Senior Phase

Building on a short German language ‘taster’ in S3, students may choose to undertake an intense course in the language in S4, leading to a qualification at either National 4 or National 5 level.

The National 4 course is delivered in a variety of settings:

• Society
• Learning
• Employability
• Culture.

The course offers opportunities for personalisation and choice.

To achieve the National 4 German award, learners must pass all 3 Units:

• Understanding language (Reading and Listening)
• Using language (Writing and Talking)
• Added Value Unit  – where pupils will be required to provide evidence of their ability to apply their Reading, Listening, Talking and Writing skills in German on a topic chosen by them.

There is no external examination but the Added Value Unit will be externally verified. The course provides progression to a National 5 in German.

The National 5 Course is made up of two mandatory Units:

• Understanding language (Reading and Listening)
• Using language (Writing and Talking)

There is an internally assessed (subject to external verification) Talking Performance and external examination in Reading, Listening and Writing set by the SQA.

As for National 4, and building on the topics from S1-3, the course is delivered in a variety of settings:

• Society
• Learning
• Employability
• Culture.

The course offers opportunities for personalisation and choice. The course provides progression to a Higher in German.

The Higher course is made up of two mandatory Units:

• Understanding language –  to provide learners with the opportunity to develop and extend reading and listening skills in German, and to develop their knowledge and understanding of detailed and complex language in the contexts of society, learning, employability, and culture

• Using language – to provide learners with the opportunity to develop and extend talking and writing skills in German, and to develop their knowledge and understanding of detailed and complex language in the contexts of society, learning, employability, and culture. 

There is an internally assessed (subject to external verification) Talking Performance and external examination in Reading, Listening and Writing set by the SQA.

The course offers opportunities for personalisation and choice. The course provides progression to an Advanced Higher in German.

The Advanced Higher course is made up of three mandatory Units:

• Understanding Language – to provide learners with the opportunity to develop and extend reading and listening skills in German, and to develop their knowledge and understanding of complex and sophisticated language in the contexts of society, learning, employability and culture
• Using Language – to provide learners with the opportunity to develop and extend talking and writing skills in German, and to develop their knowledge and understanding of complex and sophisticated language in the contexts of society, learning, employability and culture
• Specialist Study – to provide learners with the opportunity to develop and extend planning, research and analytical skills in order to undertake an independent specialist study based on literature or media or language in work.

There is an externally assessed Talking Performance and external examination in Reading, Listening and Writing set by the SQA. Learners must also submit Portfolio assignment to the SQA as part of the course assessment.