Literacy and Numeracy

• English common questions (305 KB)

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

• Literacy National 3 (104 KB)
• Literacy National 4 (100 KB)
• Literacy National 5 (144 KB)

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

• Gàidhlig National 3
• Gàidhlig National 4
• Gàidhlig National 5
• Gàidhlig National 3 (Gaelic translation)
• Gàidhlig National 4 (Gaelic translation)
• Gàidhlig National 5 (Gaelic translation)

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

• Numeracy National 3 (107 KB)
• Numeracy National 4 (65 KB)
• Numeracy SCQF level 5  (110 KB)
• Numeracy National 3 (Gaelic translation) (269 KB)
• Numeracy National 4 (Gaelic translation) (272 KB)
• Numeracy National 5 (Gaelic translation) (311 KB)

These provide advice and guidance for teachers/lecturers on learning, teaching and assessment within the Units.

If a Unit is being done on a free-standing basis, notes need only be read along with the Unit Specification.

• Unit Support Notes - Literacy (National 3) (389 KB)
• Unit Support Notes - Literacy (National 4)
• Unit Support Notes - Gàidhlig: Literacy (National 3) (399 KB)
• Unit Support Notes - Gàidhlig: Literacy (National 4) (376 KB)
• Additional learning and teaching Support Notes - Literacy (National 3) (567 KB)
• Additional learning and teaching Support Notes - Literacy (National 4) (581 KB)
• Additional learning and teaching Support Notes - Literacy (National 5) (655 KB)

These provide advice and guidance for teachers/lecturers on learning, teaching and assessment within the Units.

If a Unit is being done on a free-standing basis, notes need only be read along with the Unit Specification.

• National 3 (564 KB)
• National 4 (573 KB)
• National 5 (503 KB)
• Additional learning and teaching Support Notes - Numeracy (National 3) (470 KB)
• Additional learning and teaching Support Notes - Numeracy (National 4) (167 KB)
• Additional learning and teaching Support Notes - Numeracy (National 5) (458 KB)

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.

Bridging packs for Literacy (National 5), Gàidhlig: Literacy (National 5) and Numeracy (National 5) are now available and teachers/lecturers can arrange access to these documents through their SQA Co-ordinator.

Annotated Unit assessment support is available for Literacy Units at National 3 and National 4. These documents are designed to encourage and promote inclusive practice in the assessment of the National Literacy Units, particularly where learners may have reading and writing difficulties. Teachers/lecturers can arrange access to these documents through their SQA Co-ordinator.

• Mathematics Qualification Verification Summary Report April 2025
• Mathematics Qualification Verification Summary Report June 2024
• Literacy and Numeracy: Quality Assurance - external verification

Examples of candidate evidence with commentaries

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 Unit assessment (30 minutes) (52.25 MB)

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.