Higher Modern Languages

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.

Past Papers and Marking Instructions

Access all past papers by subject/level


Additional question papers resources

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

Cantonese

French

Gaelic (Learners)

German

Italian

Mandarin

Spanish

Urdu

2021

There were no exams in 2021. The 2020-21 question paper resources are, for most subjects, modified papers which reflect the modifications put in place for session 2020-21

Cantonese

Higher Cantonese question paper - listening (212 KB)
Higher Cantonese question paper - reading (334 KB)
Higher Cantonese question paper - writing (260 KB)

Higher Cantonese listening transcript (270 KB)
Higher Cantonese listening audio (22.56 MB)

Higher Cantonese listening marking instructions (131 KB)
Higher Cantonese reading marking instructions (136 KB)
Higher Cantonese writing marking instructions (125 KB)

French

Higher French question paper - listening (212 KB)
Higher French question paper - reading (334 KB)
Higher French question paper - writing (260 KB)

Higher French listening transcript (270 KB)
Higher French 25% listening audio  (18.07 MB)
Higher French listening audio (12.87 MB)

Higher French listening marking instructions (131 KB)
Higher French reading marking instructions (136 KB)
Higher French writing marking instructions (125 KB)

Gaelic (Learners)

Higher Gaelic (Learners) question paper - listening (239 KB)
Higher Gaelic (Learners) question paper - reading (677 KB)
Higher Gaelic (Learners) question paper - writing (230 KB)

Higher Gaelic (Learners) listening transcript (199 KB)
Higher Gaelic (Learners) listening audio (17.14 MB)
Higher Gaelic (Learners) 25% listening audio (23.07 MB)

Higher Gaelic (Learners) marking instructions - listening (132 KB)
Higher Gaelic (Learners) marking instructions - reading (140 KB)
Higher Gaelic (Learners) marking instructions - writing (133 KB)

German

Higher German question paper - listening (212 KB)
Higher German question paper - reading (334 KB)
Higher German question paper - writing (260 KB)

Higher German listening transcript (270 KB)
Higher German 25% listening audio (17.20 MB)
Higher German listening audio (22.56 MB)

Higher German listening marking instructions (131 KB)
Higher German reading marking instructions (136 KB)
Higher German writing marking instructions (125 KB)

Italian

Higher Italian question paper - listening (212 KB)
Higher Italian question paper - reading (334 KB)
Higher Italian question paper - writing (298 KB)

Higher Italian listening transcript (270 KB)
Higher Italian 25% listening audio (14.93 MB)
Higher Italian listening audio (22.56 MB)

Higher Italian listening marking instructions (131 KB)
Higher Italian reading marking instructions (136 KB)
Higher Italian writing marking instructions (125 KB)

Mandarin

Higher Mandarin-Simplified question paper - listening (212 KB)
Higher Mandarin-Simplified question paper - reading (334 KB)
Higher Mandarin-Simplified question paper - writing (260 KB)

Higher Mandarin-Simplified listening transcript (263 KB) (270 KB)
Higher Mandarin listening audio (21.63 MB)

Higher Mandarin-Simplified listening marking instructions (131 KB)
Higher Mandarin-Simplified reading marking instructions (136 KB)
Higher Mandarin-Simplified writing marking instructions (125 KB)

Higher Mandarin-Traditional question paper - listening (212 KB)
Higher Mandarin-Traditional question paper - reading (334 KB)
Higher Mandarin-Traditional question paper - writing (260 KB)

Higher Mandarin-Traditional listening transcript (270 KB)
Higher Mandarin listening audio (21.63 MB)

Higher Mandarin-Traditional listening marking instructions (131 KB)
Higher Mandarin-Traditional reading marking instructions (136 KB)
Higher Mandarin-Traditional writing marking instructions (125 KB)

Spanish

Higher Spanish question paper - listening (212 KB)
Higher Spanish question paper - reading (334 KB)
Higher Spanish question paper - writing (260 KB)

Higher Spanish listening transcript (270 KB)
Higher Spanish 25% listening audio (23.48 MB)
Higher Spanish listening audio (22.56 MB)

Higher Spanish listening marking instructions (131 KB)
Higher Spanish reading marking instructions (136 KB)
Higher Spanish writing marking instructions (125 KB)

Urdu

Higher Urdu question paper - listening (212 KB)
Higher Urdu question paper - reading (334 KB)
Higher Urdu question paper - writing (260 KB)

Higher Urdu listening transcript (270 KB)
Higher Urdu listening audio (22.56 MB)

Higher Urdu listening marking instructions (131 KB)
Higher Urdu reading marking instructions (136 KB)
Higher Urdu writing marking instructions (125 KB)

Coursework (09/10/2023)

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.

Versions of the Answer Booklet PDF have been created for electronic completion of these workbooks. Please note, and candidates must be made aware, that the answer text boxes in these PDFs are a fixed size. If these are over-filled with text, the text reduces in size. Movement between pages requires the tab key to be used or by right-clicking on the next page.
Versions of the Answer Booklet PDF have been created for printing. If this is required please print this double sided. 

Cantonese

French

Gaelic (Learners)

German

Italian

Mandarin

Spanish

Urdu

Coursework assessment tasks for Higher Modern Languages

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

Understanding Standards (05/10/2023)

 

Examples of candidate evidence with commentaries

Examples of candidate evidence and commentaries for the talking performance assessment can be found on SQA's secure website and you can access these through your SQA co-ordinator.

Course assessment overview

Webinar (recording): Assignment Writing from session 2023-2024

Video overview of course assessment from session 2018-19

Changes to understanding standards materials

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

Additional Resources session 2020-22

Please note: Additional resources published during sessions 2020-2022 are currently under review. Further information can be found on the Understanding Standards Website .

Course reports (17/10/2023)

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

Chinese Languages

French

Gaelic (Learners)

German

Italian

Spanish

Urdu

Verification Reports

Chinese Languages

French

Gaelic (Learners)

German

Italian

Spanish

Urdu

Course support (04/09/2023)

Ushare open learning resources