Understanding Standards

SQA's Understanding Standards programme consists of a range of subject-specific events, webinars and support materials that focus on the standards required in our assessments. Aimed at teachers and lecturers who deliver National Qualifications, Understanding Standards can help you build your confidence in preparing learners for assessment. 

2020–21 Understanding Standards support

While existing Understanding Standards materials remain relevant for session 2020-21, SQA is supplementing existing resources with additional material to support teachers and lecturers with this session’s changes to National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher assessment, where a need has been identified. So far, this has included new candidate evidence and commentary materials, webinar recordings, audio presentations and video resources that demonstrate how teachers and lecturers can reduce the time required for specific assessment activities.

NQ Understanding Standards webinar programme 2020–21

We are running a programme of subject-specific webinars to support teachers and lecturers to deliver and assess National Courses in session 2020–21. The webinars will run from November 2020 until March 2021. The following sessions are now confirmed

• 25 February 2021 4.30 pm - 5.30 pm - History: Higher (British, European and World History) FULLY BOOKED
• 2 March 2021 4.30 pm - 5.30 pm - History: Higher (Scottish History) FULLY BOOKED
• 3 March 2021 5.00 pm - 6.00 pm - Classical Studies: Higher (Classical Society) 
• 9 March 2021 5.00 pm - 6.00 pm - History: Advanced Higher (question paper 1) FULLY BOOKED
• 16 March 2021 5.00 pm - 6.00 pm - History: Advanced Higher (project-dissertation) FULLY BOOKED

Attending a webinar can contribute to your Continued Professional Development (CPD) and CPD certificates will be available on our Events Booking System shortly after each webinar. We will update this page as more webinars are announced.

How to join a webinar

You can book on to a webinar using our online event booking system where you will find more information on what each webinar will cover. Please note that places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

If you have any enquiries about the webinars, please call our Events Team on 0345 213 5580 or email sqaevents@sqa.org.uk. 

Recordings of previous webinars

We are publishing recordings of our webinars for those who are unable to attend or who would like to revisit the material. You can access the webinar recordings and accompanying materials from the Understanding Standards website and from our NQ subject pages. These include the following 2020–21 webinars:

• ESOL — All levels (9 December 2020)
• Health and Food Technology, Fashion and Textile Technology, Practical Cake Craft and Practical Cookery — all levels (16 November 2020)
• History — National 5 (18 November 2020)
• Scottish Baccalaureate (23 November 2020)

Candidate evidence and commentary materials

We regularly publish examples of candidate assessment evidence (including media files where appropriate to the subject) , along with written commentaries that explain why the evidence has or has not met the required assessment standards . These materials are available from our Understanding Standards website for externally marked assessments. Additional material, including material for internally marked assessments and some of those subject to visiting assessment, are available on the SQA Secure website.

Available Understanding Standards materials