Scottish Higher

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What is Higher Still?

Higher Still is a system of educational qualifications that were introduced by the Scottish Qualifications Authority in 2000.

The system has a number of different levels;

Access 2 and 3; Basic, entry level qualifications

Intermediate 1

Intermediate 2

Highers; Required for entry to Scottish Universities

Advanced Highers; Required for entry to high-competition courses such as Medicine, Vet Med and Dentistry, or for level-2 entry to Scottish Universities. These are also required for entry into English universities.

Each level is offered in a variety of subjects. NABs (National Assessment Bank tests) must be sat at the end of each unit and a final exam before a grade is given in a subject.

What is Higher equivalent to in the English exam system?

Standard Grades are equal to GCSEs; Highers are equal to AS Levels; Advanced Highers are slightly harder than A2 levels.

Course Summaries

Below are general summaries of the most popular Higher courses (English, Maths, Chemistry, Human Biology, Biology, Physics, History, Geography, Modern Studies and French)

English

- The course consists of 3 units:

• Language Study - Close reading NAB and Writing NAB
• Literary study - Textual Analysis NAB
• Personal Study - Personal Study NAB

The final exam is worth 100 marks in total and consists of 2 papers:

Paper 1 is a close reading paper (2 unseen passages of non-fiction with questions accompanying each) and is worth 50 marks. (1hr 45mins)

Paper 2 presents a choice of essay questions, and the candidate is required to write 2 essays from different sections. Each essay is worth 25 marks. (1hr 30mins)

To study English at Higher, it is recommended that you have a Credit pass at Standard Grade or an A or B at Intermediate 2.

Mathematics

1. Unit One
a. The Straight Line
b. Functions and Graphs
c. Differentiation (Basic Calculus)
d. Recurrence Relations

2. Unit Two
a. Quadratic Theory
b. Integration (Basic Calculus)
c. Calculations in 3D and Compound Angle Formulae
d. The Circle

3. Unit Three
a. Vectors
b. Further Differentiation and Integration (Further Calculus)
c. The Wave Function

To study Maths at Higher, it is recommended that you have a Credit pass at Standard Grade or an A or B at Intermediate 2.

The final exam is worth 130 marks and is split into 2 papers:

Paper 1 is 'non-calculator' is worth 70 marks and consists of 2 sections.

Section A, which consists of 20 multichoice questions worth 2 marks each.

Section B, which is worth 30 marks in total.

Paper 2 allows the use of calculators. It is worth 60 marks.

Chemistry

1. Energy Matters
a. A look at the enthalpy of combustion, solution, etc
b. A look at hydrogen and Van der Waal's attractions in the atom

2. The World of Carbon
a. A look at carbon compounds

3. Chemical Reactions
a. A look at processes in a chemical reaction such as equilibrium

For each unit, there are 3 prescribed practical abilities (PPA's) One of the Unit One PPA's must be passed and submitted to the SQA when the school is being moderated.

The final exam is 2.5 hours long and is separated into two sections, one multiple choice and one extended answer questions, where short written answers/calculations are required

To study Higher Chemistry, it is recommended you have a minimum of a 2 (KU2, PS2) at standard grade or a B at Intermediate 2.

Human Biology

1. Cell Function and Inheritance

• the role of enzymes in cell metabolisms
• protein synthesis
• energy transfer
• cellular response in defence
• inheritance

2. The Continuation of Life

• reproduction
• development
• transport mechanisms
• delivery of materials to cells
• removal of materials from the blood
• regulating mechanisms

3. Behaviour, populations and the environment

• nervous system and memory
• behaviour
• population growth and the environment

The Human Biology examination is a single paper consisting of a booklet of questions in three sections. Section A – 30 multiple choice questions (30 marks) Section B - Structured questions (80 marks) Section C – Extended response: two essays worth 10 marks each

Having studied Human Biology you can still do AH Biology, there is no AH Human Biology.

Physics

Unit One: Mechanics and Properties of Matter
Unit Two: Electricity and Electronics
Unit Three: Radiation and Matter

External Assessment - 2.5 hour exam including both multiple choice and extended answer questions.

To study Higher Physics, students are expected to have passed SG Physics with a 2 in KU and PS.

History

Course Content: A general study of the themes of Authority, Rights and Revolution.

Section

(a) Scotland and England in the Century of Revolutions 1603-1702

(b) The French Revolution

There is a Special extended topic. Most schools choose this topic in advance. An example is the Atlantic Slave Trade.

Assessment

• Paper 1 consists of two written essays worth 50 marks.
• Paper 2 consists of document question relating to the Special topic, worth 30 marks.
• The Extended Essay is an essay planned and drafted in school that is then written under exam conditions. A plan may be used here.

Geography

Unit 1 - Physical Environments:

• Biosphere
• Lithosphere
• Hydrosphere
• Atmosphere

Unit 2 - Human Environments:

• Urban
• Rural
• Industry
• Population

Unit 3 - Environmental Interactions (you only study two of the following):

• Rural land Resources
• Rural Land Degradation
• River Basin Management
• Urban Change and its Management
• European Regional Inequalities
• Development and Health

NABs: One per unit.

The Final Exam:

Paper 1 - Physical and Human Environments (1hr 30mins) Paper 2 – Environmental Interactions (1hr 15mins)

Modern Studies

Modern Languages (French, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, Urdu, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin(Traditional), Cantonese)

Assessment: Speaking (Internally Assessed) - 25%

Reading (Externally Assessed) - 30% (20% of which include general comprehension questions, 10% is based on a translation which is divided into 5 sense units. Students are given two marks for a good translation of the sense unit, one mark for a satisfactory attempt, and zero for an unsatisfactory effort.

Directed Writing (Externally Assessed) - 15% - Based on a scenario in which you stay in France for a period of time (as part of an exchange visit/to work etc). Mainly written in the past tense. 150-180 words.

Listening - 20% - Heard twice. Students write their answers in English. Short Essay - 10% - Can be based on any one of the three language Units, listed below, each of which are subdivided further. Usually related to the topic discussed in the Listening. 1. Lifestyles 2. Education and Work 3. The Wider World

Like all other subjects (except English which has four) Candidates must pass 3 assessments before the exam. These are at a minimum competence level. They are referred to as NAB's (National Assessment Bank Material) The examination consists of two papers. Both allow use of a dictionary. Paper 1 is 1h 40 mins long and consists of both the reading and directed Writing. Paper 2 is 1h long and consists of both the listening and short essay elements.

The course consists of two Units, the mandatory "Language" Unit and one of "Extended Reading/Viewing" or "Language in Work."

Biology

The national course Higher Biology is divided into 4 parts: three national units and one external assessment. The three units are:

Unit 1 – Cell Biology

• Cell Structure in Relation to Function
• Photosynthesis
• Energy Release
• Synthesis and Release of Proteins
• Cellular Response in Defence

Unit 2 – Genetics and Adaptation

• Variation
• Selection and Speciation
• Animal and Plant Adaptations

Unit 3 – Control and Regulation

• Control of Growth and Development
• Physiological Homeostasis
• Population Dynamics

The Higher Biology Examination is a single paper consisting of a booklet of questions in three sections.

• Section A – 30 multiple choice questions (30 marks)
• Section B - Structured questions (80 marks)
• Section C – Extended response: two essays worth 10 marks each