Literacy and Numeracy Qualifications

Design Principles for the National Literacy and National Numeracy Qualifications

The Design Principles, approved by CfE Management Board on 15 December 2009, are the blue print for developing National Literacy and Numeracy qualifications. They are also the basis for developing quality assurance and certification systems to support these new qualifications.

There are nine principles for the design, assessment and certification of National Literacy and National Numeracy qualifications.

Design

  1. There will be two separate qualifications:

    • National Literacy
    • National Numeracy

     
  2. National Literacy and National Numeracy qualifications will be available at SCQF levels 3, 4 or 5 and each qualification will have SCQF credit points. The qualifications will be ungraded.
     
  3. Each qualification will be made up of individual assessable components which are coherent and worthy of recognition in their own right. Each assessable component and will be accorded an SCQF level of 3, 4 or 5 and SCQF credit points.
     
  4. All assessable components must be achieved for the full qualification to be awarded. Where all assessable components are achieved at different SCQF levels within the qualification, the qualification will be awarded at the minimum level of component achieved.
     
  5. The assessable components for National Literacy are:
    • Reading
    • Writing
    • Listening and talking

    The assessable components for National Numeracy are:

    • Number processes
    • Money, time and measurement
    • Information handling

     
  6. Each assessable component will be based on a broad definition derived from Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes.

Assessment

  1. The National Literacy component Listening and Talking, and the National Numeracy component Information Handling, will be internally assessed and externally moderated.

    Evidence for the other components will be gathered in a portfolio. Evidence in the portfolio will be drawn from across the curriculum or from more than one context.

Certification

  1. National Literacy and National Numeracy qualifications will be separately recorded on the qualifications certificate.
     
  2. Each assessable component achieved will be recorded on a Literacy/Numeracy profile, whether or not all components required for the full qualification have been achieved. Each assessable component achieved, its SCQF level, and its credit points, will be recorded on the profile.