2. Understanding Standards:
Advanced Higher Course Event
Principal Assessor (PA)
Advanced Higher Gàidhlig

3. Aims of the Event
To support teachers, lecturers and assessors in their understanding of national standards for Advanced Higher by:
Sharing general updates
Reviewing the Advanced Higher Course structure
Sharing Verification Key Messages and Course Reports for 2015/16
Considering candidate evidence from Unit and Course Assessment: Specialist Study, Talking performance and Writing
Discussing candidate evidence and associated Marking Instructions with colleagues
Providing an opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification about national standards

4. Verification Key Messages for 2015/16 published
2016/17 Updates
Verification Key Messages for 2015/16 published
Course Reports for 2016 diet published
QA arrangements for session 2016/17
Course Assessment – review of writing paper

5. Updates applicable beyond session 16/17
Current mandatory units for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher
would no longer form part of the requirement of the Course.
Removal will be progressive over sessions 17/18, 18/19, 19/20.
SQA will also retain the units of the Courses as free standing units for
learners who wish to take and be certificated for these.
suspension of the random sample element of unit verification,
currently in place in session 16/17, would be extended to 2017/18

6. SCQF level 7 32 SCQF credit points
Advanced Higher Skills
Listening, talking, reading and writing skills, as appropriate to purpose and audience
Understanding, analysing and evaluating a wide range of complex and sophisticated literary texts, as appropriate to purpose and audience
Creating and producing a wide range of complex and sophisticated texts
Translating skills from written English to written Gàidhlig and interpreting skills from spoken Gàidhlig to spoken or written English
Applying higher-order thinking skills
Applying literary research and investigative skills
Developing knowledge of Gàidhlig language, literature and culture
SCQF level SCQF credit points

7. Course Structure: Unit Assessments
The course is made up of three Units:
Writing and Literary Criticism skills (reading and writing)
Translating and Interpreting skills (translation, interpreting, talking or writing)
Specialist Study of Language and/or Culture (research, planning and analysis)
Internally assessed
Sample centrally verified by SQA (Nominee verifiers)

8. Course Structure: Course Assessments
(30 marks) 1hr 30min
Paper Practical Criticism
Reading text (15 marks)
Read one text in Gàidhlig
Respond to questions in Gàidhlig
Poem (15 marks)
Read one piece of poetry in Gàidhlig

9. Paper 2 Literature and Writing
Course Structure: Course Assessments
Paper 2 Literature and Writing
(40 marks) 1hr 30 min
Literature (20 marks) : section 1
Write an essay in Gàidhlig on choice of 1 literary text studied
Text drawn from drama prose or poetry
Range of marks apply – not pegged marks
Writing (20 marks) : section 2
Write an essay in Gàidhlig from choice of 8 titles
Candidates to show ability to use complex and sophisticated written Gàidhlig

10. Performance Talking (30 marks)
Course Structure: Course Assessments
Performance Talking (30 marks)
Conducted by Visiting Assessor externally, audio-recorded
Conversation/discussion of about 20 min on themes or topics related to the Specialist Study of Language and/or Culture Unit and any other topics studied
Some brief notes permitted
Five main aspects of Performance are given consideration: Style and structure, Content, Accuracy, Language Resource and Interaction with assessor
Range of marks applied, not pegged marks: 30-27, 26-23, 22-19, 18-15, 14-11, 10-6, 5-1

11. Verification Key Messages Summary 15/16 (Principal Verifier for Gàidhlig)
Majority of centres using SQA Unit Assessment Support Packs (UASPs), a few adapted the SQA assessments
Re-assessment of specific Assessment Standards not met is required, not re-assessment of the Assessment Standards already met
No time constraints in unit assessment
Talking unit assessments – appropriate support from interlocutors, helped candidates to sustain conversation
Approach to Unit Assessments:

12. Verification Key Messages Summary 15/16 (Principal Verifier for Gàidhlig)
Majority of centres made assessment judgements in line with national standards
Useful when centres provide commentaries on candidate evidence
Centres encouraged to feedback to candidates as to why they have have/have not met Assessment Standards
Centres took holistic and positive approach to marking candidate evidence against Assessment Standards
Assessment judgements: Observations

13. Feedback on Specialist Study Unit/Culture Unit - 2015/16 (Principal Verifiers for Modern Languages)
Specialist Study Unit /or Culture Unit at Advanced Higher Feedback from modern languages (similar unit) :
All centres accepted on Approach – minimum two sources used. Majority of centres used SQA logbook for candidates to record their work, all candidates chose appropriate focus
Clear evidence of independent research undertaken by candidates
Some candidates modified theme/focus as they progressed with analysis
Centres encouraged to record content of any discussion with candidates – can add to evidence of candidate analysis
Judgements made in line with national standards
Centres encouraged to provide detailed feedback to candidates in logbook, including remediation work/notes.

14. IACCA Approach to Assessment: N5/Higher Performance
Verification Key Messages Summary – 2015/16
(Principal Verifier for Gàidhlig)
IACCA Approach to Assessment: N5/Higher Performance
All centres used the SQA guidelines for the assessment task as per the General Assessment Information document for the talking performance
The topics chosen provided candidates with good opportunity to demonstrate a range of structures and language resource
Length of conversations - adhere to the duration as recommended in General Assessment Information documents for N5 and Higher

15. IACCA Approach to Assessment: N5/Higher Performance
Verification Key Messages Summary – 2015/16
(Principal Verifier for Gàidhlig)
IACCA Approach to Assessment: N5/Higher Performance
Assessors should allow candidates to set pace of the conversation
Assessor should be supportive in bringing conversation to natural conclusion
Assessors used open-ended questions which are conducive to flowing conversation

16. IACCA Assessment Judgements: N5/Higher Performance
Verification Key Messages Summary – 2015/16
(Principal Verifiers for Modern Languages)
IACCA Assessment Judgements: N5/Higher Performance
Evidence of internal verification very useful
Professional dialogue around marks awarded would be very helpful

17. Course Report Summary - 2015/16
Literature:
A number of candidates effectively used evidence to back up points within their essays

18. Course Report Summary - 2015/16
Writing:
Candidates wrote in a variety of different ways based on the titles offered in the question paper

19. Advice on General Preparation:
Course Report Summary /16
Advice on General Preparation:
Literature and Writing: In Literature answers, candidates should demonstrate some depth of analysis and evaluation in their answers backed up by sufficient textual evidence.
In Writing, candidates should avoid simple accounts and ensure that there is some depth to their response. To this end they should gain sufficient practice on an ongoing basis to develop their writing skills.

20. AH Course Assessment: Literature and Writing
Workshop 1 – approximately 1h15 min
Consider candidate evidence
Discuss with colleagues and feedback after each piece of candidate evidence
AH Course Assessment: Literature and Writing

21. Course Report Summary - 2015/16
Talking Performance:
Visiting assessors spoke of all pupils’ willingness to engage in conversation

22. Advice on General Preparation:
Course Report Summary /16
Advice on General Preparation:
Talking performance: Candidates to ensure they have a thorough knowledge of their specialist study topic including methods of research and the work covered during the course

23. AH Performance: Talking
Workshop 2 – approximately 1h 15 min
Refer to Marking Instructions and range of marks
Discuss with colleagues and feedback after each piece of candidate evidence
AH Performance: Talking

24. Course Report Summary - 2015/16
Practical Criticism
Most candidates performed quite well in answering the questions based on the prose passage and the poem

25. Advice on General Preparation:
Course Report Summary /16
Advice on General Preparation:
Practical Criticism: Candidates should be aware of the number of marks awarded for questions and the need for the appropriate number of points and/or examples
Candidates should ensure they get practice in analysing different prose and poetry texts and ensure a thorough knowledge of techniques

26. AH Course Assessment: Practical Criticism
Workshop 3 – approximately 1 hour
Refer to Marking Instructions and range of marks
Discuss with colleagues and feedback after each piece of candidate evidence
AH Course Assessment: Practical Criticism

27. Number candidates (cumul.)
2016 Statistics – Advanced Higher Gàidhlig
Grade
Number candidates (cumul.) %
% cumul. A 16
51.6
A-B 24
25.8
77.4
A-C 28
12.9
90.3
A-D 31
9.7
100
No award
Entries

28. Sources of Further Information
Gàidhlig Advanced Higher page
Gàidhlig home page - Verification Key Message Reports, Course Reports, Subject review reports and subject updates
Exemplification
2016 Statistical Information on National Qualifications and Awards

29. SQA Marker Opportunities
Marker applications are encouraged from new Markers who would like to join a marking team for 2017
Nat 5 / Higher / Advanced Higher opportunities
SQA’s new eRecruiter system, where applications may be submitted, is available online:

30. Any Questions?