National 5 Graphic Communication

• October 2019 subject update (185 KB)
• October 2018 subject update (268 KB)

• National Course modification summary: Graphic Communication (129 KB)

Information on National course changes for session 2020/21

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

National 4

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

Added value unit: we removed three assessment standards. Assessment standards 1.1 and 1.2 were removed to align the added value unit with the National 5 assignment. Assessment standard 1.8 was removed to allow candidates to focus on practical graphics skills.

The revised assessment threshold is four out of five assessment standards must be achieved to pass the unit.

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

National 5

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

Question paper: we removed assessment of 'drawing standards, protocols and conventions'. This reduced the marks available for the question paper from 80 to 65 marks and the time allocation from 2 hours to 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Assignment: we will publish the assignment early - we usually publish it at the end of January and will now publish it in December 2021.

The highly supervised assessment conditions and the 8-hour time limit remain in place. Spending any more time on the assignment could affect the time available to carry out all the learning and teaching required, and to prepare for the question paper.

There are two new points of guidance to provide flexibility to centres and candidates. If centres need to close, candidates can work on their assignments from home and have additional time, if necessary. Centres can use their professional judgement to determine how much additional time is required.

We will delay the submission date for the National 5 assignment to the same date as the Higher assignment.

Higher

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

Question paper: we removed 15 marks from the question paper, reducing the marks available from 90 to 75 marks.

Assignment: we will publish the assignment early - we usually publish it at the end of January and will now publish it in December 2021.

The highly supervised assessment conditions and the 8-hour time limit remain in place. Spending any more time on the assignment could affect the time available to carry out all learning and teaching required, and to prepare for the question paper.

There are two new points of guidance to provide flexibility to centres and candidates. If centres need to close, candidates can work on their assignments from home and have additional time, if necessary. Centres can use their professional judgement to determine how much additional time is required.

Advanced Higher

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

Question paper: we removed assessment of 'graphic communication as it impacts on our environment and society'. This reduced the marks available for the question paper from 90 to 80 marks.

Project: we removed 30 marks from the project to allow candidates to focus on practical graphics work. This reduced the marks available for the project from 90 to 60 marks.