Higher Modern Languages
Course Specification (27/09/24)
Explains the structure of the course, including its purpose and aims and information on the skills, knowledge and understanding that will be developed.
- Higher Modern Languages course specification September 2024
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
- Higher Cantonese Directed Writing Specimen Question Paper August 2023
- Higher Cantonese Listening Specimen Question Paper August 2018
- Higher Cantonese Reading Specimen Question Paper August 2018
- Higher Cantonese Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper August 2018
French
- Higher French Reading Specimen Question Paper August 2018
- Higher French Directed Writing Specimen Question Paper August 2023
- Higher French Listening Specimen Question Paper August 2018
- Higher French Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper August 2018
Gaelic (Learners)
- Higher Gaelic (Learners) Reading Specimen Question Paper August 2018
- Higher Gaelic (Learners) Directed Writing Specimen Question Paper August 2023
- Higher Gaelic (Learners) Listening Specimen Question Paper August 2018
- Higher Gaelic (Learners) Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper August 2018
German
- Higher German Reading Specimen Question Paper August 2018
- Higher German Directed Writing Specimen Question Paper August 2023
- Higher German Listening Specimen Question Paper August 2018
- Higher German Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper August 2018
Italian
- Higher Italian Directed Writing Specimen Question Paper August 2023
- Higher Italian Listening Specimen Question Paper August 2018
- Higher Italian Reading Specimen Question Paper August 2018
- Higher Italian Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper August 2018
Mandarin
- Higher Mandarin (Traditional) Directed Writing Specimen Question Paper August 2023
- Higher Mandarin (Traditional) Listening Specimen Question Paper August 2018
- Higher Mandarin (Traditional) Reading Specimen Question Paper August 2018
- Higher Mandarin (Simplified) Directed Writing Specimen Question Paper August 2023
- Higher Mandarin (Simplified) Listening Specimen Question Paper August 2018
- Higher Mandarin (Simplified) Reading Specimen Question Paper December 2018
- Higher Mandarin Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper August 2018
Spanish
- Higher Spanish Reading Specimen Question Paper August 2018
- Higher Spanish Directed Writing Specimen Question Paper August 2023
- Higher Spanish Listening Specimen Question Paper August 2018
- Higher Spanish Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper August 2018
Urdu
- Higher Urdu Directed Writing Specimen Question Paper August 2023
- Higher Urdu Listening Specimen Question Paper August 2018
- Higher Urdu Reading Specimen Question Paper August 2018
- Higher Urdu Listening (Recording) Specimen Question Paper August 2018
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)
- Higher Urdu Directed Writing Specimen Question Paper August 2023
- Higher German Directed Writing Specimen Question Paper August 2023
- Higher Cantonese Directed Writing Specimen Question Paper August 2023
- Higher Mandarin (Simplified) Directed Writing Specimen Question Paper August 2023
- Higher Mandarin (Traditional) Directed Writing Specimen Question Paper August 2023
- Higher Italian Directed Writing Specimen Question Paper August 2023
- Higher Spanish Directed Writing Specimen Question Paper August 2023
- Higher Gaelic (Learners) Directed Writing Specimen Question Paper August 2023
- Higher French Directed Writing Specimen Question Paper August 2023
Coursework (14/05/2024)
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
- Higher French Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - Higher French Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
October 2023
Gaelic (Learners)
- Higher Gaelic Learners Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
October 2023 - Higher Gaelic Learners Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
October 2023
German
- Higher German Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
October 2023 - Higher German Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
October 2023
Italian
- Higher Italian Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
October 2023 - Higher Italian Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
October 2023
Mandarin
- Higher Mandarin (Simplified) Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
October 2023 - Higher Mandarin (Tradtional) Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
May 2024
Spanish
- Higher Spanish Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
October 2023 - Higher Spanish Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
October 2023
Urdu
- Higher Urdu Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
October 2023 - Higher Urdu Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
October 2023
Coursework assessment tasks for Higher Modern Languages
- Coursework assessment task for Higher Modern Languages Assignment Writing
October 2019 - Coursework assessment task for Higher Modern Languages Performance Talking
October 2019
Information on the production and submission of SQA-assessed coursework for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher.
- Coursework for External Assessment (261 KB)
Understanding Standards (01/10/2024)
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.
Webinar (recording)
Assignment Writing from session 2023-2024
Overview of Course Assessment from session 2018-19
- Download webinar (97.50 MB)
- Overview of Course Assessment (supplementary materials) - Discursive writing essay example (14 KB)
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
Further information can be found on the Understanding Standards website.
Course reports (3/9/24)
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
- 2023 Higher Chinese Languages Course Report September 2023
- 2022 Higher Chinese Languages Course Report September 2022
- 2019 Higher Chinese Languages Course Report October 2019
French
- 2023 Higher French Course Report October 2023
- 2022 Higher French Course Report September 2022
- 2019 Higher French Course Report September 2019
Gaelic (Learners)
- 2023 Higher Gaelic (Learners) Course Report September 2023
- 2022 Higher Gaelic (Learners) Course Report October 2022
- 2019 Higher Gaelic (Learners) Course Report October 2019
German
- 2023 Higher German Course Report September 2023
- 2022 Higher German Course Report October 2022
- 2019 Higher German Course Report October 2019
Italian
- 2023 Higher Italian Course Report October 2023
- 2022 Higher Italian Course Report October 2022
- 2019 Higher Italian Course Report October 2019
Spanish
- 2023 Higher Spanish Course Report October 2023
- 2022 Higher Spanish Course Report October 2022
- 2019 Higher Spanish Course Report October 2019
Urdu
- 2023 Higher Urdu Course Report September 2023
- 2022 Higher Urdu Course Report October 2022
- 2019 Higher Urdu Course Report October 2019
Verification Reports
Chinese Languages
- Chinese Languages Qualification Verification Summary Report Round 2 June 2024
- Chinese Languages Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2023
- Mandarin (Simplified) Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2022
French
- French Qualification Verification Summary Report Round 2 June 2024
- French Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2023
- French Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2022
Gaelic (Learners)
- Gaelic (Learners) Verification Key Messages Round 2 September 2017
German
- German Qualification Verification Summary Report Round 2 June 2024
- German Qualification Verification Summary Report Round 2 June 2023
- German Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2022
Italian
- Italian Qualification Verification Summary Report Round 2 June 2024
- Italian Qualification Verification Summary Report Round 2 June 2023
- Italian Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2022
Spanish
- Spanish Qualification Verification Summary Report Round 2 June 2024
- Spanish Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2023
- Spanish Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2022
Urdu
- Urdu Qualification Verification Summary Report Round 2 September 2024
- Urdu Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2023
- Urdu Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2022