Higher ESOL

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

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

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

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.

• Coursework assessment task for Higher ESOL
  July 2018

For information on marks scaling please see related information.

• Guidance on conditions of assessment

Information on the production and submission of SQA-assessed coursework for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher.

• Coursework for External Assessment (261 KB)

Examples of candidate evidence with commentaries

• 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

• Changes to published Understanding Standards materials for all subjects

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

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.

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).

• Online resources – practice assessments

SQA Academy

Learning support materials and online learning resources

Verification

Evidence for external verification of internally-assessed components of course assessments

ESOL: Quality Assurance - external verification