Set, maintain and monitor standards
SQA sets, maintains and monitors standards as part of our role as Scotland’s national qualifications body. We monitor standards in two ways:
- Qualification standards
- Assessment standards
Qualification standards
We define the level of knowledge and skills needed to achieve a qualification. We then apply these standards to a candidate’s achievement to gauge whether they have the required 'level of competence'.
Assessment standards
Assessing how difficult the assessment is for candidates, taking into account everything the assessment covers.
How we monitor standards
We work with schools, colleges, private training providers and employers to ensure that standards are accurate and consistent, across all qualifications, all the time. Each year, we evaluate the performance of our external assessments. For National Courses, grade boundaries, pass rates and qualitative data provided by examination teams are used to inform the preparation of future assessments.
Each SQA qualification is benchmarked against qualifications on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).
Awarding and setting standards
We review our grade boundaries (the marks needed to achieve a certain grade) year on year, to ensure exam results are fair across Scotland. Senior SQA staff regularly meet with subject specialists to discuss whether Course assessment was set at the right level. With statistical information we can justify whether a question was more difficult or easier than intended.
How we set grade boundaries (165 KB)
Monitoring standards over time
Comparing standards over time means that a Course or Unit is equally demanding, even if it has been replaced or reviewed. Our Monitoring Standards programme samples qualifications, across subjects and levels, to ensure that SQA qualifications and Units are awarded on the basis of consistent standards.
For more information on how we ensure consistency, please read our Monitoring Standards Over Time Reports below:
Reports for 2017
National Qualifications:
- Advanced Higher Geography
- Advanced Higher Modern Studies
- Higher Chemistry
- Higher Physics
- Higher French
- National 5 Graphic Communication and Intermediate 2 Graphic Communication
- National 5 Physics and Intermediate 2 Physics
- National 5 Psychology and Intermediate 2 Psychology
Higher National Units:
- Computing: Graded Unit 1
- Computing: Technical Support: Graded Unit 2
- Hospitality: Food and Beverage Service
- Hospitality: Financial and Control Systems
- Hospitality Supervision
- Social Science: Research Issues
- Social Science: Research and Methodology
- Social Sciences: Graded Unit 1
- Social Sciences: Graded Unit 3
Monitoring Standards Over Time 2017 (783 KB)
Reports for 2016
National Qualifications:
- Advanced Higher English
- Advanced Higher Mathematics
- Higher Business Management
- Higher Computing Science
- Higher Computing
- Higher Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies
- National 5 Geography and Intermediate 2 Geography
Higher National Units:
- Beauty Therapy: Graded Unit 1
- Beauty Therapy: Management and Practices of Body Therapies
- Research Skills
- IT in Business: Spreadsheets
Scottish Vocational Qualifications:
- Business and Administration SCQF level 5
Monitoring Standards Over Time 2016 (689 KB)
Reports for 2015
National Qualifications:
- Advanced Higher History
- Higher English
- Higher French
- National 5 Administration and IT
Higher National Units:
- Electrical Engineering
- Sports Coaching
- Communication
Scottish Vocational Qualifications:
- Health and Social Care (Adults)
- Health and Social Care (Children and Young People)
Monitoring Standards Over Time 2015 (503 KB)
Reports for 2014
National Qualifications:
- Advanced Higher Graphic Communication
- Higher Art and Design
- Higher Geography
- Intermediate 2 English
- Intermediate 2 Mathematics
Higher National Units:
- Business
- Administration and Information Technology
- Accounting
Monitoring Standards over time 2014 (620 KB)
Reports for 2013
National Qualifications:
- Advanced Higher Geography
- Advanced Higher Modern Studies
- Higher French
- Higher Physics
- Higher Chemistry
- Higher History
- Intermediate 2 Geography
- Intermediate 2 Graphic Communication
- Intermediate 2 Psychology
Higher National Units:
- Hospitality: Financial and Control Systems
- Food and Beverage Service
- Hospitality Supervision
- Research Analysis in the Social Sciences
- Social Science Research and Methodology
Monitoring Standards over time 2013 (414 KB)
Reports for 2012
- National Qualifications:
- Advanced Higher Mathematics
- Higher Business
- Higher Computing
- Higher Religious Moral and Philosophical Studies
- Intermediate 2 Administration
Higher National Units:
- IT in Business: Spreadsheets
- Office Management
- ICT in Business
- Economics 1: Micro and Marco Theory and Application
- Sports Coaching with Development of Sport: Graded Unit 1
- Sports Coaching with Development of Sport: Graded Unit 2
- Sports Coaching with Development of Sport: Graded Unit 3
Reports for 2011
National Qualifications:
- Advanced Higher English
- Higher English
- Intermediate 2 English
- Higher Mathematics
- Intermediate 2 Mathematics
Higher National and Vocational Qualifications:
- HND Electrical Engineering
- HND Beauty Therapy
- HND Administration and Information Technology
- SVQ Business Administration Level 2