Higher Drama - Changes to the question paper for session 2025-26 onwards

From next session, we’re removing section 2 – theatre production: application – from the Higher Drama question paper. We’re also introducing a prescribed text list for section 1 – theatre production: text in context.

In addition, we’re revising the wording of the questions, and we’ve revised the marking instructions to align with the approach used at National 5 and Advanced Higher.

We’ve also updated the recommended text list for the Drama performance.

Changes to the question paper

From session 2025-26, the current section 3 (performance analysis) will become section 2.

The revised question paper will be worth 40 marks and will contain two sections of extended-response questions:

Section 1 – theatre production: text in context (20 marks)
Section 2 – performance analysis (20 marks)

The exam will have a shorter duration of 2 hours.

We’re also introducing a prescribed text list for section 1: theatre production – text in context. In this section, learners will be asked to answer one extended response question from the perspective of a director, actor or designer preparing for a production of the text they’ve studied from the prescribed text list.

Revised recommended text list

The recommended text list now contains 30 texts, which provide the appropriate level of challenge for learners studying Higher Drama. The list contains:

15 prescribed texts for section 1 of the question paper.
15 other appropriate texts that you can choose to use for the performance component (or you can choose any other appropriate text).

What you’ll need to do differently

From next session, you’ll need to select a text from the prescribed text list for your learners to study in preparation for section 1 of the question paper.

You’ll also need to update your teaching notes and assessment materials to reflect the new marking instructions for both sections of the question paper.

Why we’re making these changes

In previous sessions, we’ve seen evidence that some learners are spending a disproportionate amount of time on sections 1 and 2 of the question paper. As a result, those learners either don’t attempt section 3 or don’t finish it in the given time, so they aren’t accessing the full range of marks available. The number of learners not completing section 3 has steadily increased over the last few years.

We’ve reviewed the question paper and considered approaches to help address this while ensuring fairness to learners.

We identified that reducing the question paper, and focusing only on the extended response questions, will allow more learners to access the full range of marks for both sections.

Removing the current section 2 won’t have any impact on the application of skills, knowledge and understanding assessed by the question paper, as this will still be covered by the remaining sections.

Introducing a prescribed text list will also help learners to prepare for section 1 and ensure that all learners respond to the questions in section 1 using a text that offers appropriate textual and sub-textual challenge for Higher level.

Feedback from practitioners and learners

We sought the views of teachers, lecturers and learners on our proposed changes.

In March we issued two surveys – one for practitioners, and one for learners. We received responses from 283 practitioners, and 257 learners who had previously sat the Higher Drama exam.

90% of practitioners agreed or strongly agreed that the question paper would be improved by revising the marking instructions, and 88% agreed or strongly agreed that we should make changes to the question paper. Just over half of practitioners agreed that removing section 2 and giving the remaining sections a weighting of 50% each would improve the question paper.

62% of learners agreed that introducing a prescribed text list would improve how to prepare for the question paper, while 62% of practitioners agreed that a prescribed text list would ensure a consistent approach to marking.

We’ll publish a full report of our survey findings in June.

We also discussed our proposals with members of our National Qualifications Support Team (NQST) for Drama, who supported the changes.

Updated documents

On Monday 19 May, we’ll publish the updated Higher Drama course specification and specimen question paper to reflect these changes. The updated documents will be valid from session 2025-26.

The current course specification and specimen question paper will continue to be available until this year’s appeals service closes.

Understanding Standards support

We’ll provide Understanding Standards support to help you prepare for the changes to the question paper. We’ll confirm details of this before the summer break.

If you have any questions, please email qualification.development@sqa.org.uk.