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The Scottish Baccalaureate in Languages

Collection of post it notes saying welcome in different languages

The Scottish Baccalaureate in Languages has been designed to provide a challenging and rewarding experience for candidates in fifth and sixth year of secondary school.

It is based on a coherent group of subjects at Higher and Advanced Higher level with the addition of the Interdisciplinary Project, which offers added breadth and value and helps to equip the candidate with the generic skills, attitudes and confidence necessary to make the transition into Higher Education and/or employment.

 

SCILT, Scotland's national Centre for languages, is supporting SQA with the promotion and implementation of the Scottish Baccalaureate in Languages. Find out more.

 

Baccalaureates News

Expansion of Scottish Baccalaureate Provision

SQA are proposing to expand the provision of the Scottish Baccalaureate to offer all pupils studying at Advanced Higher level the opportunity to choose a Baccalaureate in a suitable subject area. We are proposing to broaden the two existing awards and develop two new awards in Expressive Arts and Social Sciences. Click here to view the proposed frameworks and give feedback

See all news

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Mandatory Components

The Scottish Languages Baccalaureate requires two, different eligible modern or classical Language Courses, at least one of which must be at Advanced Higher level.

The mandatory components of the Language Baccalaureate are:

Language Baccalaureate mandatory components
Interdisciplinary Project Unit Advanced Higher SCQF level 7 (16 SCQF points)
2 eligible Courses Advanced Higher SCQF level 7 (64 SCQF points)
1 eligible Course Higher SCQF level 6 (24 SCQF points)

One of the above Courses must be English (or ESOL or Gàidhlig*) and this may be at Higher or Advanced Higher level.

The Interdisciplinary Project Unit will be graded A, B or C.

* Learners who have Gàidhlig as their first Language may count both English and Gàidhlig

Entry

Candidates should be entered for both the Baccalaureate award and for the Interdisciplinary Project. The codes are as follows:

Languages Baccalaureate

Baccalaureate award – G9CW 47

Interdisciplinary Project – F784 47

Criteria for award of Pass and Distinction

Criteria for award of Distinction

The Scottish Languages Baccalaureate with Distinction will be awarded to candidates who achieve:

  • Grade A in one Advanced Higher eligible Course
  • Grade A in any other component
  • Grade B or above in all other components

Criteria for award of Pass

Candidates who achieve at least Grade C in all mandatory components and who do not meet the criteria for Distinction will be awarded a Pass in the Scottish Languages Baccalaureate.

Eligible Courses

Baccalaureates student image 2Cantonese**
Classical Greek*
Gaelic (Learners)*
German*
French*
Italian*
Latin*
Mandarin**
Russian
Spanish*
Urdu

* Currently available at Advanced Higher level
** Available in Higher and Advanced Higher from 2010

Note: Candidates cannot count both Gaelic (Learners) and Gàidhlig in the Languages Baccalaureate.
SQA's course catalogue is kept under constant review. New courses may be added, or existing courses may be deleted or replaced

Approval and Quality Assurance

Further information on approval is available in our Approval and Quality Assurancea> section

Arrangements

Arrangements document for the Scottish Baccalaureate in Languages can be accessed by using the following link:

Unit Specification

National Unit Specifications for the Interdisciplinary Project can be accessed by using the link below.

Assessment Support Packs

Languages ASP 

 

The Scottish Baccalaureate in Languages: Assessment Support Pack, Interdisciplinary Project (SCQF Level 7) (757 KB)

 

The exemplars in Section 9 were written prior to the delivery of the Baccalaureate. You can now see real examples of candidates' Interdisciplinary Projects with External Verifier commentaries in the Exemplar section below.

 

Section 10 - Templates for Candidates and Assessors in Word format

 

Languages ASP - Section 10: Templates for Candidates and Assessors (200 KB)

 

Assessment Exemplars

Baccalaureate in Languages Examplars and Commentaries

Exemplar
 Commentary
Languages Exemplar One (2.14 MB) EV Commentary One (213 KB)
Languages Exemplar Two (1.47 MB) EV Commentary Two (215 KB)
Languages Exemplar Three (2.40 MB) EV Commentary Three (216 KB)
Languages Exemplar Four (1.63 MB) EV Commentary Four (216 KB)
Languages Exemplar Five (1.99 MB) EV Commentary Five (214 KB)
   

Video Case Studies

Rachel's experience

Scott's experience

St Kentigern's Academy - model of working

Case Studies

2011 Case Studies

Languages

Models of delivery

Candidate Guide

Internal Assessment Reports