Digital Question Papers
Digital Question Papers (DQPs) are for disabled candidates and/or those with additional support needs who have reading and/or writing difficulties.
Digital Question Papers guidance
Digital Question Papers (Past Papers)
Data Booklets
These booklets can be used during the appropriate National Qualification examination when a digital question paper is used by a candidate. They can also be used for exam preparation and general study.
Prior to an examination commencing and the uploading of the digital question paper, centres may upload the appropriate data booklet along with a digital answer book to a candidate's PC (available on this page).
Below are links to the PDF data booklets that are used in the following examinations:
- Chemistry National 5 Data Booklet
- Chemistry Higher and Advanced Higher Data Booklet
- Engineering Science National 4 and National 5 Data Booklet
- Engineering Science Higher Data Booklet
- Engineering Science Advanced Higher Data Booklet
- Advanced Higher Statistics Booklet
Physics Data Books - these are no longer produced, instead Physics Data Sheets are included as part of the question papers and Relationship Sheets are supplied with the question paper. Examples of these are attached to past papers and with Specimen and Exemplar question papers on the subject/level webpages. Relationship Sheets will be supplied on the DQP discs and paper copies will also be supplied to candidates.
Digital Answer Books (DABs)
Digital Answer Books are used when the Digital Question Paper (DQP) is a question only paper (except those exams listed below under 'Digital Cover Sheets'). They are available in PDF and MS Word formats, apart from H Mathematics AH Mathematics and AH Mathematics of Mechanics, which are only available in PDF format.
Answer books that are used in SQA's NQ examinations:
- Answer books list (93 KB)
DABs are available for a number of subjects. If there is no DAB available for a specific subject, then another DAB can be used for practice purposes. When a DQP has been requested for an SQA NQ examination during a live exam diet, any required DABs or Digital Cover Sheets will be supplied to centres on the DQP disc.
The DABs available from the link below can be used for practice. These can be used in NQ examinations by downloading in advance with the following exceptions:
- Higher Mathematics
- Advanced Higher Mathematics
- Advanced Higher Mathematics of Mechanics
The available DABs for these exams can only be used for practice as the live examination answer books contain exam-specific information or formatting. Exam-specific DABs for these exams will be supplied along with the DQP.
Digital Answer Books (DABs) for question-only papers
Digital Cover Sheets
DABs are not available for the following exams:
Higher Biology, Chemistry, Human Biology and Physics Paper 1 - multiple choice. These answer booklets only contain the multiple choice answer grid, which cannot be completed digitally.
National 5 Administration and IT - the Digital Cover Sheet is used in NQ exams to accompany the printouts of the candidate's responses, which are completed electronically.
Higher and Advanced Higher Accounting - DQP Candidates must use a spreadsheet or word processing package eg MS Excel or Word to complete their responses digitally. The Digital Cover Sheet is used in NQ exams to accompany the printouts of the candidate's responses.
- Higher Accounting Digital Cover Sheet (106 KB)
- Advanced Higher Accounting Digital Cover Sheet (143 KB)
Non-DQP candidates
Candidates using ICT to complete an examination may use DABs. For any examinations where a DAB is not available from the link above, candidates using ICT should use the Generic Answer Book, in MS Word format, available from the link below or if appropriate a Digital Cover Sheet.
- Generic Answer Book file attachment (1.51 MB)
Case studies
These case studies show how two secondary schools implemented SQA's digital papers, the challenges they faced, and the benefits to school and candidates.
2021 Digital Question Papers
National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher question papers for disabled learners and learners with additional support needs are available from the SQA Secure website (arrange access through your SQA Co-ordinator).
View information on 2021 assessment resources.
If you have a question regarding digital question papers please call our Assessment Arrangements team on 0345 213 6890.
Technical help with Digital Question Papers
If you have technical questions about the Digital Question Papers consult CALL Scotland.
CALL Scotland is 'Communication, Access, Literacy and Learning (CALL) Scotland' and is part of Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh.