Main navigation: Internationally recognised leader in qualifications and assessment
Breadcrumb navigation:

Subjects & Qualifications

In this section

The Scottish Baccalaureate in Science

DNA Strands

The Scottish Baccalaureate in Science 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.

Bacalaureates News

Important information for centres delivering the Baccalaureate for the first time in session 2010/11

Find out about Approval and our forthcoming support event

See all news

Use the tabs below to open each section individually. Alternatively you can show all the sections.

Mandatory Components

The Scottish Science Baccalaureate requires two, different eligible Science Courses, at least one of which must be at Advanced Higher level.

The mandatory components of the Science Baccalaureate are:

Scottish Science 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 Mathematics (or Applied Mathematics*) and this may be at Higher or Advanced Higher level.

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

Entry

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

Science Baccalaureate

Baccalaureate award – G9CX 47

Interdisciplinary Project – F785 47

Criteria for award of Pass and Distinction

Criteria for award of Distinction

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

  • Grade A in one Advanced Higher eligible Course
  • Grade A in one 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 Science Baccalaureate.

Eligible Courses

Candidates may choose two science courses, or one science course and one technology course from the following lists:

Science courses Technology courses
Biology* Building Construction
Biotechnology Computing*
Chemistry* Fabrication and Welding Engineering
Geology Graphic Communication*
Human Biology Information Systems*
Physics* Managing Environmental Resources
  Mechatronics
  Product Design*
  Technological Studies*

* Currently available at Advanced Higher level

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 Assurance section.

Arrangements

Arrangements document for the Scottish Baccalaureate in Science 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. Please note that the Unit Specification is currently uncoded. Codes will be assigned to them in due course.

Assessment Support Packs

PDF Version

Download Individual Sections

Word Version

Download Individual Sections

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 External Verifier commentaries in the Exemplar section below.

Assessment Exemplars

Baccalaureate in Science Examplars and Commentaries

Exemplar
 Commentary
Science Exemplar One (2.11 MB) EV Commentary One (210 KB)
Science Exemplar Two (1.98 MB) EV Commentary Two (209 KB)
Science Exemplar Three (1.60 MB) EV Commentary Three (210 KB)
Science Exemplar Four (1.18 MB) EV Commentary Four (208 KB)
Science Exemplar Five (2.10 MB) EV Commentary Five (210 KB)
Science Exemplar Six (2.10 MB) Awaiting Commentary
Science Exemplar Seven (1.70 MB) EV Commentary Seven (210 KB)

Video Case Studies

Callum's experience

Charleston Academy

Gabriele's experience

Gareth's experience

Mandatory evidence for the Interdisciplinary Project in Science and Languages

Presentation of findings/product; please follow the link for the template to record this stage of the project. This template completes the suite of five templates; Proposal, Plan, Presentation of findings/product, Evaluation, Self-evaluation (the other four templates can be found in the Assessment Support Packs Section 9).