GAELIC (LEARNERS)
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND UNDERSTANDING
Higher
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reading, listening, talking and writing skills in Gaelic in the contexts of
society, learning, employability, and culture
knowledge and understanding of detailed and complex language required
to understand and use Gaelic
knowledge and understanding required to apply the language skills of
translation
applying grammatical knowledge and understanding
knowledge and understanding required to evaluate detailed and complex
written Gaelic literary texts
Advanced Higher
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advanced listening and talking, reading, and writing skills in Gaelic, as
appropriate to purpose and audience, in the contexts of society,
learning, employability and culture
 knowledge and understanding of complex and sophisticated language
required to understand and use Gaelic
 knowledge and understanding of complex and sophisticated Gaelic
required to apply the skills of translation
 applying grammatical knowledge and understanding of complex and
sophisticated Gaelic
and either:
 advanced knowledge and appreciation of literary and/or media texts in
Gaelic OR
 advanced knowledge and appreciation of Gaelic in work
COURSE STRUCTURE
Higher
Advanced Higher
Course Structure: 2 Units and Course Assessment
Course Structure: 3 Units and Course Assessment
Understanding Language
Using Language
Gaelic (Learners): Understanding Language
Gaelic (Learners): Using Language
Gaelic (Learners): Specialist Study
COURSE ASSESSMENT
Higher
Advanced Higher
Course Assessment:
Component 1 – question paper 1: reading and directed writing (40 marks)
question paper 2: listening and literature (30 marks)
Component 2 – performance: talking (30 marks)
Course Assessment:
Component 1 – question paper – Reading and Translation (50 marks)
Component 2 – question paper 2: Listening and Discursive Writing (70 marks)
Component 3 – performance (50 marks)
Component 4 – portfolio (30 marks)
Question Paper : Reading and Directed Writing
Section 1, titled ‘Reading’, will have 30 marks. Candidates will read one written
text in Gaelic. The text will be taken from one of the following contexts: society,
learning, employability or culture and will be followed by questions in English.
Question Paper 1: Reading and Translation
Candidates will read one non-fiction text written in Gaelic. They will respond
to questions about the text in English, and translate a specified section of the
text from Gaelic to English. Candidates may use a dictionary.
Higher
Advanced Higher
Section 2, titled ‘Directed Writing’, will have 10 marks. Candidates will produce
one written text of 120-150 words using detailed and complex language in Gaelic.
This question paper will be set and marked by SQA, and conducted in centres
under conditions specified for external examinations by SQA. Learners will
complete this question paper in 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Question Paper 2: Listening and Literature
Section 1, titled ‘Listening’, will have 20 marks. In item 1, candidates will listen to
one monologue in Gaelic, and respond to questions worth 8 marks. In item 2
candidates will listen to one short conversation in Gaelic, with questions worth 12
marks. The texts will be based on the context which was not covered in the
reading text or directed writing scenarios.
The questions will be in English and candidates will respond in English. The final
question on the monologue will require candidates to identify the overall purpose
of the text.
Section 2, titled ‘Literature’, will have 10 marks. Candidates will answer one
question about a familiar Gaelic text. The learner will choose from five questions.
Candidates will answer in English. Candidates may use an unannotated copy of
their chosen text and a Gaelic dictionary.
These question papers will be set and marked by SQA, and conducted in centres
under conditions specified for external examinations by SQA. Learners will
complete this question paper 1 in 1 hour and 40 minutes and question paper 2 in
1 hour and 15 minutes.
Performance: Talking
Candidates will:
 deliver a spoken presentation
 take part in a follow-up conversation
This performance is set by centres within SQA guidelines and conducted under a
high degree of supervision and control. Evidence will be internally marked by
centre staff in line with SQA marking instructions. Candidates will complete this
performance in at least six minutes and under controlled conditions.
Question Paper 2: Listening and Discursive Writing
Candidates will listen to one monologue and one conversation in Gaelic.
Candidates will respond to questions about the spoken text in English.
Candidates may use a dictionary.
Candidates will write one essay using complex and sophisticated Gaelic
discussing one from a choice of four statements. Candidates may use a
dictionary.
These question papers will be set and marked by SQA, and conducted in
centres under conditions specified for external examinations by SQA. Learners
will complete this question paper in 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Performance: Talking
The performance will give learners an opportunity to demonstrate the
following skills, knowledge and understanding:
 the ability to use complex spoken Gaelic language as part of a discussion
 the ability to take part effectively in a natural, spontaneous conversation
 the ability to use language accurately to convey meaning in Gaelic
 the ability to maintain interaction as appropriate to purpose
The performance is set by centres within SQA guidelines. Visiting Assessors
appointed by SQA will carry out the assessment. Learners will complete this
performance in approximately 20 minutes and under controlled conditions.
Portfolio
The purpose of the portfolio is to assess learners’ analysis of the findings of an
independent specialist study based on literature, media or language in work
Learners will write one text in English of 1300-1500 words in length.
This portfolio is set by centres within SQA guidelines and conducted under
some supervision and control. Evidence will be submitted to SQA for external
marking.