National 3/4/5 English
What will I learn?
English will enable learners to develop the ability to listen and talk, read and write as appropriate to purpose, audience and context. Learners will also develop the ability to understand, analyse and evaluate texts, including Scottish texts, in the contexts of literature, language and media. Learners will also create and produce texts and apply knowledge and understanding of language.
How will I learn?
Learning will take place through a study of literature in different genres including drama, prose fiction, prose non-fiction, poetry and film and television drama. This literature will include Scottish texts. Learners will develop close reading skills through the study of non- fiction texts; develop the skills to create a range of non-fiction and fiction texts; and take part in regular group discussion to develop listening and talking skills.
How will I be assessed?
National 5 English:
Portfolio – 30 % of overall grade:
Two writing pieces, one broadly discursive and one broadly creative (15% each). Learners will prepare their folio over a period of time before it is sent away for external marking by the SQA in March.
Exam – 70% of overall grade:
Paper 1 – Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation (30%). Learners will answer questions on one unseen non-fiction text.
Paper 2 – Critical Reading (40%). This section has two parts. In section 1 learners will answer questions on a previously studied Scottish text. In section 2 learners will write one critical essay on their chosen text from one of the following genres: drama, fiction prose, non-fiction prose, poetry, film and TV drama or language.
National 3 and 4 English:
All units are internally assessed, there is no external examination. This course is awarded on a pass/fail basis.
At N3 the course consists of 3 units:
Understanding Language – listening and reading skills
Producing Language – talking and writing skills
Literacy – reading, writing, listening and talking skills relevant for learning, life and work
At N4 the course consists of 4 units:
Analysis and Evaluation – listening and reading skills
Creation and Production – talking and writing skills
Literacy – reading, writing, listening and talking skills relevant for learning, life and work
Added Value Unit – learners apply their language skills to investigate and report on a chosen topic
Career opportunities
Language and literacy are of major importance and allow pupils access to an incredible array of future careers because the ability to express ourselves clearly and communicate effectively are key in every area of employment.
SQA Links
Please use the link below to visit the SQA English National Qualifications page, there you will find the full course specification, past papers and marking schemes and a variety of useful documents:
National 5 English: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/47410.html
National 4 English: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/47403.html
National 3 English: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/48588.html
