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

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 Course Assessment: Literary Appreciation, Translating and Dissertation
Discussing candidate evidence and associated Marking Instructions with colleagues
Providing an opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification about national standards

4. 2016/17 Updates
Verification update and Key Messages for 2015/16 published
Course Reports for 2016 diet published
Reminder revised Higher prescribed text

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
Understanding, analysing and evaluating texts in Latin and translated into English
Translating skills, including developing advanced knowledge and understanding of accidence, syntax, literary styles and nuances
Developing advanced knowledge and understanding of literary techniques and Roman culture
Other course aims include:
develop, to an advanced level, language skills in order to translate unseen verse and prose passages into English
develop knowledge of a wide range of Latin vocabulary
further develop language acquisition skills
explore the interconnected nature of languages
SCQF level SCQF credit points

7. Course Structure: Unit Assessments
The course is made up of three Units
understanding, analysing and evaluating texts
Literary Appreciation
planning, research and presentation of findings
Project
translation of complex, unseen texts
Translating
Internally assessed
Sample centrally verified by SQA (Nominee verifiers)

8. Literary Appreciation Understanding, analysing and evaluating
Course Structure: Course Assessment
1h30min, 60 marks
Paper 1
Literary Appreciation
Understanding, analysing and evaluating
Choice between sections 1 and 2 (verse or prose)
Marks given for:
understanding main ideas/themes
analysing and evaluating literary techniques
knowledge and understanding of Roman culture
communicating critical response to chosen text

9. Course Structure: Course Assessment
1hr, 50 marks
Paper 2
Translating
Translating
1 unseen text to translate into English (approx words)
No dictionary but word list provided
Marks given for:
accuracy of translation and conveying the essential ideas

10. Course Structure: Course Assessments
Dissertation (60 marks)
Prepared internally, externally marked.
words long, should include word count.
10% beyond word count – penalty applies.
Max. 20 marks awarded for each of three elements:
content
use of primary and secondary resources
argument and analysis
Range of marks 20-17, 16-13, 12-10, 9-6, 5-1, 0.

11. Verification Key Messages Summary - 2015/16
(Principal Verifier for Latin)
Approach to Unit Assessments:
Literary Appreciation and Translating
Vast majority of centres used SQA UASPs.
Some centres amended UASP questions/tasks to suit the needs of candidates.
Most centres submitted very clear and well-organised packages: facilitates the verification process and assists in providing useful feedback to centres.

12. Verification Key Messages Summary - 2015/16
(Principal Verifier for Latin)
Approach to Assessment in Units:
Added Value Unit
SQA AVU template followed
Good evidence of understanding of requirements of the four Assessment Standards
Encouraging to see personalisation and choice in selection of topics

13. Verification Key Messages Summary - 2015/16
(Principal Verifier for Latin)
Assessment Judgements: Literary Appreciation and Translating
Vast majority of centres applied judging evidence reliably and in line with national standards.
Holistically, at least half of the passage should be translated properly for a ‘pass’.
Acceptable to put numerical scores on candidates’ scripts in both Translating and Literary Appreciation.
Amended Judging Evidence / ‘centre-devised’ marking schemes.

14. Literary Appreciation
Course Reports Summary /16
(Principal Assessor for Latin)
Literary Appreciation
On the whole candidates engaged well with the questions.
Candidates were able to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the prescribed texts.

15. Translating Course Reports Summary - 2015/16
(Principal Assessor for Latin)
Translating
The majority of candidates were well prepared and their performance was good.
Candidates were able to engage with passage and demonstrate a good command of grammar and syntax.

16. Project-dissertation
Course Reports Summary /16
(Principal Assessor for Latin)
Project-dissertation
Perhaps the most significant factor in determining success was the candidate’s choice of topic.
Stronger project-dissertations those that were more targeted or had analytical titles.

17. Course Reports Summary – 2015/16
(Principal Assessor for Latin)
Advice on General Preparation
Literary Appreciation:
A thorough knowledge of the prescribed texts is of prime importance as questions require an accurate grasp of detail.
Continue to prepare candidates to answer questions on content, style and tone.
Translating:
Candidates must have a firm grasp of the prescribed grammar and syntax.
Continue to practise translating complex passages.
Project-dissertation:
Candidates advised to choose their topic wisely and quote in Latin.

18. Number candidates (cumul.)
2016 Statistics – Advanced Higher Latin
Grade
Number candidates (cumul.) %
% cumul. A 42
53.2
A-B 60
22.7
75.9
A-C 70
12.7
88.6
A-D 72
2.5
91.1
No award 7
8.9
100
Entries 79

19. Sources of Further Information
Latin homepage for Subject updates and Review Report
Exemplification
2016 Statistical Information on National Qualifications and Awards
Latin Advanced Higher Verification Key Message Reports,
Course Report

20. Literary Appreciation
Workshop 1 – approximately 1 hour
Refer to Marking Instructions
Discuss with colleagues and feedback after each piece of candidate evidence
Literary Appreciation

21. Workshop 2 – approximately 1h20min
Refer to Marking Instructions
Discuss with colleagues and feedback after each piece of candidate evidence
Translating

22. Project - Dissertation
Workshop 3 – approximately 1 hour
Refer to Marking Instructions
Discuss with colleagues and feedback after each piece of candidate evidence
Project - Dissertation

23. 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:

24. 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:

25. Any Questions?