The Higher course is run in S5 and S6. This allows pupils to progress from National 5 English and to achieve a higher award which is recognised by universities, colleges and employers.

The Higher course is a challenging one and involves a great deal of focus and dedication. It covers two main units:

• Analysis and Evaluation – A unit which looks at the skills of and Reading and Listening and develops pupils’ abilities to analyse specific literary techniques.
• Creation and Production– A unit which looks at the skills of Writing and Talking and assesses pupils’ abilities to produce texts (written and spoken) in a variety of genres.

The units are assessed in class by the teacher and verified externally by the SQA.

Higher English also requires a Writing Folio – A selection of two writing pieces from different genres, which are sent away to the exam board for external marking and make up 30% of the overall final grade.

The final exam takes place at the end of the year and is set by the SQA. It includes two exam papers:

• Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation – Two Close Reading passages with detailed questions on passage 1 and a comparison question lookiung at both passages.
• Critical Reading – One timed Critical Essay on a text studied in class (from a selection of unseen questions) and one set of analysis questions on a Scottish Text studied previously in class.

The exam counts for 70% of your final grade.

Your overall award is made up by combining your grades from both the final exam and the writing folio.