National 5 Modern Languages

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.

N5 Modern Languages Course Specification
October 2019

Past Papers and Marking Instructions

Access all past papers by subject/level

Additional question papers resources

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

Cantonese

Cantonese: Writing Specimen Question Paper National 5
August 2023
Cantonese: Listening Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
Cantonese: Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper National 5 January 2017

French

French: Writing Specimen Question Paper National 5
August 2023
French: Listening Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
French: Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper National 5 January 2017

Gaelic (Learners)

Gaelic (Learners): Reading Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
Gaelic (Learners): Writing Specimen Question Paper National 5 August 2023
Gaelic (Learners): Listening Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
Gaelic (Learners): Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper National 5 January 2017

German

German: Writing Specimen Question Paper National 5
August 2023
German: Listening Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
German: Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper National 5 January 2017

Italian

Italian: Writing Specimen Question Paper National 5
August 2023
Italian: Listening Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
Italian: Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper National 5 January 2017

Mandarin

Mandarin (Simplified): Writing Specimen Question Paper National 5
August 2023
Mandarin (Simplified): Listening Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
Mandarin (Simplified): Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper National 5 January 2017
Mandarin (Traditional): Writing Specimen Question Paper National 5
August 2023
Mandarin (Traditional): Listening Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
Mandarin (Traditional): Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper National 5 January 2017

Spanish

Spanish: Writing Specimen Question Paper National 5
August 2023
Spanish: Listening Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
Spanish: Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper National 5 January 2017

Urdu

Urdu: Writing Specimen Question Paper National 5
August 2023
Urdu: Listening Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
Urdu: Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper National 5 January 2017

2021

There were no exams in 2021. The 2020-21 question paper resources are, for most subjects, modified papers which reflect the modifications put in place for session 2020-21

Cantonese

National 5 Cantonese question paper - listening (212 KB)
National 5 Cantonese question paper - reading (334 KB)
National 5 Cantonese question paper - writing (260 KB)

National 5 Cantonese listening transcript (270 KB)
National 5 Cantonese listening audio (22.56 MB)

National 5 Cantonese listening marking instructions (131 KB)
National 5 Cantonese reading marking instructions (136 KB)
National 5 Cantonese writing marking instructions (125 KB)

French

National 5 French question paper - listening (212 KB)
National 5 French question paper - reading (334 KB)
National 5 French question paper - writing (260 KB)

National 5 French listening transcript (270 KB)
National 5 French 25% listening audio (23.53 MB)
National 5 French listening audio (22.56 MB)

National 5 French listening marking instructions (131 KB)
National 5 French reading marking instructions (136 KB)
National 5 French writing marking instructions (125 KB)

Gaelic (Learners)

National 5 Gaelic (Learners) question paper - listening (239 KB)
National 5 Gaelic (Learners) question paper - reading (677 KB)
National 5 Gaelic (Learners) question paper - writing (230 KB)

National 5 Gaelic (Learners) listening transcript (199 KB)
National 5 Gaelic (Learners) listening audio (17.14 MB)
National 5 Gaelic (Learners) 25% listening audio (23.07 MB)

National 5 Gaelic (Learners) marking instructions - listening (132 KB)
National 5 Gaelic (Learners) marking instructions - reading (140 KB)
National 5 Gaelic (Learners) marking instructions - writing (133 KB)

German

National 5 German question paper - listening (212 KB)
National 5 German question paper - reading (334 KB)
National 5 German question paper - writing (260 KB)

National 5 German listening transcript (270 KB)
National 5 German 25% listening audio (17.20 MB)
National 5 German listening audio (22.56 MB)

National 5 German listening marking instructions (131 KB)
National 5 German reading marking instructions (136 KB)
National 5 German writing marking instructions (125 KB)

Italian

National 5 Italian question paper - listening (212 KB)
National 5 Italian question paper - reading (334 KB)
National 5 Italian question paper - writing (260 KB)

National 5 Italian listening transcript (270 KB)
National 5 Italian 25% listening audio (14.93 MB)
National 5 Italian listening audio (22.56 MB)

National 5 Italian listening marking instructions (131 KB)
National 5 Italian reading marking instructions (136 KB)
National 5 Italian writing marking instructions (125 KB)

Mandarin

National 5 Mandarin-Simplified question paper - listening (212 KB)
National 5 Mandarin-Simplified question paper - reading (334 KB)
National 5 Mandarin-Simplified question paper - writing (260 KB)

National 5 Mandarin-Simplified listening transcript (263 KB) (270 KB)
National 5 Mandarin listening audio (21.63 MB)

National 5 Mandarin-Simplified listening marking instructions (131 KB)
National 5 Mandarin-Simplified reading marking instructions (136 KB)
National 5 Mandarin-Simplified writing marking instructions (125 KB)

National 5 Mandarin-Traditional question paper - listening (212 KB)
National 5 Mandarin-Traditional question paper - reading (334 KB)
National 5 Mandarin-Traditional question paper - writing (260 KB)

National 5 Mandarin-Traditional listening transcript (270 KB)
National 5 Mandarin listening audio (21.63 MB)

National 5 Mandarin-Traditional listening marking instructions (131 KB)
National 5 Mandarin-Traditional reading marking instructions (136 KB)
National 5 Mandarin-Traditional writing marking instructions (125 KB)

Spanish

National 5 Spanish question paper - listening (212 KB)
National 5 Spanish question paper - reading (334 KB)
National 5 Spanish question paper - writing (260 KB)

National 5 Spanish listening transcript (270 KB)
National 5 Spanish 25% listening audio (23.48 MB)
National 5 Spanish listening audio (22.56 MB)

National 5 Spanish listening marking instructions (131 KB)
National 5 Spanish reading marking instructions (136 KB)
National 5 Spanish writing marking instructions (125 KB)

Urdu

National 5 Urdu question paper - listening (212 KB)
National 5 Urdu question paper - reading (334 KB)
National 5 Urdu question paper - writing (260 KB)

National 5 Urdu listening transcript (270 KB)
National 5 Urdu listening audio (22.56 MB)

National 5 Urdu listening marking instructions (131 KB)
National 5 Urdu reading marking instructions (136 KB)
National 5 Urdu writing marking instructions (125 KB)

Coursework (06/10/2023)

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.

Versions of the Answer Booklet PDF have been created for electronic completion of these workbooks. Please note, and candidates must be made aware, that the answer text boxes in these PDFs are a fixed size. If these are over-filled with text, the text reduces in size. Movement between pages requires the tab key to be used or by right-clicking on the next page.
Versions of the Answer Booklet PDF have been created for printing. If this is required please print this double sided.

Cantonese

National 5 Cantonese Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
October 2023

French

National 5 French Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
October 2023
National 5 French Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
October 2023

Gaelic (Learners)

National 5 Gaelic Learners Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
October 2023
National 5 Gaelic Learners Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
October 2023

German

National 5 German Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
October 2023
National 5 German Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
October 2023

Italian

National 5 Italian Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
October 2023
National 5 Italian Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
October 2023

Mandarin

Spanish

National 5 Spanish Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
October 2023
National 5 Spanish Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
October 2023

Urdu

National 5 Urdu Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
October 2023
National 5 Urdu Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
October 2023

Coursework assessment tasks for N5 Modern Languages

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)

Understanding Standards (05/10/2023)

Examples of candidate evidence with commentaries

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

Modern languages course assessment overview

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

Additional Resources session 2020-22

Please note: Additional resources published during sessions 2020-2022 are currently under review. Further information can be found on the Understanding Standards Website .

Course reports (17/10/2023)

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