Higher Gàidhlig

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

• Higher Gàidhlig Course Specification

          April 2018

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.

• Instructions for the submission of National 5 and Higher Gàidhlig coursework
  January 2024
• Gàidhlig assignment writing template
  September 2018
• Coursework assessment task for Higher Gàidhlig Assignment Writing
  June 2018
• Coursework assessment task for Higher Gàidhlig Performance Talking
  June 2018

• 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)

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.

Webinar (recording)

Assignment Writing from session 2023-2024

• Download webinar

Audio Presentations

• Overview of course assessment (part 1) (11.44 MB)
• Overview of course assessment (part 2) (16.42 MB)

Changes to Understanding Standards materials

• Changes to published Understanding Standards materials for all subjects

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

Additional Resources session 2020-22

Further information can be found on the Understanding Standards Website.

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 Higher Gàidhlig Course Report
  October 2024
• 2023 Higher Gàidhlig Course Report
  October 2023
• 2022 Higher Gàidhlig Course Report
  October 2022

Verification Reports

• Gaidhlig Verification Key Messages Round 2 June 2017
• Gàidhlig: Quality Assurance - external verification

We are committed to ensuring our qualifications and assessments are as accessible and inclusive as possible for all learners. The following guidance on candidates’ use of pronouns and gender-neutral language aims to help teachers and lecturers of Modern Languages and Gàidhlig. This includes those delivering National 3 to Advanced Higher Modern Languages and the Modern Languages for Life and Work award.

Productive skills – talking and writing

Pronouns, nouns, adjectives and agreements

Teachers and lecturers should support learners’ ways of referring to themselves and others in the assessment of talking and writing. Using gender-neutral pronouns, nouns and adjectives is now a common feature of inclusive language – whether by creating new forms, adding punctuations, asterisks or using alternative spellings.

A candidate can use masculine, feminine or gender-neutral adjective agreements throughout their writing or performance-talking assessments, where appropriate to the language. However, candidates must use their pronouns and adjectives consistently and stick to the associated conventions of adjectival agreement where appropriate.

For the performance-talking assessment, we have already provided guidance to Advanced Higher visiting assessors and NQ verification teams on the importance of being aware of any potential implicit or unconscious bias towards a candidate’s gender identity.

Before the performance-talking, learners may indicate to the visiting assessor or their teacher or lecturer the pronouns they will use.

Marking of exams

Most exam scripts are anonymised which helps to eliminate any potential implicit or unconscious bias during marking. Markers are not aware of candidates’ gender and are instructed to look for correct and consistent use of pronouns, adjectives and agreements as indicated above.