Qualifications Update

Donna ViversCfE Liaison Manager

Advanced Higher

Higher

National 5

National 4

National 3

National 2

National 1

New qualifications have been developed by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to support Curriculum for Excellence and aim to secure a successful future for Scotland's young people in a changing world.

Specifically within the new national qualification: Greater focus on skills development Skills for learning, life and work:

– Literacy – Numeracy– Skills for Health and Well-being– Employability, Enterprise and Citizenship– Thinking skills

What’s Changing?

Summary of Methods of AssessmentsNational 4

(38 Courses)National 5

(40 Courses)Higher

(36 Courses)

Assignment 26 25 25Case Study - 1 1Performance 3 7 8Portfolio - 3 2Practical Activity 6 6 -

Project - - 4QP/Test 2 38 42

Course Structures

AV=Added Value/CA=Course Assessment

• All courses have this unit structure

• Units assessed and marked by teachers throughout the year as at present, assessed as Pass or Fail

• National 2-4 will not be graded at the end of the year. They will be assessed as Pass or Fail

• National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher will be graded A-D or ‘No Award’

How will they be graded?

• National 5 Specimen Question papers and Marking instructions

• General assessment information covering Coursework such as Assignment or Practical activity

• Download these from SQA’s subject pages at www.sqa.org.uk/browsecfesubjects click the subject you are interested in and select National 5.

• Higher Specimen Question papers available end of February 2014.

http://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/

How to prepare?

• SQA Subject Specific Events Nov-Mar 12/13 • Secure Unit Assessment, package 1 Oct 12 • Secure Unit Assessment, package 2 Feb 13• • Secure Unit Assessment, package 3 Apr 13

• Local Authority Subject Events Jan-May 14

Assessment Support for Teachers

Higher Assessment Support for Teachers• Subject Specific Events Nov 13-

Mar14 • Unit Assessment, package 1 Oct 13 • Unit Assessment, package 2 Feb 14

• Unit Assessment, package 3 Apr 14

• Specimen Question Papers Feb 14

• SQA More information can be found on our website:www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/59033.html • Twitter: @sqanews

• BBC Bitesize will also be working with us to produce materials to support pupil revision of new qualifications

• Engage For Education :www.engageforeducation.org

• Parentzone is organised into distinct and user-friendly areas covering issues that affect parents during the different stages of their children's education. www.parentzonescotland.gov.uk

More Information

Contact details:

Email: donna.vivers@sqa.org.uk

Exceptional CircumstancesConsideration Service

• This service will assist candidates who could not sit an exam or who sat an exam but their performance suffered because of exceptional circumstances

• The service will operate before the exam results are sent out

• If a school or college believes this is the case, it must inform SQA within 10 working days of the exam

• The school or college must submit alternative evidence in support of the candidate

• A wide range of evidence will be considered

Post – results Service• This service will run after candidates have received their

certificates• If a school or college is concerned by a candidate’s result,

they can request• clerical check and/or a marking review of the

external assessment• Schools and colleges will be charged a fee for using the

Post-results Service where there is no change to the original grade following the clerical check or marking review

• www.sqa.org.uk/resultsservices