Assessment in the Senior Phase: Prelim, Folio, SQA Exam & internal assessments
Prelim + Exam for National 5 and Higher
Paper I of the exam – Reading For U, A & E – requires pupils to analyse a complex non-fiction text (an editorial style broad sheet newspaper article) and answer questions about the ideas, the writer’s use of language and its impact (Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation). Paper II of the exam – Critical Reading – requires pupils to write one Critical Essay in response to an unseen question without access to the original literary text (a poem, a play, a novel or a short story studied in class) and then complete a series of Textual Analysis Questions on a Scottish Set Text ( also studied in class).
Prelim (National 5 + Higher)
Paper 1: Reading for U, A and E (30%)
Paper 2: Critical Reading (40%)
1 x Critical Essay; 1x Textual Analysis of a Scottish Set Text
For S4: May to mimic the exam experience of the SQA exam
For S5: for November/December and mimics the challenge of the SQA exam.
Exam (National 5 + Higher)
Paper 1: Reading for U, A and E (30%)
Paper 2: Critical Reading (40%)
1 x Critical Essay; 1x Textual Analysis of a Scottish Set Text
Final SQA Exam will be in May.
Folio (National 5 + Higher)
The folio is 30 % of the overall award. It is completed throughout the course and submitted to the exam board in the Spring.
1 broadly creative piece and 1 broadly discursive piece
1000 words for National 5.
1300 words for Higher.
National 5 & Higher: must also complete Spoken Language internal assessment in order to gain full award.
Assessment for National 4:
Literacy Outcomes Reading, Writing, Talking & Listening assessed internally/UASP
Understanding & Analysis Listening & Reading for Understanding & Analysis assessed internally/UASP
Creation & Production Solo Talk & Writing assessed internally/UASP
Assessment for Advanced Higher:
In Advanced Higher pupils analyse and write critically about selected and unseen literary texts (the Exam: 40%); produce creative writing across a range of genres (the Folio: 30%) and undertake independent literary research (the Dissertation Project: 30%).
