Higher ESOL
Essential Information
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 ESOL Course Specification
November 2019
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.
Verification Reports
In 2019, a single qualification verification summary report replaced the verification key messages.
- 2019 Higher ESOL Course Report
October 2019 - ESOL Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2019
June 2019 - 2018 Higher ESOL Course Report
October 2018 - ESOL Verification Key Messages Round 2
June 2017 - 2017 Higher ESOL Course Report October 2017
- ESOL: Quality Assurance - external verification
Assessment
Specimen Question Papers
Illustrates the standard, structure and requirements of the question papers candidates will sit (includes marking instructions).
- Higher ESOL Reading Specimen Question Paper
May 2018 - Higher ESOL Writing Specimen Question Paper
May 2018 - Higher ESOL Listening Specimen Question Paper
May 2018 - Higher ESOL Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper
May 2018
Past Papers and Marking Instructions
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.
For information on marks scaling please see related information.
Information on the production and submission of SQA-assessed coursework for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher.
- Coursework for External Assessment (261 KB)
Resources
Understanding Standards
Examples of candidate evidence with commentaries
More examples of candidate evidence and commentaries can be found on SQA’s secure website and you can access these through your SQA co-ordinator.
ESOL course assessment overview
- Overview of Course Assessment Presentation with audio (18 minutes)
- Video overview of course assessment from session 2018-19 (55 minutes) (112.63 MB)
- Video overview Q&A (17 KB)
Changes to understanding standards materials
Please note: Understanding Standards materials are regularly reviewed to ensure they remain up to date.
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.
Support materials
Higher Learning Support Material
Online resources – practice assessments
These materials are intended to support ESOL candidates in improving their skills in reading, listening, speaking and writing. (You are required to have Flash version 12 or above installed to run these assessments).
SQA Academy
Learning support materials and online learning resources
Verification
Evidence for external verification of internally-assessed components of course assessments
