengthened to ensure assessment of the full course by one or more of the following: - extension of the existing question paper - extension of the existing item of coursework - new question paper - new item of coursework The removal of units from courses gives SQA the opportunity to reduce and streamline existing course documentation – identified as an area of concern for teachers earlier in the year. The new documentation includes mandatory content and information about course assessment. The original course assessment approach required completion of internally assessed National units plus a course assessment, normally an examination question paper and/or coursework. Removing units and unit assessments means that we need to strengthen the course assessments to maintain 24 SCQF credit points and protect the integrity of National courses. In most courses existing question paper and/or coursework have been extended to ensure breadth of course coverage and maintain rigour. In a small number of courses we will introduce a new question paper or coursework. This is required where a significant aspect of the course is currently only assessed in the units- eg practical subjects which are currently assessed by coursework alone may have a new question paper to assess knowledge and understanding. In a small number of other subjects some significant skills are currently only assessed within units and the addition of coursework is required to assess theses skills.

New question paper – 9 subjects N5 Hospitality: Practical Cookery National 5 Hospitality – Practical Cookery Previous assessment was by practical activity Knowledge and understanding was assessed within the units. Revised assessment is a coursework worth 75 % of final grade plus a one hour examination, worth 30 marks scaled to 25% of final grade Subjects with additional examination paper are: Administration and IT Care Dance Fashion and Textile Technology Hospitality: Practical Cake Craft Hospitality: Practical Cookery Practical Electronics Practical Metalworking Practical Woodworking

New item of coursework- 4 subjects N5 Music Composing N5 Music Composing was originally assessed within a unit assessment Difficult to incorporate this component into a QP so an additional coursework item has been added. Subjects with new coursework items are English Modern Languages Gaidhlig Music

Grade D from 2018 Revised National Qualifications – Grade D will be broadened from the current position (notional 45-49%) to a notional 40-49%. This ten per cent range brings a Grade D award into line with the ranges for Grades B and C This will apply to National 5 in 2018, Higher in 2019 and Advanced Higher in 2020. ANQ announced in March 2017 that the mechanism for Recognising Positive Achievement will be through the extension of Grade D. Grade D is being extended to 40-49%. This was principally agreed to compensate for the removal of the operational process called Recognising Positive Achievement (the fall-back arrangements between National 5 and National 4). This will be introduced on an incremental basis as course structures change. National 5 in 2018 will certificate grade D at 40-49%, Higher and Advanced Higher in 2018 will certificate grade D at current arrangements 45-49%. Higher will change in 2019 and Advanced Higher in 2020.

National 4 As detailed in the Scottish Government’s policy statement: The Assessment and National Qualifications Group is considering National 4, with an initial focus on the form of an external assessment, and on the ability to differentiate candidate performance It is important that these discussions are taken forward in the context of the different pathways that might be taken by a candidate who achieves a National 4

www.sqa.org.uk SQA’s website gives information for various audiences – teachers, learners and parents and carers. We will soon be launching a public beta version of our site – our aim is to make navigating the information easier for all users

National 5 course documents Subject pages are useful for parents and pupils as well as subject teachers. Course documents, assessment information (including past papers and MI’s)plus resources from SQA and links to material from other organisations – eg BBC Bitesize.

Understanding Standards Find this area of the website from subject pages or by scrolling to the bottom of any page on the website and you will see a grey menu band where you can choose Understanding Standards. There are examples of marked candidate work available to allow you to see the level of work that is produced at each level under this system. Remember that the aims and content of the courses have not changed so the materials are still relevant though the way that they course is assessed may have changed.

My SQA Remind candidates to register for My SQA if they wish to have results by text - especially useful if you don’t get your post until late in the day, or you are away from home on the day that results arrive.

Study, Revision and Preparation Subject and assessment information www.sqa.org.uk/browsecfesubjects Parentzone covers issues that affect parents during the different stages of their children's education. https://education.gov.scot/parentzone BBC Bitesize: www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize Revision in a nutshell: www.npfs.org.uk