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SQA News 12 January 2023

Latest Understanding Standards materials

Our wide range of Understanding Standards materials explain and illustrate the standards required in SQA assessments.

We regularly review and update these materials to ensure they remain relevant and useful, and we are continuing to publish new materials throughout session 2022–23 where needed.

We have recently published the following new materials:

Care: National 5 question paper and project – candidate evidence and commentaries

We have published examples of evidence submitted by candidates for the 2022 National 5 Care question paper and project (with finalised marking instructions for the question paper). Alongside these examples, we have published commentaries written by an SQA senior examiner, which explains how many marks were awarded to each candidate and why.

Chemistry: Higher question paper 2 – candidate evidence and commentaries

We have published examples of evidence submitted by candidates for the 2022 Higher Chemistry question paper 2 with finalised marking instructions. Alongside these examples, we have published commentaries written by an SQA senior examiner, which explains how many marks were awarded to each candidate and why.

Drama: Advanced Higher assignment – candidate evidence and commentary

We have published examples of evidence submitted by candidates for the 2022 Advanced Higher Drama assignment. Alongside these examples, we have published a commentary written by an SQA senior examiner, which explains how many marks were awarded to each candidate and why.

Drama: Advanced Higher assignment – webinar and Q & A 

An overview of the standards required for assessment of the Advanced Higher Drama assignment and accompanying Q & A document. 

English: National 5 Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation question paper and portfolio – candidate evidence and commentaries

We have published examples of evidence submitted by candidates for the 2022 National 5 English Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation question paper and portfolio (with finalised marking instructions for the question paper). Alongside these examples, we have published commentaries written by an SQA senior examiner, which explains how many marks were awarded to each candidate and why.

English: Higher Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation question paper and Critical Reading question paper – candidate evidence and commentaries

We have published examples of evidence submitted by candidates for the 2022 Higher English Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation question paper and Critical Reading question paper with finalised marking instructions. Alongside these examples, we have published commentaries written by an SQA senior examiner, which explains how many marks were awarded to each candidate and why.

German: National 5 performance-talking coursework assessment – candidate evidence and commentaries (available on SQA Secure)

We have published candidate evidence and commentary support packs for the National 5 German performance-talking coursework assessment. They are accompanied by audio recordings of candidate performances gathered during the 2022 exam diet. The packs contain a written commentary from an SQA senior verifier and explain how many marks were awarded to each performance and why.

Latin: Higher Literary Appreciation question paper – candidate evidence and commentaries

We have published examples of evidence submitted by candidates for the 2022 Higher Latin Literary Appreciation question paper with finalised marking instructions. Alongside these examples, we have published commentaries written by an SQA senior examiner, which explains how many marks were awarded to each candidate and why.

Latin: Advanced Higher Project-dissertation – candidate evidence and commentary

We have published examples of evidence submitted by candidates for the 2022 Advanced Higher Latin Project-dissertation. Alongside these examples, we have published a commentary written by an SQA senior examiner, which explains how many marks were awarded to each candidate and why.

Latin: Advanced Higher Translating question paper – candidate evidence and commentary

We have published examples of evidence submitted by candidates for the 2022 Advanced Higher Latin Translating question paper with finalised marking instructions. Alongside these examples, we have published a commentary written by an SQA senior examiner, which explains how many marks were awarded to each candidate and why.

Physical Education: National 5 portfolio – candidate evidence and commentaries

We have published examples of evidence submitted by candidates for the 2022 National 5 Physical Education portfolio. Alongside these examples, we have published commentaries written by an SQA senior examiner, which explains how many marks were awarded to each candidate and why.

Physical Education: National 5 portfolio – webinar and Q & A  

An overview of the standards required for assessment of the National 5 Physical Education portfolio and accompanying Q &A document.

Physical Education: Advanced Higher project – webinar and Q & A  

An overview of the standards required for assessment of the Advanced Higher Physical Education project and accompanying Q & A document.

Spanish: National 5 and Higher performance-talking coursework assessments – candidate evidence and commentaries (available on SQA Secure)

We have published candidate evidence and commentary support packs for the National 5 and Higher Spanish performance-talking coursework assessments. They are accompanied by audio recordings of candidate performances gathered during the 2022 exam diet. The packs contain a written commentary from an SQA senior verifier and explain how many marks were awarded to each performance and why.

Access these materials

These new materials will help you to strengthen your own understanding of the national standards required in assessments, so you can feel more confident about preparing your learners.

You can access the materials referenced above (see below for exceptions) from our Understanding Standards website at www.understandingstandards.org.uk.

View all our latest Understanding Standards resources.

SQA Secure

As identified above, the following materials are only available from the Understanding Standards section of the SQA Secure website:

You can arrange access to these through your SQA co-ordinator. Please store these materials securely (for example, in a password-protected folder) and treat them as confidential.