2. Understanding Standards: Advanced Higher Event
English

3. Aims of the day
To support teachers, lecturers and assessors in their understanding of national standards by:
reviewing candidate evidence
discussing this evidence and associated Marking Instructions with colleagues
asking questions and seeking clarification about national standards

4. Advanced Higher English 2016
the first year of the new qualification
significant increase in uptake
four compulsory components
Literary Study
Textual Analysis
Portfolio–Writing
Dissertation (literature only)

5. Advanced Higher English 2016
2303 candidates A
25.7% B
27% C
28.2% D
10.2% NA
8.9%

6. Literary Study no specified texts/authors four parts in the paper
seven questions in each part
two novels/plays
three short stories/poems

7. Literary Study Most popular questions in the 2016 paper:
Q. 27 (Drama) 14%
Q. 28 (Drama) 12%
Q. A1 (Poetry) 8%
Q. A6 (Poetry) 8%
Q. A7 (Poetry) 8%
Q. B9 (Prose Fiction) 8%

8. Key Messages - Literary Study
select high quality texts
knowledge of technical terms
avoid inappropriate micro-analysis
choose an appropriate question

9. Textual Analysis compulsory for all candidates
requires application of appropriate skills
candidates responded well to the challenge

10. Textual Analysis 47 42 4 7 Genre % of candidates Poetry Prose Fiction
Prose Non-fiction 4
Drama 7

11. Key Messages – Textual Analysis
no genre restriction in choice of question
awareness of genre conventions
knowledge of technical terms
extended bullet-point responses acceptable

12. Portfolio—writing Genre % of pieces submitted Reflective 22 Fiction 35
Poetry 10
Drama 8
Persuasive 17
Argumentative 6
Informative 2

13. Key Messages—Portfolio-writing
two pieces in two different genres
awareness of genre conventions
technical skills could be taught alongside TA
single poem rather than group of poems

14. Project—dissertation
introduction of reduced word limit
single ‘substantial’ text possible
some excellent work in evidence
two novels (by different authors) by far the most popular choice for study

15. Key Messages –– Project—dissertation
select high quality literary texts
avoid overly disparate groupings of texts
specific and manageable topics are constructed
offer detailed analysis of appropriate elements
footnotes and bibliographies are included

16. Useful Links Revised Course Support Notes:
Advanced Higher English Webinar recording:
Education Scotland materials:
Heriot-Watt SCHOLAR:
Understanding Standards Materials: