HISTORY
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND UNDERSTANDING
Higher
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developing and applying skills, knowledge and
understanding across contexts from Scottish, British and
European and world history
evaluating the origin, purpose, content and context of
historical sources
evaluating the impact of historical developments and
synthesising information in a well-structured manner
evaluating the factors contributing towards historical
developments, and drawing well-reasoned conclusions
supported by evidence
researching and analysing historical information
developing a detailed and accurate knowledge and
understanding of complex historical issues in Scottish,
British, European and world contexts
Advanced Higher
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developing and applying skills, knowledge and understanding
from a chosen historical field of study
evaluating a wide range of historical sources which have some
complex features, taking into account their provenance,
content and historical and historiographical contexts
engaging with the views of a range of historians
sustaining a coherent line of argument
drawing well-reasoned conclusions supported by detailed
evidence
identifying appropriate research issues
planning and managing a complex programme of research
sourcing, collecting and recording appropriate and reliable
information
evaluating, analysing and synthesising evidence
organising, presenting and referencing findings using
appropriate conventions
COURSE STRUCTURE
Higher
Course Structure: 3 Units and Course Assessment
Historical Study: Scottish
Historical Study: British
Historical Study: European and World
Advanced Higher
Course Structure: 2 Units and Course Assessment
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Historical Study
Researching Historical Issues
COURSE ASSESSMENT
Higher
Course Assessment:
Component 1 – question paper (60 marks)
Component 2 – assignment (30 marks)
Advanced Higher
Course Assessment:
Component 1 – question paper (90 marks)
Component 2 – project: dissertation (50 marks)
Higher
Advanced Higher
Question Paper
Question Paper
Section 1: Historical Study: Scottish (20 marks)
Section 2: Historical Study: British (20 marks)
Section 3: Historical Study: European and World (20 marks)
This question paper has eleven Sections. Learners will answer
questions from one Section only. Each Section will have two parts
with the following mark allocations:
 Part 1: Historical Issues (50 marks)
 Part 2: Historical Sources (40 marks)
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 in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
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 in 3 hours.
Assignment
Project: Dissertation
The learner will:
 identify a historical issue which invites debate and argument
 research and investigate the historical issue, using a range of
sources of information
 draw on and apply knowledge and understanding to analyse
the causes and/or impact of the historical issue
 analyse and synthesise information in a structured manner
 refer to relevant historical sources
 identify different perspectives and/or points of view
 structure information and present a well-reasoned conclusion
supported by evidence
The project: dissertation will give learners an opportunity to
undertake independent research in order to demonstrate the
following skills, knowledge and understanding:
 justifying an appropriate complex historical issue for
research
 using information from a range of primary and secondary
sources
 drawing on in-depth knowledge and understanding
 analysing and evaluating perspectives from historiography
 synthesising information into a coherent line of argument
 organising, presenting and referencing findings using
appropriate conventions
This assignment is managed by centres within SQA guidelines and
conducted under high degree of supervision and control. Evidence
will be submitted to SQA for external marking.
This project: dissertation is managed by centres within SQA
guidelines and will be conducted under some supervision and
control. The evidence for assessment will be produced
independently by the learner in time to meet a submission date set
by SQA. Evidence will be submitted to SQA for external marking.