Gathering evidence for provisional results

The 2021 National Qualifications examination diet has been cancelled. National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications will be awarded based on provisional results submitted by centres. Teachers and lecturers will use their professional judgement of learner evidence to determine provisional results, supported by assessment resources and quality assurance.

For further information, see the latest updates from the National Qualifications 2021 Group in our News section.

Subject-specific guidance on gathering key evidence

We are publishing subject-specific guidance to advise on the types of evidence that can be used to determine a provisional result.

National 5 subject-specific guidance

Subject-specific guidance for National 5 is available on our NQ subject pages.

Higher and Advanced Higher subject-specific guidance

Subject-specific guidance for Higher and Advanced Higher will be published on our NQ subject pages between 18 and 29 January, as follows:

Available:

• Art and Design — Higher
• Art and Design (Design) — Advanced Higher
• Art and Design (Expressive) — Advanced Higher
• Biology — Higher and Advanced Higher
• Computing Science — Higher and Advanced Higher
• Design and Manufacture – Higher and Advanced Higher
• Engineering Science — Higher and Advanced Higher
• English — Higher and Advanced Higher
• Environmental Science – Higher
• ESOL — Higher
• Geography — Higher  
• Graphic Communication — Higher and Advanced Higher
• Human Biology — Higher
• Mathematics — Higher and Advanced Higher
• Mathematics of Mechanics — Advanced Higher
• Modern Languages – Higher and Advanced Higher
• Philosophy — Higher
• Photography — Higher
• Physics – Higher and Advanced Higher
• Statistics — Advanced Higher

By Friday 29 January:

• Accounting — Higher and Advanced Higher
• Administration and IT — Higher
• Business Management — Higher and Advanced Higher
• Care — Higher
• Chemistry — Higher and Advanced Higher
• Childcare and Development — Higher
• Classical Studies — Higher and Advanced Higher
• Dance — Higher
• Drama — Higher and Advanced Higher
• Economics — Higher and Advanced Higher
• Fashion and Textile Technology — Higher
• Gàidhlig — Higher and Advanced Higher
• Geography — Advanced Higher 
• Health and Food Technology — Higher and Advanced Higher
• History — Higher and Advanced Higher
• Latin — Higher and Advanced Higher
• Media — Higher
• Modern Studies — Higher and Advanced Higher
• Music — Higher and Advanced Higher
• Music Technology — Higher and Advanced Higher
• Physical Education — Higher and Advanced Higher
• Politics — Higher
• Psychology — Higher
• RMPS — Higher and Advanced Higher
• Sociology — Higher

General guidance on producing estimates

We have refreshed our general guidance on gathering and judging evidence to support estimates for National Courses, with a clear focus on quality rather than quantity of the evidence.

National courses: guidance on gathering evidence and producing estimates (320 KB)

SQA Academy course

We have created an online course to provide further guidance on producing estimates and moderating estimates within centres. SQA Academy: Quality assurance of estimates for National Courses.