The assessment requirements for all SQA Modern Studies levels are detailed in the tables below:
| Subject Name | Modern Studies |
| Subject Level | National 5 |
| What is the 2020-21 course structure? (eg Course Theory & Practical Assignment) | Course theory |
| How many formal assessments are expected between March and June? | 2 |
| Are assessments long or short? | short |
| Likely Duration | 60 minutes |
| Exam formality | Formally supervised under exam conditions |
| How much of the 2020-21 revised course will be covered by this/these assessments? | 100% of the 2020-21 revised course |
| What % of the 2019-20 course does this represent? | 80% (SQA removed assignment which was 20%) |
| Topics expected in the assessment(s) | 1. Democracy in Scotland 2. Crime and the law |
| Assessment Format | KU questions + Enquiry skills |
| Are there any additional assessed components? (eg practical assignment) | Yes, we had already completed an assignment under exam conditions |
| How are these to be assessed? | Teacher graded |
| In terms of grading, what is the balance of each component | Assignment (20 marks), World powers assessment (20 marks), Democracy in Scotland assessment (30 marks), Crime and law (30 marks) |
| Subject Name | Modern Studies |
| Subject Level | Higher |
| What is the 2020-21 course structure? (eg Class Theory & Practical Assignment) | Classwork assessed by 2 exam-style papers |
| How many formal assessments are expected between March and June? | 2 |
| Are assessments long or short? | Long |
| Likely Duration | 1 hour 16 mins and 1 hour 34 mins |
| Exam formality | Formally supervised under exam conditions |
| How much of the 2020-21 revised course will be covered? | 100% |
| What % of the 2019-20 course does this represent? | 100% of the theory content |
| Topics expected in the assessment(s) | Test 1 – Social Inequality and USA (40 marks); Test 2 – UK Politics (40 marks) |
| Assessment Format | Mix of long essay, short essay and enquiry skills questions |
| Are there any additional assessed components? (eg practical assignment) | No, this was removed by SQA for 2020-21 |
| How are these to be assessed? | n/a |
| In terms of grading, what is the balance of each component | n/a |
| Subject Name | Modern Studies |
| Subject Level | Advanced Higher |
| What is the 2020-21 course structure? (eg Class Theory & Practical Assignment) | Course Theory & Dissertation |
| How many formal assessments are expected between March and June? | 2 |
| Are assessments long or short? | Short |
| Likely Duration | 90 minutes |
| Exam formality | Formally supervised under exam conditions |
| How much of the 2020-21 revised course will be covered? | 100% |
| What % of the 2019-20 course does this represent? | 100% |
| Topics expected in the assessment(s) | 1. Understanding Criminal Behaviour 2. Responses by Society to Crime 3. Research Methods 4. Source Stimulus questions |
| Assessment Format | Each assessment will have 1 x 30 mark essay + 15 mark research or source question |
| Are there any additional assessed components? (eg practical assignment) | Yes – dissertation |
| How are these to be assessed? | Teacher graded, based on submitted dissertation |
| In terms of grading, what is the balance of each component | Assessments each worth 45 marks, Dissertation worth 50 marks. Total = 140 marks |
