National 4 History

• October 2019 subject update (184 KB)
• October 2018 subject update (273 KB)

National 3

We are not making any modifications to the National 3 History assessments in session 2020-21.

National 4 - assessment of added value units

SQA has been reviewing its approach to assessment in National 4 courses in response to feedback from teachers and lecturers, and to support schools, colleges, and training providers to manage assessment where it has been impacted by disruption to learning and the ongoing restrictions associated with COVID-19.

We have decided that candidates will not be required to complete National 4 added value units in session 2020-21. This decision is supported by the National Qualifications 2021 Group. Removing the mandatory requirement to complete the added value unit will help to free up more time for learning and teaching and for assessing other units in National 4 courses, where this is needed.

To achieve the overall course award for National 4 this session, candidates must pass all contributing units in the National 4 course. Teachers and lecturers will still need to submit a 'pass' result for the added value unit to ensure candidates are certificated for the course award, however this does not need to be evidence-based.

While there is no requirement to gather evidence for the added value unit this session, it is still important that candidates have opportunities to develop and demonstrate the required skills, knowledge and understanding from across the course that are outlined in the National 4 added value unit specification, where possible. This will support candidates as they progress to further learning and assessment at SCQF level 5.

Note: All modifications also apply to the History Gaelic-medium subject, Eachdraidh.

The following modification decisions are valid regardless of the agreed approach to assessment in session 2021-22.

National 3

There will be no modifications for session 2021-22.

National 4

Modifications for session 2021-22 will remain the same as session 2020-21.

There will be no requirement to complete the added value unit assessment.

National 5

Question paper: an optional question will be introduced in two of three sections of the question paper.

For questions based on the fourth issue in Section 2: British and Section 3: European and world, there will be an optional question based on an earlier issue in order to reduce the assessable content, if required. Questions in sections 2 and 3 will therefore sample issues 1-4 or issues 1-3. This will allow all candidates the opportunity to complete all the required questions in the question paper.

Teachers and lecturers can deliver the course as normal.

In Guidance on gathering key evidence for producing estimates in session 2020-21 we identified the three sections of the SQA 2021 National Qualifications assessment resource for National 5 History. Please note that in the 2022 question paper these sections (the 25-mark section, the 26-mark section and the 29-mark section) will rotate randomly.

Assignment: this will be removed for session 2021-22.

Higher

Question paper 1 - British, European and world history: an optional question will be introduced in both section 1 and section 2 of the British, European and world history question paper. Four of six issues will be sampled instead of three of six issues.

In Section 1 - British and Section 2 - European and world, any four from six key issues will be assessed. Candidates will choose one essay from a choice of four in each section.

It is advised that candidates are prepared for a minimum of three issues in both the British and European and world sections studied.

Teachers and lecturers can deliver the course as normal.

Question paper 2 - Scottish history: no changes.

Assignment: this will be removed for session 2021-22.

Advanced Higher

Question paper: Two key issues in each of the 10 fields of study will not be directly assessed in the 2022 question paper. The following areas in bold will not be assessed:

• Field of study 1 - Northern Britain from the Iron Age to 1034
  Key issues
  • Changing beliefs
  • Kingdom of the Scots
• Field of study 2 - Scotland: independence and kingship, 1249-1334
  Key issues
  • Contribution of William Wallace, 1297-1305
  • Succession and peace, 1324-34
• Field of study 3 - Scotland: from the Treaty of Union to the Enlightenment, 1707-1815
  Key issues
  • The Kirk
  • The Enlightenment
• Field of study 4 - USA: 'a house divided', 1850-65
  Key issues
  • The military conflict
  • The election of 1864
• Field of study 5 - Japan: the modernisation of a nation, 1840-1920
  Key issues
  • Society and culture in the mid-19th century
  • Economy and government in the mid-19th century
• Field of study 6 - Germany: from democracy to dictatorship, 1918-39
  Key issues
  • Treaty of Versailles: its political and economic significance
  • Economic and foreign policies, 1933-39
• Field of study 7 - South Africa: race and power, 1902-84
  Key issues
  • South Africa and World War II
  • The growth of African Nationalism, 1948-60
• Field of study 8 - Russia: from Tsarism to Stalinism, 1914-45
  Key issues
  • The international context, 1917-24
  • The Soviet state: from War Communism to New Economic Policy, 1918-24
• Field of study 9 - the Spanish Civil War: causes, conflict and consequences, 1923-45
  Key issues
  • The fall of the monarchy
  • The nature of the new Republic
• Field of study 10 - Britain: at war and peace, 1938-51
  Key issues
  • The war and the British economy
  • Conservative recovery and Labour's defeat

Teachers and lecturers can deliver the course as normal.

Pages 5-30 of the Advanced Higher History Course Specification give more information on the key issues that will be assessed.

Project-dissertation: no changes.