National 4 English involves developing skills in reading, writing, talk and listening. Pupils will build on the skills they have already and tackle many tasks which will be familiar to them, such as reading literary texts, writing and group discussion.
 
This course offers pupils the opportunity to develop and extend a wide range of skills. In particular it aims to enable pupils to develop the ability to: listen, talk, read and write, understand, analyse and evaluate texts; create and produce texts and apply knowledge and understanding of language across their learning and in their daily life.

  

Pupils will begin the course by preparing for internal assessments which cover both National 4 English and National 4 Literacy - this will minimise the number of assessments pupils have to undertake. Pupils will be given individual assessments in Reading, Writing, Talking and Listening. Although pupils may be allowed some support in assessments they cannot receive support for the area in which they are being assessed. For example, pupils would not be allowed a reader in the reading assessment. This allows both the English and Literacy assessments to count as one assessment.
 
Pupils will also undertake the Added Value Unit. This demands pupils analyse two different texts that they have chosen. Pupils will analyse and make notes on the texts using skills they have developed earlier in the course and some new skills. Pupils will then write an essay of 600-700 words (approximately) to demonstrate their understanding of the text.

  

Progression from BGE.

Students will study a range of literature throughout the year, such as prose, drama, poetry and also media. All pupils will study one of the following from the Scottish set texts list, as part of the Critical Reading paper: a collection of poetry, a collection of short stories, a novel and a play.

 

Throughout the year, the pupils will also develop their knowledge and skills in a range of areas, including essay writing, interpreting an unseen text and writing creatively or argumentatively. Pupils will be expected to contribute to group and class discussion regularly.

  

A writing folio will be externally assessed by the SQA. Your teacher will give you comments on draft one and then an estimate grade only on the redraft, with no further comments.

National 5 English no longer involves any internally assessed units however most students will have the opportunity to complete the N5 Literacy Unit. This involves assessments in reading, writing, talking and listening.

 

In addition, there is a mandatory talk known as the spoken assessed element. You must pass this in order to be eligible for a full course award. You will have some choice regarding the topic of your presentation and this must be delivered in front of an audience.
 
Finally, there will be the SQA National 5 exam.

  

Progression from BGE.

Pupils will study a range of literature throughout the year, such as prose, drama, poetry and also media. All pupils will study one of the following from the Scottish set texts list, as part of the Critical Reading paper: a collection of poetry, a collection of short stories, a novel and a play.

 
Throughout the year, the pupils will also develop their knowledge and skills in a range of areas, including essay writing, interpreting an unseen text and writing creatively or argumentatively. Pupils will be expected to contribute to group and class discussion regularly.

  

A folio is required as part of the Higher assessment and this will be assessed externally by SQA markers. The final deadline for your folio is dependent on the SQA pick up date but will normally be around the middle of March.

 
Your teacher will give you comments on draft one and then an estimate grade only on the redraft, with no further comments.
 
Higher English no longer involves any mandatory internally assessed units. However, if a pupil is struggling with exam components, there may be an option to sit units only.

In addition, there is a compulsory talk known as the spoken assessed element. You must pass this in order to be eligible for a full course award. You will have some choice regarding the topic of your presentation and this must be delivered in front of an audience.
 
External Assessment
Each pupil’s final mark is made up of the folio of writing, as well as the final exam. The weighting for the final grade is as follows:

 

Achieved National 5 English.

English: Analysis and Evaluation of Literary Texts (Advanced Higher) - the purpose of this Unit is to provide learners with opportunities to develop skills in the analysis and evaluation of a wide range of complex and sophisticated literary texts, as appropriate to purpose and audience.
 
English: Creation and Production (Advanced Higher) - the purpose of this Unit is to provide learners with opportunities to create a range of complex and sophisticated texts, as appropriate to different purposes and audiences.

  

Learners at this level must pass all of the Units as well as the Course assessment.
 
Course assessment structure:
Component 1 - Question Paper: Literary Study - 20 marks
Component 2 - Question Paper: Textual Analysis - 20 marks
Component 3 - Portfolio Writing - 30 marks
Component 4 - Project Dissertation - 30 marks

  

Achieved Higher English at an A or B grade.