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.
- National 5 Modern Languages course specification September 2024
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
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
- National 5 Mandarin Simplified Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
October 2023 - National 5 Mandarin Traditional Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
October 2023
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
- Coursework assessment task for National 5 Modern Languages (assignment - writing)
October 2019 - Coursework assessment task for National 5 Modern Languages (performance - talking)
October 2019
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 (01/10/2024)
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)
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 (3/9/24)
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
- 2023 National 5 Chinese Languages Course Report September 2023
- 2022 National 5 Chinese Languages Course Report September 2022
- 2019 National 5 Chinese Languages Course Report September 2019
French
- 2023 National 5 French Course Report October 2023
- 2022 National 5 French Course Report October 2022
- 2019 National 5 French Course Report September 2019
Gaelic (Learners)
- 2023 National 5 Gaelic (Learners) Course Report September 2023
- 2022 National 5 Gaelic (Learners) Course Report October 2022
- 2019 National 5 Gaelic (Learners) Course Report September 2019
German
- 2023 National 5 German Course Report September 2023
- 2022 National 5 German Course Report October 2022
- 2019 National 5 German Course Report September 2019
Italian
- 2023 National 5 Italian Course Report October 2023
- 2022 National 5 Italian Course Report October 2022
- 2019 National 5 Italian Course Report September 2019
Spanish
- 2023 National 5 Spanish Course Report October 2023
- 2022 National 5 Spanish Course Report October 2022
- 2019 National 5 Spanish Course Report September 2019
Urdu
- 2023 National 5 Urdu Course Report September 2023
- 2022 National 5 Urdu Course Report October 2022
- 2019 National 5 Urdu Course Report October 2019
Verification Reports
Chinese Languages
- Chinese Languages Qualification Verification Summary Report Round 2 June 2024
- Chinese Languages Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2023
- Mandarin (Simplified) Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2022
French
- French Qualification Verification Summary Report Round 2 June 2024
- French Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2023
- French Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2022
Gaelic (Learners)
- Gaelic Learners Verification Key Messages Round 2 September 2017
German
- German Qualification Verification Summary Report Round 2 June 2024
- German Qualification Verification Summary Report Round 2 June 2023
- German Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2022
Italian
- Italian Qualification Verification Summary Report Round 2 June 2024
- Italian Qualification Verification Summary Report Round 2 June 2023
- Italian Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2022
Spanish
- Spanish Qualification Verification Summary Report Round 2 June 2024
- Spanish Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2023
- Spanish Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2022
Urdu
- Urdu Qualification Verification Summary Report Round 2 September 2024
- Urdu Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2023
- Urdu Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2022
Course support (26/03/2024)
Assessment resources summary - National 5 Modern Languages session 2023-2024 February 2024
Modern Languages Gathering Evidence March 2024
Modern Languages Gathering Evidence Transcript March 2024
Ushare open learning resources
Related Information
Contact Information
- Candidate and General Enquiries
- 0345 279 1000