Classical Studies

• October 2019 subject update (263 KB)
• October 2018 subject update (256 KB)

• National Course modification summary: Classical Studies

Information on National Course changes for session 2020/21

The following modification decisions are valid regardless of the agreed approach to assessment in session 2021-22.

National 3

There will be no modifications for session 2021-22.

National 4

Modifications for session 2021-22 will remain the same as session 2020-21.

There will be no requirement to complete the added value unit assessment.

National 5

Question paper: the following two universal ideas, themes or values will not be directly assessed in the Classical literature section in the 2022 question paper (section 2):

• fate versus free will
• heroism

Usually, two themes from five are sampled. Candidates will answer two questions based on two themes but from a possible three themes.

Page 4 of the National 5 Classical Studies Course Specification gives information on the three universal ideas, themes or values that might be assessed. Teachers and lecturers can deliver the course as normal.

Assignment: this will be removed for session 2021-22.

Higher

Question paper 1: Classical literature

The following universal idea, theme or value will not be directly assessed in the 2022 Classical literature question paper:

• leadership

Page 4 of the Higher Classical Studies Course Specification gives information on the four universal ideas, themes or values that might be assessed. Teachers and lecturers can deliver the course as normal.

Question paper 2: Classical society

In the 2022 Classical society question paper, one area will not be assessed in parts A and B of Life in classical Greece, and in parts A and B of Life in the Roman world. The following areas in bold will not be assessed:

• Section 1: Life in classical Greece, Part A: Power and freedom
  Women in classical Athens
• Section 1: Life in classical Greece, Part B: Religion and belief
  Women within religious worship (although candidates should be prepared to discuss the role of women within religious festivals)
• Section 2: Life in the Roman world, Part A: Power and freedom
  Slavery in the Roman world
• Section 2: Life in the Roman world, Part B: Religion and belief
  Religious tolerance in the Roman world

Assignment: this will be removed for session 2021-22.

Advanced Higher

Question paper

Part A - Classical literature

We can confirm which books of the prescribed classical texts will be assessed in Part A - Classical literature in the 2022 question paper. The following texts in bold will be assessed:

• Section 1: History and historiography
  Questions 1, 2 and 3
  • Herodotus, Book 1
  • Thucydides, Book 1
  • Tacitus, Annals, Book 1
• Section 2: Individual and community
  Questions 9, 10 and 11
  • Plato, Republic, Books 3 and 5
  • Aristotle, Politics, Book 3
• Section 3: Heroes and heroism
  Questions 17, 18 and 19
  • Homer, Iliad, Book 22
  • Homer, Odyssey, Book 1
  • Euripides, Trojan Women
  • Ovid, Heroides, 7
• Section 4: Comedy, satire and society
  Questions 25, 26 and 27
  • Aristophanes, Acharnians, Assembly Women, Knights
  • Horace, Satires, Book 2.6

Note: this does not apply to the 15-mark modern source comparison question, which might be based on any of the texts or authors as detailed in the 'Skills, knowledge and understanding for the course assessment' section of the Advanced Higher Classical Studies Course Specification.

Teachers and lecturers can deliver the course as normal.

Pages 5 and 6 of the Advanced Higher Classical Studies Course Specification give more information about the prescribed texts.

Candidates should study the texts as detailed in the 'Skills, knowledge and understanding for the course assessment' section of the Advanced Higher Classical Studies Course Specification to prepare for Part B - Classical society.

Project-dissertation: no changes.