National 5 Art and Design

Art and Design National 3 National 4 National 5 Higher

Changes to National 5 Art and Design question paper from session 2024-25 (24/05/24)

24-MAY-2024

For session 2024-25 onwards, we've reduced the length of the National 5 Art and Design question paper, and the number of marks available in the question paper, while ensuring it continues to assess the required skills, knowledge and understanding.

The updated question paper is worth a total of 40 marks, which will be scaled to 50 marks to retain its 20% weighting in the overall course assessment. The length of the exam will be reduced to 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Mandatory questions

We've reduced the number of marks available for each of the mandatory questions (question 1 and question 7) from 15 to 10.

There will be 6 marks available for part (a) of each mandatory question: In question 1(a), learners will comment on the work of one artist, referring to three given prompts.
In question 7(a), learners will comment on the work of one designer, referring to three given prompts.

There will be 4 marks available for part (b) of each mandatory question: In question 1(b), learners identify and describe influences on the work of their artist from part (a).
In question 7(b), learners identify and describe influences on the work of their designer from part (a).

Optional image questions

There is no change to the number of marks available for the optional image questions, which will continue to be worth 10 marks each. However, we’re splitting each optional image question into part (a) and part (b) to better reflect how marks are awarded for these questions.

8 marks will be available for part (a), where learners will comment on three given prompts for their chosen image, and 2 marks will be available for part (b), where learners will give their opinion on their chosen image.

Updated documents

We’ve updated the National 5 Art and Design course specification and specimen question paper to reflect these changes. The updated course specification is dated May 2024 and the updated specimen question paper is dated June 2024. Both documents are valid from session 2024-25.

View our online news article – update on National Courses for session 2024-25 onwards (13 March 2024).

Course Specification (14/05/2024)

Explains the structure of the course, including its purpose and aims and information on the skills, knowledge and understanding that will be developed.

National 5 Art and Design course specification May 2024

Past Papers and Marking Instructions

Access all past papers by subject/level

Additional question papers resources

Illustrates the standard, structure and requirements of the question papers candidates will sit (includes marking instructions).

National 5 Art and Design specimen question paper June 2024

2021

There were no exams in 2021. The 2020-21 question paper resources are, for most subjects, modified papers which reflect the modifications put in place for session 2020-21.

National 5 Art and Design question paper (13.63 MB)
National 5 Art and Design marking instructions (350 KB)

Coursework (August 2023)

This section provides information on marking instructions and/or the coursework assessment task(s). It includes information that centres need to administer coursework and must be read in conjunction with the course specification.

Coursework assessment task for National 5 Art and Design - Expressive portfolio September 2020
Coursework assessment task for National 5 Art and Design - Design portfolio September 2020

Evaluations

National 5 Art and Design - Expressive portfolio evaluation template August 2023
National 5 Art and Design - Design portfolio evaluation template August 2023
National 5 and Higher Art and Design Evaluation Instructions August 2018

Help and guidance

How to submit more concise portfolios while still accessing the full range of marks.

Guidance on National 5 and Higher Art and Design portfolios

Submitting Art and Design Practical Assessment portfolios.

Guidance on conditions of assessment

Information on the production and submission of SQA-assessed coursework for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher.

Coursework for External Assessment (261 KB)

Understanding Standards (13/11/2024)

Examples of candidate evidence with commentaries

Examples of candidate evidence with commentaries

Further examples of candidate evidence and commentaries can be found on SQA's secure website and you can access these through your SQA co-ordinator.

Audio presentation

Changes to the 2025 Question Paper - presentation with audio (49.31 MB)
Design portfolio guidance - presentation with audio (71.30 MB)
Expressive Portfolio guidance - presentation with audio (58.91 MB)

Changes to Understanding Standards materials

Changes to published Understanding Standards materials for all materials

Please note: Understanding Standards materials are regularly reviewed to ensure they remain up to date.

Webinar (recording)

Question Paper webinar (2019)

Please note that the format of the National 5 question paper has been amended since this webinar was recorded. Centres should refer to the updated specimen question paper for the most current format of the assessment.

Download webinar 2019 (132.78 MB)

Course reports (15/10/2024)

Provides information on the performance of candidates - which is useful to teachers, lecturers and assessors in their preparation of candidates for future assessment.

Course Reports

2024 National 5 Art and Design course report October 2024
2023 National 5 Art and Design course report Setpember 2023
2022 National 5 Art and Design course report September 2022

Course support

The National 5 Art and Design question paper course aims to help teachers and lecturers with their understanding of the question paper. The course provides information and guidance, and includes an interactive marking exercise where users can practice awarding marks to example responses.

There are three modules available to complete for this course.

National 5 Art and Design question paper course