National 5 Modern Languages

Course Specification (27/09/24)

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

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

French

Gaelic (Learners)

German

Italian

Mandarin

Spanish

Urdu

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

French

Gaelic (Learners)

German

Italian

Mandarin

Spanish

Urdu

Coursework assessment tasks for N5 Modern Languages

 

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

Understanding Standards (19/02/2025)

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.

Webinar (recording)

Question Paper November 2024

Assignment Writing from session 2023-2024

Overview of course assessment from session 2017-18

Changes to Understanding Standards materials

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

Additional Resources session 2020-22

Further information can be found on the Understanding Standards Website

Course reports (30/06/2025)

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

Chinese Languages

French

Gaelic (Learners)

German

Italian

Spanish

Urdu

Verification Reports

Chinese Languages

French​

Gaelic (Learners)

German

Italian

Spanish

Urdu

Course support (26/03/2024)

Guidance on use of pronouns and gender-neutral language: Modern Languages and Gàidhlig

We are committed to ensuring our qualifications and assessments are as accessible and inclusive as possible for all learners. The following guidance on candidates’ use of pronouns and gender-neutral language aims to help teachers and lecturers of Modern Languages and Gàidhlig. This includes those delivering National 3 to Advanced Higher Modern Languages and the Modern Languages for Life and Work award.

Productive skills – talking and writing

Pronouns, nouns, adjectives and agreements

Teachers and lecturers should support learners’ ways of referring to themselves and others in the assessment of talking and writing. Using gender-neutral pronouns, nouns and adjectives is now a common feature of inclusive language – whether by creating new forms, adding punctuations, asterisks or using alternative spellings.

A candidate can use masculine, feminine or gender-neutral adjective agreements throughout their writing or performance-talking assessments, where appropriate to the language. However, candidates must use their pronouns and adjectives consistently and stick to the associated conventions of adjectival agreement where appropriate.

For the performance-talking assessment, we have already provided guidance to Advanced Higher visiting assessors and NQ verification teams on the importance of being aware of any potential implicit or unconscious bias towards a candidate’s gender identity.

Before the performance-talking, learners may indicate to the visiting assessor or their teacher or lecturer the pronouns they will use.

Marking of exams

Most exam scripts are anonymised which helps to eliminate any potential implicit or unconscious bias during marking. Markers are not aware of candidates’ gender and are instructed to look for correct and consistent use of pronouns, adjectives and agreements as indicated above.

Ushare open learning resources