16
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
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
