Parents and carers

Studying for exams

If your child is sitting exams as part of their National 5, Higher or Advanced Higher Courses, they may find the following resources useful when revising:

Specimen and Exemplar Question Papers are available from the Assessment Support section of the relevant subject pages. Simply select your chosen subject from the menu, then select the level.

Preparing for coursework

Our subject pages contain Coursework information, for Courses that include coursework as part of the final Course assessment. These documents give an overview of the task(s) your child will be asked to complete. Our Your Coursework page also contains information on the rules your child needs to follow when submitting their coursework.

Other useful resources from SQA

If your child is sitting exams, they may find our Exam Tools web page useful. Here, they can access our ‘Your Exams’ guides, and create their own personal exam timetable and study plan using our handy apps.

Your child can also register for MySQA and receive their results by text on Results Day.

National Qualifications - what's changed?

The new qualifications have a greater focus on developing skills. Your child will develop practical skills like data collection, literacy, numeracy and team working; Core Skills like communication, ICT and problem solving; and Skills for Learning, Life and Work such as employability, independent thinking, and enterprise and citizenship.

National Qualifications are designed to make sure that learners not only develop these skills, but transfer them to real-life settings outwith the classroom, including the workplace. This is encouraged through changes to learning, teaching and assessment; with more assessment through things like practical activities, performances and research projects etc.

What about university entry requirements?

Scotland

Scottish universities have published policies which outline their position on National Qualifications.

Rest of the UK

Universities Scotland has published a paper aimed at universities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland regarding reforms in Scottish education. This paper will be useful for universities across the rest of the UK who receive applications from young people in Scotland. It will help them to understand these changes and what the implications may be for their admissions policies.

Download leaflet

Download this handy guide for parents and carers (426 KB) to the new National Qualifications.