Advanced Higher Spanish

Course information

This course is suitable for candidates who wish to develop their understanding and use of complex and sophisticated language through a range of higher-order skills. It gives candidates opportunities to personalise their learning appropriate to their personal and vocational needs and aspirations.

The Advanced Higher Modern Languages course provides academic and personal challenges for candidates. It provides a pathway for those who want to progress to more specialised training, further education, or entry into a diverse range of occupations and careers.

The following provides details of skills, knowledge and understanding sampled in the course assessment:

• Reading and Translation, Listening and Discursive Writing question papers
  Candidates are assessed on all four contexts: society, learning, employability, culture.
• Portfolio
  Candidates demonstrate their analytical skills in relation to literature, media or language in work, within the context of the modern language. Candidates write their portfolio in English.
• Performance–talking
  Candidates demonstrate their talking skills in the modern language in a discussion with a visiting assessor.

Assessment methods

Question paper: Reading and Translation 50 marks
This question paper allows candidates to demonstrate breadth, challenge and application in the skills of reading and translation.

Question paper: Listening and Discursive Writing 70 marks
This question paper allows candidates to demonstrate breadth, challenge and application in the skills of listening and discursive writing.

Portfolio 30 marks
The portfolio has a total mark allocation of 30 marks. This is 15% of the overall marks for the course assessment. Candidates choose one of the following portfolio options:

• literature-based
• media-based
• language in work-based

The portfolio requires candidates to produce an essay in English, based on their research into literature, media or language in work.

Performance–talking 50 marks
The performance–talking has a total mark allocation of 50 marks. This is 25% of the overall marks for the course assessment. The performance–talking requires candidates to take part in a face-to-face discussion in the modern language with a visiting assessor.

During the discussion, candidates talk about themes or topics relating to at least one context from society, learning, employability or culture, and their portfolio study of literature, media or language in work.

Entry Requirements

Entry to this course requires an A or B pass at Higher Spanish.

Additional information

For further information, visit the SQA course overview and resources webpage.