National 5 Modern Languages
Course Specification
This explains the overall 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
Specimen Question Papers
These illustrate the standard, structure and requirements of the question papers learners will sit. These also include marking instructions.
Cantonese
- Cantonese: Reading Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- Cantonese: Writing Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- Cantonese: Listening Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- Cantonese: Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper National 5 January 2017
French
- French: Reading Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- French: Writing Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- 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 July 2017
- Gaelic (Learners): Listening Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- Gaelic (Learners): Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper National 5 January 2017
¿German
- German: Reading Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- German: Writing Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- German: Listening Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- German: Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper National 5 January 2017
Italian
- Italian: Reading Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- Italian: Writing Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- Italian: Listening Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- Italian: Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper National 5 January 2017
Mandarin
- Mandarin (Simplified): Reading Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- Mandarin (Simplified): Writing Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- Mandarin (Simplified): Listening Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- Mandarin (Simplified): Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper National 5 January 2017
- Mandarin (Traditional): Reading Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017¿
- Mandarin (Traditional): Writing Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- Mandarin (Traditional): Listening Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- Mandarin (Traditional): Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper National 5 January 2017
Spanish
- Spanish: Reading Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- Spanish: Writing Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- Spanish: Listening Specimen Question Paper National 5 July 2017
- Spanish: Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper National 5 January 2017
¿Urdu
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.
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.
Cantonese
French
- N5 French Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - N5 French Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - N5 French Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
August 2021
Gaelic (Learners)
- N5 Gaelic Learners Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - N5 Gaelic Learners Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - N5 Gaelic Learners Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
August 2021
German
- N5 German Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - N5 German Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - N5 German Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
August 2021
Italian
- N5 Italian Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - N5 Italian Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - N5 Italian Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
August 2021
Mandarin
- N5 Mandarin Simplified Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
November 2018 - N5 Mandarin Traditional Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
November 2018
Spanish
- N5 Spanish Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - N5 Spanish Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - N5 Spanish Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
August 2021
Urdu
- N5 Urdu Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - N5 Urdu Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - N5 Urdu Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
August 2021
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
Additional resources session 2021-22
New - new materials not previously published
Updated - published in 2020/21 but amended for 2021/22
Carried forward - published in 2020/21 carried forward to 2021/22
- Updated - Gathering evidence - audio presentation (24.95 MB)
- Updated - National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher Assessment resource
Please note: For session 2021-22 there are modifications to this course. Understanding Standards materials should therefore be viewed along with the National Course modification summary available in the Course information 2021-22 section.
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
Video 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.
Course reports
These reports provide information on the performance of candidates which it is hoped will be useful to teachers, lecturers and assessors in their preparation of candidates for future assessment.
Course Reports
Chinese Languages
- 2019 National 5 Chinese Languages Course Report September 2019
- 2018 National 5 Chinese Languages Course Report September 2018
- 2017 National 5 Chinese Languages Course Report October 2017
- 2016 National 5 Chinese Languages Course Report September 2016
French
- 2019 National 5 French Course Report September 2019
- 2018 National 5 French Course Report September 2018
- 2017 National 5 French Course Report October 2017
- 2016 National 5 French Course Report September 2016
Gaelic (Learners)
- 2019 National 5 Gaelic (Learners) Course Report September 2019
- 2018 National 5 Gaelic (Learners) Course Report September 2018
- 2017 National 5 Gaelic (Learners) Course Report October 2017
- 2016 National 5 Gaelic (Learners) Course Report September 2016
German
- 2019 National 5 German Course Report September 2019
- 2018 National 5 German Course Report September 2018
- 2017 National 5 German Course Report October 2017
- 2016 National 5 German Course Report September 2016
Italian
- 2019 National 5 Italian Course Report September 2019
- 2018 National 5 Italian Course Report September 2018
- 2017 National 5 Italian Course Report October 2017
- 2016 National 5 Italian Course Report September 2016
Spanish
- 2019 National 5 Spanish Course Report September 2019
- 2018 National 5 Spanish Course Report September 2018
- 2017 National 5 Spanish Course Report October 2017
- 2016 National 5 Spanish Course Report September 2016
Urdu
- 2019 National 5 Urdu Course Report October 2019
- 2018 National 5 Urdu Course Report September 2018
- 2017 National 5 Urdu Course Report October 2017
- 2016 National 5 Urdu Course Report September 2016
2021 Key Messages
The Alternative Certification Model included a national quality assurance activity, carried out in May 2021.
This report provides information on any common themes and key points from the evidence submitted.
- National 5 French 2020-21 key messages
June 2021 - National 5 German 2020-21 key messages
June 2021 - National 5 Spanish 2020-21 key messages
June 2021
Verification Reports
- Urdu Qualification Verification Summary Report
June 2022 - Spanish Qualification Verification Summary Report
June 2022 - German Qualification Verification Summary Report
June 2022 - French Qualification Verification Summary Report
June 2022 - Italian Qualification Verification Summary Report
June 2022 - Mandarin (Simplified) Qualification Verification Summary Report
June 2022 - French Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2019
June 2019 - Spanish Verification Key Messages Round 2
May 2018 - German Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2019
June 2019 - German Verification Key Messages Round 2
June 2018 - Cantonese and Mandarin Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2019
June 2019 - Italian Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2019
June 2019 - Italian Verification Key Messages Round 2
May 2018 - Chinese Languages Verification Key Messages Round 2
June 2018 - Spanish Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2019
June 2019 - French Verification Key Messages Round 2
May 2018 - Italian Verification Key Messages Round 2
May 2017 - Gaelic Learners Verification Key Messages Round 2
September 2017 - Urdu Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2019
June 2019 - Spanish Verification Key Messages Round 2
June 2017 - German Verification Key Messages Round 2
May 2017 - French Verification Key Messages Round 2
May 2017 - Urdu Verification Key Messages
October 2016 - Spanish Verification Key Messages
October 2016 - Italian Verification Key Messages
October 2016 - German Verification Key Messages
October 2016 - Gaelic (Learners) Verification Key Messages
October 2016 - French Verification Key Messages
October 2016 - 2016 National 5 Spanish Course Report
October 2016 - 2016 National 5 Italian Course Report
October 2016 - 2016 National 5 German Course Report
October 2016 - 2016 National 5 Chinese Languages Course Report
October 2016 - 2016 National 5 Urdu Course Report
October 2016 - 2016 National 5 Gaelic (Learners) Course Report
October 2016 - 2016 National 5 French Course Report
October 2016 - 2015 National 5 Urdu Course Report
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.
Ushare open learning resources
Related Information
Contact Information
- Candidate and General Enquiries
- 0345 279 1000