Understanding Standards - new subject-specific materials available
Important: Please note that, in the 9 January edition of SQA News, the following subjects were incorrectly included in the text of the new subject-specific materials item: Chemistry, Drama, Media, Psychology, Physical Education, and RMPS. The correct subjects are detailed below. We apologise for any inconvenience.
We’ve published new Understanding Standards materials for Design and Manufacture, English, Graphic Communication, Latin, Music Technology, Philosophy, Skills for Work - Hospitality, Scottish Studies, and Sociology.
The following materials are now available from our Understanding Standards website.
English
- National 5: critical reading - new examples of candidate evidence for the question paper, with commentaries
- Higher: critical reading and Scottish text - new examples of candidate evidence for the question paper, with commentaries
Latin
- National 5: literary appreciation - new examples of candidate evidence for the question paper, with commentaries
- National 5: translating - new examples of candidate evidence for the question paper, with commentary
- National 5: literary appreciation and translating - a recording of a webinar from November 2024, which provides an overview of assessment standards and marking instructions for question paper 1
- Higher: literary appreciation and translating - a recording of a webinar from November 2024 which provides an overview of assessment standards and marking instructions for question papers 1 and 2
- Higher: translating - new examples of candidate evidence for the question paper, with commentaries
- Higher: literary appreciation - new examples of candidate evidence for the question paper, with commentaries
- Advanced Higher: literary appreciation and translating - new examples of candidate evidence for the question papers, with commentaries
- Advanced Higher: literary appreciation and translating - a recording of a webinar from November 2024 which provides an overview of assessment standards and marking instructions for question papers 1 and 2
Music Technology
- National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher: a recording of a webinar from October 2024, which provides an overview of the course assessment, along with a Q&A document
Philosophy
- Higher: new examples of candidate evidence for the question paper, with commentaries
Skills for Work - Hospitality
- SCQF levels 4 and 5: a recording of a webinar from November 2024, which provides an overview of the delivery, assessment, and verification of Skills for Work awards
Scottish Studies
- SCQF levels 4, 5 and 6: a recording of a webinar from November 2024, which provides an overview of unit requirements and the verification process for the Scotland in Focus unit
Sociology
- National 5: a webinar from November 2024, which provides an overview of marking principles for the question paper
- Higher: a webinar from November 2024, which provides an overview of marking principles for the question paper
Secure Understanding Standards materials
The following materials are available from the Understanding Standards materials section of the SQA Secure website (log-in required).
Design and Manufacture
- National 5: new examples of candidate evidence for the assignment, with commentaries
Graphic Communication
- Advanced Higher: new examples of candidate evidence for the project, with commentaries
Music Technology
- Higher: new audio examples of candidate evidence for the assignment, with commentaries
About Understanding Standards materials
We have a significant range of online resources to help you develop your understanding of national standards for assessment in your courses and prepare your learners for assessment.
This includes candidate evidence and commentary materials – real examples of candidate assessment evidence, with a written commentary by an SQA senior examiner that explains why and where candidates have been awarded marks.
We also have a wide range of webinar recordings and audio presentations, which explain the requirements for assessments. We continually review our Understanding Standards materials to make sure they stay relevant and up to date for each course.
Visit www.understandingstandards.org.uk/Subjects to access Understanding Standards materials for your courses.
A list of the most recently published Understanding Standards materials is available from www.understandingstandards.org.uk/Updates.
Some Understanding Standards materials are available from the SQA Secure website, for assessments where the evidence must be kept secure and confidential. You can arrange access to secure Understanding Standards materials through your SQA co-ordinator.