2. Understanding Standards: Drama National 3 – Advanced Higher Courses An Overview of Standards and Assessment

3. What this Presentation Covers:  Overview of the suite of Courses from National 3 to Advanced Higher Drama  Unit Assessment for each level  Course Assessment for each level  Key SQA supporting documentation and what it focuses on

4. Hierarchies This is the term used to describe the new Courses and Units which form a sequence involving two or more levels. Understanding this term and how the Courses/Units are sequenced can help us design appropriate contexts for teaching and learning. Although not mandatory, best practice would be to ensure that content at one level is not repeated as a learner progresses on to the next and more challenging level in the hierarchy. Unit assessment is judged holistically and assessors will be assessing a minimum competency in meeting the requirements of individual assessment standards.

5. Overview LevelAssessable Unit Course work Assessment National 3 SCQF Level 3 Drama Skills Drama: Production Skills n/a National 4 SCQF Level 4 Drama Skills Drama: Production Skills Internally Assessed Added Value Unit National 5 SCQF Level 5 Drama Skills Drama: Production Skills Performance and Question Paper Higher SCQF Level 6 Drama Skills Drama: Production Skills Performance and Question Paper Advanced Higher SCQF Level 7 Drama SkillsDrama: Production Skills Performance and Project-dissertation

6. Course Assessment LevelPerformanceQuestion paper National 4 Added Value - Performance. Internally assessed Unit focusing on challenge and application. National 5 Externally assessed (Collaborative marking model) Performance – 50 marks Preparation for Performance – 10 marks 60% of final grade 90 minute question paper 40 marks 40% of final grade HigherExternally assessed Performance – 50 Marks Preparation for Performance – 10 marks 60% of final grade 120 minute question paper 40 marks 40% of final grade

7. Advanced Higher Course Assessment Advanced Higher Performance Project-dissertation Externally assessed Performance – 50 marks Preparation for Performance – 10 marks 60% of final grade Externally assessed Project-dissertation 2,500 to 3,000 words in length - 40 marks 40% of final grade

8. Unit Assessment Support Packs The SQA Unit Assessment Support Packs (UASPs) are there to guide you in your approach to assessment and support you making assessment judgements. At each level, from National 3 Drama to Advanced Higher Drama, there are three different UASPs available which may be used to guide each centre in their individual approach to gathering candidate evidence.  Package 1 – Unit-by-Unit Approach  Package 2 – Unit-by-Unit (specific exemplar)  Package 3 – Combined Approach

9. Prior Verification Service SQA will accept submissions for any Unit in the new qualifications including the National 4 Added Value Unit. SQA will accept Prior Verification submissions from Local Education Authorities (LEAs) on behalf of Centres. LEAs and Centres need to ensure that assessments are designed in line with Curriculum for Excellence principles. Please refer to the NQ Prior Verification - A Guide for Centres.