Higher Computing Science

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 Computing Science Course Specification
  June 2015

This explains the structure of the Course assessment; including the type and method of assessment. It also includes information on Course coverage.

• Higher Computing Science Course Assessment Specification
  August 2016

These provide an outline of what each Unit will cover within the Course and detail the Outcomes and Assessment Standards.

• Information Systems Design and Development (Higher) Unit Specification
  June 2015
• Software Design and Development (Higher) Unit Specification
  June 2015

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.

• Higher Computing Science Course and Unit Support Notes
  May 2016

These illustrate the standard, structure and requirements of the question papers learners will sit. These also include marking instructions.

• Higher Computing Science Specimen Question Paper
  May 2017
• Question Paper Brief - Higher Computing Science
  September 2016

The National Parent Forum of Scotland (NPFS) have also produced Higher Revision in a Nutshell guides to help learners prepare for Higher exams.

Questions in the Higher Computing Science question paper will now be numbered sequentially throughout, as shown in the Exemplar Question Paper. The Specimen Question Paper will be updated to reflect this in due course.

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 Computing Science
  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.

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.

• Computing Science Verification Key Messages Round 2
  June 2018
• 2017 Higher Computing Science Course Report October 2017
• 2016 Higher Computing Science Course Report October 2016
• 2015 Higher Computing Science Course Report Oct 2015
• Computing Science Verification Key Messages Round 2 June 2017
• Computing Science Verification Key Messages Round 1 March 2017
• Computing Science Verification Key Messages October 2016
• Computing Science Verification Key Messages October 2015

• Computing Science: Quality Assurance - external verification

Explains the structure of the Course, including its purpose and aims and information on the skills, knowledge and understanding that will be developed.

• Higher Computing Science Course Specification
  June 2018

Provides information on the performance of candidates - which is useful to teachers, lecturers and assessors in their preparation of candidates for future assessment.

• 2017 Higher Computing Science Course Report October 2017
• 2016 Higher Computing Science Course Report October 2016
• 2015 Higher Computing Science Course Report Oct 2015
• Computing Science Verification Key Messages Round 2 June 2017
• Computing Science Verification Key Messages Round 1 March 2017
• Computing Science Verification Key Messages October 2016
• Computing Science Verification Key Messages October 2015

• Computing Science: Quality Assurance - external verification

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

• Higher Computing Science Specimen Question Paper
  June 2018

• Examples of candidate evidence with commentaries
• Overview of Course Assessment Presentation with audio (10 minutes) (15.59 MB)
• 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.

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.

The Web design and development exemplification can be used with reference to the following file:

• Higher Computing Science example website

Reference language

• Reference language for Computing Science (479 KB)
  September 2016
• Reference language for Computing Science (summary) (224 KB)
  September 2016