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.
- Higher Modern Languages Course Specification
October 2019
2022 revision support for learners (Mar 2022)
We have updated this document to provide information on the modifications made to course assessments (coursework and exams) at the start of academic year 2021-22.
- 2022 revision support for learners: Higher Cantonese, Mandarin (Simplified) and Mandarin (Traditional)
- 2022 revision support for learners: Higher French
- 2022 revision support for learners: Higher Gaelic (Learners)
- 2022 revision support for learners: Higher German
- 2022 revision support for learners: Higher Italian
- 2022 revision support for learners: Higher Spanish
- 2022 revision support for learners: Higher Urdu
Past Papers and Marking Instructions
Access all past papers by subject/level
Specimen Question Papers
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 2018 - 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 2018 - 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 2018 - 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 2018 - 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 2018 - 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 2018 - 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 2018 - 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 2018 - 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 2018 - 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
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.
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.
Cantonese
French
- Higher French Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - Higher French Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - Higher French Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
August 2021
Gaelic (Learners)
- Higher Gaelic Learners Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - Higher Gaelic Learners Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - Higher Gaelic Learners Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
August 2021
German
- Higher German Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - Higher German Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - Higher German Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
August 2021
Italian
- Higher Italian Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - Higher Italian Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - Higher Italian Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
August 2021
Mandarin
- Higher Mandarin (Simplified) Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
November 2018 - Higher Mandarin (Tradtional) Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
November 2018
Spanish
- Higher Spanish Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - Higher Spanish Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - Higher Spanish Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
August 2021
Urdu
- Higher Urdu Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - Higher Urdu Assignment Writing Answer Booklet
August 2021 - Higher Urdu Assignment Writing Answer Booklet - For Printing
August 2021
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
Additional resources session 2021-22
New - new materials not previously published
Updated - published in 2020/21 but amended for 2021/22
Carried forward - published in 2020/21 carried forward to 2021/22
- Updated - Gathering evidence - audio pressentation (24.95 MB)
- Updated - National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher Assessment resource
Please note: For session 2021-22 there are modifications to this course. Understanding Standards materials should therefore be viewed along with the National Course modification summary available in the Course information 2021-22 section.
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.
Course assessment overview
Video overview of course assessment from session 2018-19
- Download webinar (97.50 MB)
- Video overview (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.
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.
Course Reports
Chinese Languages
- 2019 Higher Chinese Languages Course Report October 2019
- 2018 Higher Chinese Languages Course Report September 2018
- 2017 Higher Chinese Languages Course Report October 2017
- 2016 Higher Chinese Languages Course Report September 2016
French
- 2019 Higher French Course Report September 2019
- 2018 Higher French Course Report September 2018
- 2017 Higher French Course Report October 2017
- 2016 Higher French Course Report September 2016
Gaelic (Learners)
- 2019 Higher Gaelic (Learners) Course Report October 2019
- 2018 Higher Gaelic (Learners) Course Report September 2018
- 2017 Higher Gaelic Learners Course Report October 2017
- 2016 Higher Gaelic Learners Course Report September 2016
German
- 2019 Higher German Course Report October 2019
- 2018 Higher German Course Report September 2018
- 2017 Higher German Course Report October 2017
- 2016 Higher German Course Report September 2016
Italian
- 2019 Higher Italian Course Report October 2019
- 2018 Higher Italian Course Report September 2018
- 2017 Higher Italian Course Report October 2017
- 2016 Higher Italian Course Report September 2016
Spanish
- 2019 Higher Spanish Course Report October 2019
- 2018 Higher Spanish Course Report September 2018
- 2017 Higher Spanish Course Report October 2017
- 2016 Higher Spanish Course Report September 2016
Urdu
- 2019 Higher Urdu Course Report October 2019
- 2018 Higher Urdu Course Report September 2018
- 2017 Higher Urdu Course Report October 2017
- 2016 Higher Urdu Course Report September 2016
2021 Key Messages
The Alternative Certification Model included a national quality assurance activity, carried out in May 2021.
This report provides information on any common themes and key points from the evidence submitted.
- Higher French 2020-21 key messages
June 2021 - Higher German 2020-21 key messages
June 2021 - Higher Mandarin 2020-21 key messages
June 2021
Higher Spanish 2021-21 key messages
June 2021
Verification Reports
- Urdu Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2019
June 2019 - French Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2019
June 2019 - German Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2019
June 2019 - Cantonese and Mandarin Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2019
June 2019 - Italian Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2019
June 2019 - Spanish Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2019
June 2019 - Spanish Verification Key Messages Round 2
June 2017 - Italian Verification Key Messages Round 2
May 2017 - German Verification Key Messages Round 2
May 2017 - French Verification Key Messages Round 2
May 2017 - Gaelic Learners Verification Key Messages Round 2
September 2017 - 2017 Higher German Course Report October 2017
- 2017 Higher Spanish Course Report October 2017
- 2017 Higher Chinese Languages Course Report October 2017
- 2017 Higher Italian Course Report October 2017
- 2017 Higher Urdu Course Report October 2017
- 2017 Higher French Course Report October 2017
- 2016 Higher Spanish Course Report October 2016
- 2016 Higher Italian Course Report October 2016
- 2016 Higher German Course Report October 2016
- 2016 Higher Chinese Languages Course Report October 2016
- 2016 Higher Urdu Course Report October 2016
- 2016 Higher Gaelic (Learners) Course Report October 2016
- 2016 Higher French Course Report October 2016
- 2015 Higher Spanish Course Report Oct 2015
- 2015 Higher Italian Course Report Oct 2015
- 2015 Higher German Course Report Nov 2015
- 2015 Higher Chinese languages Course Report Oct 2015
- Mandarin (Simplified) Verification Key Messages Round 2
June 2017 - 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.
Ushare open learning resources
Related Information
Contact Information
- General Enquiries
- 0345 279 1000
- Centre Enquiries
- 0303 333 0330