Higher ESOL
Mandatory information
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.
- Higher ESOL Course Specification
Apr 2014
Course Assessment Specification
This explains the structure of the Course assessment; including the type and method of assessment. It also includes information on Course coverage.
Unit Specifications
These provide an outline of what each Unit will cover within the Course and detail the Outcomes and Assessment Standards.
Advice and guidance
Course and Unit Support Notes
These provide advice and guidance for teachers/lecturers on learning, teaching and assessment within the Course and its Units.
The following document contains the Course Support Notes and the Unit Support Notes for this Course. They can be printed together or separately.
Assessment support
Past Papers and Marking Instructions
Specimen Question Papers
These illustrate the standard, structure and requirements of the question papers learners will sit. These also include marking instructions.
Coursework
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.
- General assessment information for Higher ESOL
September 2016 - Guidance on conditions of assessment (409 KB)
Information on the production and submission of SQA-assessed coursework for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher.
Unit Assessment Support
These documents contain details of Unit assessment task(s), show approaches to gathering evidence and how the evidence can be judged against the Outcomes and Assessment Standards. Teachers/lecturers can arrange access to these confidential documents through their SQA Co-ordinator.
Course Reports
- ESOL Verification Key Messages Round 2
May 2018 - ESOL Verification Key Messages Round 2
June 2017 - 2017 Higher ESOL Course Report October 2017
- 2016 Higher ESOL Course Report October 2016
- 2015 Higher ESOL Course Report Oct 2015
- ESOL Verification Key Messages October 2016
- ESOL Verification Key Message October 2015
- ESOL: Quality Assurance - external verification
Resources
Guidance on activities
Higher Learning Support Material
E-learning 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).
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
April 2018
Course Report
Provides information on the performance of candidates - which is useful to teachers, lecturers and assessors in their preparation of candidates for future assessment.
- ESOL Verification Key Messages Round 2
June 2017 - 2017 Higher ESOL Course Report October 2017
- 2016 Higher ESOL Course Report October 2016
- 2015 Higher ESOL Course Report Oct 2015
- ESOL Verification Key Messages October 2016
- ESOL Verification Key Message October 2015
- 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
Resources
Understanding Standards
- Examples of candidate evidence with commentaries
- Overview of Course Assessment Presentation with audio (18 minutes)
- Changes to published Understanding Standards materials for all subjects
Please note: Understanding Standards material is regularly reviewed to ensure it remains up to date.
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.
CPD
Events
ESOL event
This event will focus on the revised course assessment for session 2018-19 onwards. Delegates will take part in workshops, where they will have the opportunity to review and discuss the revised course documents with colleagues. They will also have the opportunity to have their questions answered by senior examining team members.
When and where:
Wednesday 06 February 2019 - Edinburgh To book please register on our booking systemESOL webinar
Online webinar sessions help teachers and lecturers develop their understanding of the revised course assessments for session 2018-19 onwards. We will publish recordings of these sessions within six weeks of the webinar date.
When and where:
Tuesday 30 October 2018 - webinar To book please register on our booking systemAdditional 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.