Higher ESOL

ESOL National 2 National 3 National 4 National 5 Higher

Subject updates

October 2019 subject update (239 KB)
October 2018 subject update (241 KB)

National 5 and Higher Course information for 2020-21

07-OCT-2020

National 5

The Deputy First Minister has announced that there will be no external assessment of National 5 in session 2020–21.

Learners will not be required to sit exams and SQA will not assess coursework (including performances and practical activities). Instead, we are working with stakeholders to develop an alternative certification model for National 5 that is based on teacher and lecturer estimates.

Centres need to gather evidence of candidates’ attainment and use this to determine estimate grades and bands. We have today published broad guidance on evidence gathering and estimation with a very clear focus on the quality, not quantity, of evidence. This is accompanied by an SQA Academy Course on quality assuring estimates. This will be followed after the October break by subject specific guidance, published on a rolling basis, on the work that learners need to complete. Where possible, we will specify between two and four pieces of work per subject that will form the basis of arriving at a final award. We will also provide some additional resources that teachers and lecturers can draw on for assessment purposes.

Higher

Guidance to course assessment: Higher ESOL (124 KB)

There is no change to the structure or requirements of the Higher ESOL course assessment in session 2020-21. Given the nature and complexities of the course assessment, it is not possible to modify them without compromising the validity, credibility and standard of the courses, as well as their UK NARIC approval status and the benchmarked criteria of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) that they correspond to. Protecting this will ensure continuing recognition and progression opportunities for candidates. This position is supported by feedback from stakeholders who took part in our technical consultation on proposed modifications to National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses.

Information on National Course changes for session 2020/21

Manage MyAlerts

Course Specification

Explains the structure of the Course, including its purpose and aims and information on the skills, knowledge and understanding that will be developed.

Higher ESOL Course Specification
November 2019

Past Papers and Marking Instructions

Access all past papers by subject/level

Specimen Question Papers

Illustrates the standard, structure and requirements of the question papers candidates will sit (includes marking instructions).

Higher ESOL Reading Specimen Question Paper
May 2018
Higher ESOL Writing Specimen Question Paper
May 2018
Higher ESOL Listening Specimen Question Paper
May 2018
Higher ESOL Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper
May 2018

Coursework

This section provides information on marking instructions and/or the coursework assessment task(s). It includes information that centres need to administer coursework and must be read in conjunction with the course specification.

Coursework assessment task for Higher ESOL
July 2018

For information on marks scaling please see related information.

Guidance on conditions of assessment

Information on the production and submission of SQA-assessed coursework for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher.

Coursework for External Assessment (261 KB)

Course reports

Provides information on the performance of candidates - which is useful to teachers, lecturers and assessors in their preparation of candidates for future assessment.

Course Reports

2017 Higher ESOL Course Report
October 2017
2019 Higher ESOL Course Report October 2019
2018 Higher ESOL Course Report October 2018
ESOL: Quality Assurance - external verification

Verification Reports

In 2019, a single qualification verification summary report replaced the verification key messages.

ESOL Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2019
June 2019
2019 Higher ESOL Course Report
October 2019
2018 Higher ESOL Course Report
October 2018
ESOL Verification Key Messages Round 2
June 2017
ESOL: Quality Assurance - external verification

Understanding Standards

Examples of candidate evidence with commentaries

Examples of candidate evidence with commentaries

More examples of candidate evidence and commentaries can be found on SQA’s secure website and you can access these through your SQA co-ordinator.

ESOL course assessment overview

Overview of Course Assessment Presentation with audio (18 minutes)
Video overview of course assessment from session 2018-19 (55 minutes) (112.63 MB)
Video overview Q&A (17 KB)

Changes to understanding standards materials

Changes to published Understanding Standards materials for all subjects

Please note: Understanding Standards materials are regularly reviewed to ensure they remain up to date.

CPD

Additional CPD support

Where any particular areas of concern are identified, which are not addressed by our Understanding Standards events or support materials, we will offer free continuing professional development (CPD) training, subject to request. CPD support is subject-specific and can be tailored to cover one or more qualification level. To find out more about this service visit our CPD page.

Support materials

Higher Learning Support Material

Online resources – practice assessments

These materials are intended to support ESOL candidates in improving their skills in reading, listening, speaking and writing. (You are required to have Flash version 12 or above installed to run these assessments).

Online resources – practice assessments

SQA Academy

Learning support materials and online learning resources

Verification

Evidence for external verification of internally-assessed components of course assessments

ESOL: Quality Assurance - external verification