This section of the Dunblane High School website provides information of the type of SQA Assessments for all our S3-S6 candidates
The SQA is perhaps best known for the delivery of the annual diet of public examinations within Scotland; each year the Authority organises public examinations in a wide range of subjects, at various levels, for school pupils and college students.
Dunblane High School offers a range of National Qualifications (NQs) -Access to Advanced Higher - that are certificated by the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA)
These NQs fall under TWO main categories:
1. STANDARD GRADES
Usually for students aged around 14 to 16 years. Standard Grade courses are taken over a student's third and fourth year in secondary education. Final exams are taken at the end of the 4th Year (around May),with prelim examinations taken several months earlier in December. Internal examinations (eg Folio work in Modern Languages & English, Speaking exams in Modern Languages, Practical Assessments in Science etc) take place throughout the 2 years of coursework.
FULL COURSE AWARD.....
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT (Folio, Practical Abilities etc) + EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT (MAIN EXAM)
2. NATIONAL COURSES
These courses were introduced with the Higher Still reforms of 1999. There are seven National Courses: Access 1, Access 2, Access 3, Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, Higher, (normally at age 15-18) and Advanced Higher (normally at age 17-18). Intermediate 1 and 2 and Access 3 are either set in place of Standard Grade in some schools (i.e. Art & Design, Modern Studies & Hospitality in DHS) or at ages 16–18 in addition to Highers and Advanced Highers
Since the introduction of Highers, Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2 courses, the SQA subsequently introduced a National Assessment Bank of short examinations for each subject. These are more commonly known as NABs or Unit Assessments, and contain questions from specific academic units at a basic level.
Each candidate must pass a certain number of NABs (usually three) before they can be presented for the final examination, although resits can occur with other NAB materials
FULL COURSE AWARD.....
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT(NABS) + EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT (MAIN EXAMS)
For more detailed information on SQA matters including information on Prelim & Verification Examinations in DHS please click on the link below
DHS SQA INFORMATION LEAFLET FOR PUPILS & PARENTS
SUBJECT LIST
GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
ENGLISH
SOCIAL SUBJECTS
RMPS