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.

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

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

• 27 January 2021 – Advanced Higher Graphic Communication
• 28 January 2021 – Mental Health and Wellbeing Awards (5.00 pm – 6.00 pm)
• 1 February 2021 – National 5 Media (4.30 pm – 5.30 pm)
• 1 February 2021 – National 5 Physical Education (4.30 pm – 5.30 pm)
• 2 February 2021 – National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher English (4.30 pm – 5.30 pm)
• 2 February 2021 – National 5 Physical Education (4.30 pm – 5.30 pm)
• 3 February 2021 – First Aid Awards (4.30 pm – 5.30 pm)
• 3 February 2021 – National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher English (4.30 pm – 5.30 pm)
• 3 February 2021 – National 5 Physical Education (4.30 pm – 5.30 pm)
• 4 February 2021 – National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher English (4.30 pm – 5.30 pm)
• 4 February 2021 – National 5 Physical Education (4.30 pm – 5.30 pm)
• 5 February 2021 – Advanced Higher Classical Studies (5.00 pm – 6.00 pm)
• 11 February 2021 – National 5 Classical Studies (5.00 pm – 6.00 pm)
• New: 22 February 2021 – Higher Media (4.30 pm – 5.30 pm)
• 23 February 2021 – Higher Classical Studies (Classical Literature, 5.00 pm – 6.00 pm)
• 24 February 2021 – Higher Classical Studies (Classical Society, 5.00 pm – 6.00 pm)
• 25 February 2021 – Higher History (British, European and World History, 4.30 pm – 5.30 pm)
• 2 March 2021 – Higher History (Scottish History, 4.30 pm – 5.30 pm)
• New: 9 March 2021 – Advanced Higher History (question paper 1, 5.00 pm – 6.00 pm)
• New: 11 March 2021 – Advanced Higher History (project-dissertation, 5.00 pm – 6.00 pm)

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 wish to revisit the material. You can access the webinar recordings and accompanying materials from our CPD webinars and materials page 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)

Available Understanding Standards materials