The Scottish Baccalaureate in Science
The Scottish Baccalaureate in Science has been designed to provide a challenging and rewarding experience for candidates in fifth and sixth year of secondary school.
It is based on a coherent group of subjects at Higher and Advanced Higher level with the addition of the Interdisciplinary Project, which offers added breadth and value and helps to equip the candidate with the generic skills, attitudes and confidence necessary to make the transition into Higher Education and/or employment.
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Mandatory Components
The Scottish Science Baccalaureate requires two, different eligible Science Courses, at least one of which must be at Advanced Higher level.
The mandatory components of the Science Baccalaureate are:
| Interdisciplinary Project Unit | Advanced Higher | SCQF level 7 | (16 SCQF points) |
| 2 eligible Courses | Advanced Higher | SCQF level 7 | (64 SCQF points) |
| 1 eligible Course | Higher | SCQF level 6 | (24 SCQF points) |
One of the above Courses must be Mathematics* (or Mathematics of Mechanics* or Statistics*) and this may be at Higher or Advanced Higher level.
Components do not have to be completed in the same academic year, for example a Higher course completed in S5 can contribute.
The Interdisciplinary Project Unit will be graded A, B or C.
Entry
Candidates should be entered for both the Baccalaureate award and for the Interdisciplinary Project. The codes are as follows:
Science Baccalaureate
Baccalaureate award – G9CX 47
Interdisciplinary Project – F785 47
Criteria for award of Pass and Distinction
Criteria for award of Distinction
The Scottish Science Baccalaureate with Distinction will be awarded to candidates who achieve:
- Grade A in one Advanced Higher eligible Course
- Grade A in one other component
- Grade B or above in all other components
Criteria for award of Pass
Candidates who achieve at least Grade C in all mandatory components and who do not meet the criteria for Distinction will be awarded a Pass in the Scottish Science Baccalaureate.
Eligible Courses
Candidates may choose two Core courses, or one Core course and one Broadening course from the following lists:
| Core courses | Broadening courses |
| Biology* | Computing Science* |
| Chemistry* | Design and Manufacture* |
| Environmental Science | Engineering Science* |
| Human Biology | Graphic Communication* |
| Physics* | Geography* |
| Psychology |
* Currently available at Advanced Higher level
Eligible courses have been updated in line with the Higher and Advanced Higher courses available from August 2015. Higher and Advanced Higher Courses that were previously available and contributed to the Scottish Baccalaureate award will still contribute.
SQA's course catalogue is kept under constant review. New courses may be added, or existing courses may be deleted or replaced
Approval and Quality Assurance
Further information on approval is available in our Approval and Quality Assurance section.
Arrangements
Arrangements document for the Scottish Baccalaureate in Science can be accessed by using the following link:
Unit Specification
National Unit Specifications for the Interdisciplinary Project can be accessed by using the link below.
Science Interdisciplinary Project National Unit Specification (62 KB)
Assessment Support Packs
Science Assessment Support Pack
The exemplars in Section 9 were written prior to the delivery of the Baccalaureate. You can now see real examples of candidates' Interdisciplinary Projects with External Verifier commentaries in the Exemplar section below.
Templates for Candidates and Assessors in Word format
Assessment Exemplars
New Exemplars and Commentaries from session 2011/12
| Exemplar | Commentary |
|---|---|
| Science Exemplar One (152 KB) | EV Commentary One (221 KB) |
| Science Exemplar Two (201 KB) | EV Commentary Two (218 KB) |
| Science Exemplar Three (145 KB) | EV Commentary Three (219 KB) |
| Science Exemplar Four (126 KB) | EV Commentary Four (216 KB) |
| Science Exemplar Five (123 KB) | EV Commentary Five (220 KB) |
| Science Exemplar Six (128 KB) | EV Commentary Six (216 KB) |
Exemplars from session 2009/10 - Please note that the templates have been revised and and these exemplars are on old templates:
| Exemplar | Commentary |
|---|---|
| Science Exemplar One (2.11 MB) | EV Commentary One (210 KB) |
| Science Exemplar Two (1.98 MB) | EV Commentary Two (209 KB) |
| Science Exemplar Three (1.60 MB) | EV Commentary Three (210 KB) |
| Science Exemplar Five (2.10 MB) | EV Commentary Five (210 KB) |
| Science Exemplar Six (2.10 MB) | EV Commentary Six (212 KB) |
| Science Exemplar Seven (1.70 MB) | EV Commentary Seven (210 KB) |
Case studies
Science
- Neighbouring schools working together (30 KB)
- Charleston Academy (30 KB)
- A Local Authority approach in Dumfries and Galloway (30 KB)
- A collaborative approach at Dollar Academy (28 KB)
Models of delivery
- Working in partnership in Dundee (30 KB)
- A School/College Partnership (30 KB)
- A group project for pupils (30 KB)
Candidate Guide
Internal Assessment Reports
- Internal Assessment Report 2017 (135 KB)
- Internal Assessment Report 2016 (135 KB)
- Internal Assessment Report 2015 (139 KB)