Entering learners for SQA English or ESOL courses
We understand that identifying whether a learner is best suited to studying English or ESOL is not always straightforward. To support you with this, we produced our guide Who are SQA ESOL qualifications for?, which provides more information on eligibility for ESOL courses.
English and ESOL courses are equivalent qualifications, which are intended for different groups of learners based on their language needs. They’re not designed for dual presentation, so you must not enter a learner for both English and ESOL courses in the same session.
Who should study ESOL?
ESOL courses are for learners who speak English as a second or other language, who have been receiving English as an additional language (EAL) or ESOL support throughout their secondary school education while living in Scotland or other parts of the UK.
ESOL courses are not appropriate for learners whose first language is English, or learners who don’t need EAL or ESOL support in their learning. These learners would be more suited to English courses.
Can I enter a learner for an English course if English is not their first language?
You can enter the learner for an English course at the appropriate level if they don’t need EAL or ESOL support and they’ve developed an appropriate level of proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking in English in an academic context. You must only enter the learner for the English course in this case, you must not enter them for both English and ESOL in the same session.
English courses are not suitable for learners who need EAL or ESOL support in their learning.
If a learner, whose first language is not English, has already achieved qualifications in ESOL, can I still enter them for an English course?
Yes. If a learner already holds one or more ESOL qualifications, you can enter them for an English course if they no longer need EAL or ESOL support and they’ve developed an appropriate level of proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking in English.
However, if the learner still needs EAL or ESOL support in their learning, it would not be appropriate to enter them for an English course.
Can I enter a learner for a National 5 or Higher ESOL course if they already hold one or more English qualifications, including freestanding English units at SCQF level 5?
If a learner has already achieved one or more English qualifications, including freestanding units at SCQF level 5, this indicates that they don’t need EAL or ESOL support in their learning and are therefore not eligible for entry to an ESOL course.
ESOL courses are for learners who need EAL or ESOL support.
Would entering a learner for both the Higher English and Higher ESOL courses increase their chance of getting a place at university?
No. English and ESOL courses are equivalent qualifications. For entry to an undergraduate course, universities will accept Higher English or Higher ESOL. There is no requirement for applicants to hold both qualifications. Similarly, learners will not gain extra UCAS points by holding both Higher English and ESOL qualifications, as only one course is counted. It’s therefore important to enter learners for the Higher course that’s most suitable for their language needs.
More information
Our guide Who are SQA ESOL qualifications for? is available from the ‘Related Information’ section on our NQ ESOL web pages.