Higher Philosophy

Philosophy National 5 Higher

Subject updates

October 2019 subject update (169 KB)
October 2018 subject update (153 KB)

Deliver this qualification

19-JAN-2019

Centres need to apply for approval before delivering the qualification for the first time, and must consider the resources that are available to them to do this.

In order to deliver this qualification in the next academic session, and in order for candidates to be certificated in August the following year, centres must apply for approval by the end of September of the previous year (for example, the deadline for applications for approval must be submitted by September 2020 in order to deliver and certificate the qualification by August 2021).

Subject-specific requirements for the course

Teachers and lecturers delivering or assessing Philosophy are required to have completed at least two years successful study of Philosophy at University or Higher National Diploma (HND) level.

Find out about our approval process

National 5 to Advanced Higher Course information for 2020-21

07-OCT-2020

National Course modification summary: Philosophy

Information on National Course changes for session 2020/21

Course information 2021-22

23-JUN-2021

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

National 5

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

Question paper: optional questions will allow candidates to answer on either Descartes or Hume.

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

Higher

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

Question paper: optional questions will allow candidates to answer on either Descartes or Hume.

Manage MyAlerts

Alternative certification model

The alternative certification model is how National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses will be resulted this year, following the cancellation of the 2021 exams. It involves five different stages.

View the alternative certification model and see what will happen at each stage.

2021 Key Messages

The Alternative Certification Model included a national quality assurance activity, carried out in May 2021. SQA appointees reviewed and provided feedback on a selection of assessment evidence from SQA centres. Subject-specific feedback has been provided to those centres for each course and level they were selected for.

The key messages report provides information on any common themes and key points from the evidence submitted and reviewed across all the selections. This report is provided for all delivering centres to reflect upon and make any appropriate adjustments.

Higher Philosophy 2020-21 key messages
June 2021

Course Specification

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

Higher Philosophy Course Specification
September 2018

Gathering evidence (May 2021)

Guidance

Higher Philosophy: Guidance on gathering key evidence in session 2020-21 (133 KB)

SQA Academy course

Determining provisional results for session 2020-21

Past Papers and Marking Instructions

Access all past papers by subject/level

Specimen Question Papers

Illustrates the standard, structure and requirements of the question papers candidates will sit (includes marking instructions).

Higher Philosophy Specimen Question Paper 1
March 2019
Higher Philosophy Specimen Question Paper 2
September 2018

Understanding Standards

Please note: For session 2020-21 there have been modifications to this course. The materials below should therefore be viewed along with the National 5 to Advanced Higher Course information for 2020-21.

Examples of candidate evidence with commentaries

Examples of candidate evidence with commentaries

Audio Presentation

Overview of course assessment - presentation with audio (10minutes) (16.68 MB)

Changes to understanding standards materials

Changes to published Understanding Standards materials for all subjects

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

Course reports

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

2016 Higher Philosophy Course Report
September 2016
2017 Higher Philosophy Course Report
October 2017
2019 Higher Philosophy Course Report October 2019
2018 Higher Philosophy Course Report October 2018
Philosophy: Quality Assurance - external verification

Verification Reports

Philosophy Verification Key Messages Round 1
March 2017
2019 Higher Philosophy Course Report October 2019
2018 Higher Philosophy Course Report October 2018

Philosophy: Quality Assurance - external verification

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.

Course support

National 5 and Higher Philosophy Arguments in Action (191 KB)
Knowledge and Doubt additional support (184 KB)