MODERN LANGUAGES
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND UNDERSTANDING
Higher
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reading, listening, talking and writing skills in a modern language in
the contexts of society, learning, employability, and culture
knowledge and understanding of detailed and complex language
required to understand and use a modern language
knowledge and understanding required to apply the language
skills of translation
applying grammatical knowledge and understanding
Advanced Higher

advanced listening and talking, reading, and writing skills in the modern
language, 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 a modern language
 knowledge and understanding of complex and sophisticated language
required to apply the skills of translation
 applying grammatical knowledge and understanding of complex and
sophisticated language
And either:
 advanced knowledge and appreciation of literary and/or media texts in
the modern language OR
 advanced knowledge and appreciation of language 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
Modern Languages: Understanding Language
Modern Languages: Using Language
Modern Languages: Specialist Study
COURSE ASSESSMENT
Higher
Advanced Higher
Course Assessment:
Component 1 – question paper: Reading and Directed Writing (40
marks)
Component 2 – question paper: Listening and Writing (30 marks)
Component 3 – performance: Talking (30 marks)
Course Assessment:
Component 1 – question paper – Reading and Translation (50 marks)
Component 2 – question paper – Listening and Discursive Writing (70 marks)
Component 3 – performance (50 marks)
Component 4 – portfolio (30 marks)
Question Paper: Reading and Directed Writing
Section one, titled ‘Reading’, will have 30 marks.
Section two, titled ‘Directed Writing’, will have 10 marks.
Question Paper: Reading and Translation
Candidates will read one non-fiction text written in the modern language.
They will respond to questions about the text in English, and translate a
Higher
This question paper will be set and marked by SQA, and conducted in
centres under conditions specified for external examinations by SQA.
Candidates will complete this question paper in 1 hour and 40
minutes. For Chinese languages, candidates will complete this
question paper in 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Question Paper: Listening and Writing
Section 1, titled ‘Listening’, will have 20 marks.
Section 2, titled ‘Writing’, will have 10 marks.
This question paper will be set and marked by SQA, and conducted in
centres under conditions specified for external examinations by SQA.
Candidates will complete this question paper in 1 hour. For Chinese
languages, candidates will complete this question paper in 1 hour and
20 minutes.
Performance: Talking
Candidates will deliver a spoken presentation and take part in a
follow-up conversation. The presentation will be based on one
context from the following: society, learning, culture and
employability. The conversation will follow on from this context and
must develop into at least one other context.
The 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.

Advanced Higher
specified section of the text from the modern language to English. Candidates
may use a dictionary.
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: Listening and Discursive Writing
Candidates will listen to one monologue and one conversation in the modern
language. 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 language
discussing one from a choice of four statements. Candidates may use a
dictionary.
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 20 minutes. For
Chinese languages, candidates will complete this question paper in 1 hour and
45 minutes.
Performance: Talking
The performance will give learners an opportunity to demonstrate the
following skills, knowledge and understanding:
 the ability to use complex spoken language, in the modern 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 the modern
language
 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.