sqa national 5 english essay template

SQA National 5 English

Sqa english national 5.

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English National 5 Essay Examples Available

The English Department have sent more resources for National 5 critical essay revision to this site for inclusion.

They take the form of exemplar timed essays on the novels studied in the course: Stone Cold, Of Mice and Men and Animal Farm.

Find them on the dedicated critical essay revision page . The PDF files are named according to: the novel they are concerned with; whether they are the first or second example (1 or 2); and each example is numbered into parts – (i) – (iv).

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National 5 English

The National 5 English Course enables learners to develop their literacy skills and to understand, analyse and evaluate a range of texts, including Scottish texts, in the contexts of literature, language and media. The Course also enables learners to create and produce texts and to apply their knowledge and understanding of language.  

Performance-spoken language

Additional candidate evidence and commentaries for the Performance-spoken language component are available on this website. This material is for teachers, lecturers and assessors only and must be kept securely. Login details are required if you want to view it and these can be obtained from your SQA Coordinator

Once you have the login details, enter them by clicking the  Login  button at the top-right of this page. You will need to navigate back to this page and should then be able to see the additional option in the menu, as shown below:

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• Sep 19, 2019

SQA English Portfolio Template (Higher and Nat 5)

Updated: Mar 2, 2022

Book your N5/H Grade Booster Days now! 8 hours of in-person intensive exam preparation with our expert teachers who are SQA markers.

What is the SQA English folio template?

All National 5 and Higher English candidates are required to submit a portfolio which contains TWO  pieces of writing.

In order to do this, you must use an official Folio template to produce hard copies of your portfolio, which will be sent to the SQA.

Why do we need to use the official SQA English template?

Since 2016  portfolios have been e-marked. This means that each candidate’s portfolio must be scanned and then read by the marker.

As you can imagine, having all types of fonts sizes, line spaces and margins could make reading the folios difficult. If the information is missing or any part of the Folio is impossible to read, this could result in a lower grade for the candidate. Therefore, a template with standard fonts and margins makes the process much smoother and improves your chances of getting a good result.

What format does the SQA English folio template use?

The template is available in a Word format. This means if you are using a Mac rather than a PC you should use Word for Mac.

How do I use the SQA English folio template?

You can download and/or print copies of the template as required. The SQA recommend that candidates type directly onto the template. But, you can also copy and paste your writing from another file. The template has a straightforward format and is set up with a common font and font size.

Do you have to type into the SQA English Folio Template?

If you prefer to write by hand, you could also print the template and write directly onto it. But this means you have write very neatly and carefully. Most candidates prefer the electronic method.

If I type into it, can I just send my English Folio electronically?

No. You or your teacher must print out a hard copy which must be submitted through the school or centre in the usual way. It would also be wise to keep a saved version of your final version.

Do I need to use a different template for each piece of writing?

No, Both portfolio pieces can be contained within one template. Just make a clear indication of where each piece of writing starts by using a description and title.

Eg. Discursive Writing: Are Drones Flying Above the Law?Personal Writing: Holiday Disaster.

Do I have to include the pieces in a certain order?

Yes. Please ensure that the pieces follow the order of the flyleaf, – broadly creative followed by broadly discursive.

It is recommended that the portfolio pieces are printed double-sided where possible. This just allows for quicker processing and helps save trees too.

Important points to remember

Each portfolio must be accompanied with the SQA flyleaf. These are the front covers, which the school or centre provides.

They will require you to include your name, school, candidate number, as well as the title and word count of each of your two pieces. Please ensure all of the information on your flyleaf is completed and accurate. Any errors or incomplete sections could delay your exam results, which is never a good thing!

Your school or centre will have strict dates upon which the Folios will be collected. These are given to the school by the SQA and are non-negotiable.

This means that it is really important that have your Folio completed by your official deadline. Check with your teacher to confirm you know your deadline.

How much of my mark is my English folio worth?

Your Folio is potentially worth a whopping 30% of your final grade.

So it is worth ensuring it is the best work you can produce. Getting it right, reduces the pressure of your final exam. If you are unsure about any aspect of it, speak to your teacher for advice.

If you need support in National 5 or Higher subjects you can book classes here.

Not ready to book? That's fine! Sign up for updates here instead until you're ready to book.

Best of Luck from the team at Saturday School!

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Turnbull English Department

All pupils sitting National 5 English are required to complete a folio of work. This contributes to 30% of the overall final award. Information relevant to the completion of the folio can be found below:

N5 Folio marking grid

N5-folio-instruction-sheet

SQA Folio Template

This year’s folio deadline for N5 is set as follows:

N5 Final Folio submission – TBC

Please note, these deadlines are final. After this point submitted folios will be packaged up and collected by the SQA to be distributed to markers. We will not be able to submit any folio essays after this point. Failure to submit a folio to the SQA by the agreed date will result in the candidate losing 30% of their overall award.

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• Past Papers
• National Qualifications  >  Subjects  >  English  >  Higher  > Higher English

Higher English

Updates and announcements, consultation on the scottish set text list (07/06/24).

We recently ran a consultation to gather feedback from teachers, lecturers and learners on the current Scottish set text list for National 5 and Higher English courses.

We plan to update the list for use in session 2025-26 onwards, so that it more fully reflects life in Scotland. 

This is the first time we’ve asked learners for their views on the content of the Scottish set text list. We sought views from learners across a range of age groups – including learners in S1 to S3, those in the senior phase (S4 to S6), recent school leavers attending college and university, and those in the workplace. We're also holding focus groups to explore the survey feedback in more detail.

We’ll publish the revised Scottish set text list in November 2024, for implementing in session 2025-26. The 2026 exams will be the first to feature content from the revised list.

View our news release on the Scottish set text consultation 

Communication and Literature units (24/08/23)

Qualification verification summary report (qvsr).

• Qualification Verification Summary Report 2022  (186 KB)

SCQF level 5

Guidance for the Communication and Introduction to Literature units (SCQF level 5) (142 KB)

• Communication - SCQF level 5
• Introduction to Literature - SCQF level 5

SCQF level 6

The following guidance details how to deliver and assess these units.

Assessment guidance valid from 2023-24 (112 KB)

Guidance for the Communication NC and Literature 1 units (SCQF level 6) (152 KB)

• Communication (NC) - SCQF level 6
• Literature 1 - SCQF level 6

Change to conditions of assessment in English portfolios from session 2024-25 (28/05/24)

We’re tightening the conditions of assessment in National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher English writing portfolios from session 2024-25.

What’s changing:

There will be a new mandatory requirement for learners to complete their first draft during class time, under the supervision of the teacher or lecturer.

This will enable teachers and lecturers to review learners’ first drafts before learners continue to work on them independently. Learners will then complete their final piece under some supervision and control, as is currently the case.

We aren’t making any other changes to the writing portfolios. The assessment standards remain the same.

Why we’re making this change:

We’ve been receiving ongoing feedback from the English teaching profession that, under the current assessment conditions, it can be difficult to verify that learners’ work is their own, as it’s possible they may have had input from others when working on their draft outside of school or college hours.

This change will further support teachers and lecturers with authenticating learners’ work in the writing portfolio. It will allow them to observe how learners’ work is developing without any outside influences. This will help them to identify if there are any unusual changes in the quality and content of a learner’s writing portfolio at the final submission stage, or if the final piece is unrecognisable from the first draft, which may indicate that it’s not the learner’s own work.

Updated documents

We’ve updated the course specifications and the portfolio-writing coursework assessment tasks at each level. These provide a clear process that learners need to follow when producing their portfolios. The updated documents are dated May 2024 and are valid from session 2024-25 onwards.

Alternative certification model

The alternative certification model is how National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses will be resulted this year, following the cancellation of the 2021 exams. It involves five different stages.

View the alternative certification model and see what will happen at each stage.

Essential Information

Course specification ( 27/05/2024 ).

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

• Higher English 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).

• Higher English Critical Reading Specimen Question Paper August 2023

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

• Higher English Critical Reading question paper
• Higher English Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation question paper
• Higher English Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation text
• Higher English Critical Reading marking instructions
• Higher English Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation marking instructions

Coursework ( 27/05/2024 )

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

• Instructions for the submission of National 5 and Higher English coursework January 2024
• English Coursework Template - Microsoft Word
• English Coursework Template - Google Docs
• Coursework assessment task for Higher English
• 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 ( 24/01/2024 )

• Examples of candidate evidence with commentaries

Audio Presentation

• Critical Reading- Essays 2023-2024 (16 minutes) (26.26 MB)
• Critical Reading- Scottish Text 2023-2024 (16 minutes) (27.51 MB)

Webinar (recording)

Changes to course assessment academic session 2018-19 onwards

• Download webinar (72.21 MB)

Performance - Spoken Language Understanding Standards materials

• Higher English performance - Spoken Language material . Login required Please speak to your SQA co-ordinator to access these materials.

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.

Course reports ( 14/09/2023 )

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

• 2023 Higher English Course Report September 2023
• 2022 Higher English Course Report September 2022
• 2019 Higher English Course Report   September 2019

Verification Reports

In 2019, a single qualification verification summary report replaced the verification key messages.

• English Verification Key Messages Round 1 March 2017
• English: Quality Assurance - external verification

Scottish Texts in English Courses

Scottish text list for National 5 and Higher English courses (valid from session 2018-19).

• Scottish set text list 2018-19

Ushare open learning resources

Where can you take this course?

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