The following subjects are available:

• Standard Grade English
• Standard Grade Mathematics
• Standard Grade Biology
• Standard Grade Physics
• Standard Grade Chemistry
• Intermediate Chemistry
• Intermediate 1 & 2 French
• Intermediate 1 & 2 German
• Standard Grade Geography
• Standard Grade History
• Intermediate Modern Studies
• Standard Grade Art & Design
• Intermediate 1 & 2 Music
• Intermediate 1 Hospitality
• Standard Grade Physical Education
• Intermediate 1 Administration
• Standard Grade Computing
• Standard Grade Business Management
• Intermediate 1 & 2 Practical Craft Skills
• Standard Grade Graphic Communication
• Intermediate 2 Product Design

A detailed guide to school qualifications can be downloaded here.

Standard Grades courses are split into different parts called ‘elements’ (e.g. Knowledge & Understanding, Problem Solving etc). Most elements are assessed by an exam at the end of the course, but some are ‘internally assessed’ in the classroom by your teacher. There are three levels of study: Credit, General and Foundation. Pupils usually take exams at two levels — Credit and General, or General and Foundation. This makes sure that pupils have the best chance of achieving as high a grade as possible. If you sit a Credit Level exam paper, you may score a 1 or 2. At General Level, grades 3 & 4 are possible. At Foundation Level, grades 5 & 6 are possible. Pupils who do not achieve a grade 1 – 6, but do complete the course, are awarded a grade 7.

The coursework for most Standard Grade subjects involves topic assessments, investigations or folios. It is important to put as much effort into these as possible as they often count towards the final mark. Your achievements at Standard Grade will often be used to guide course choice in the future; it’s always sensible to take the advice offered by the school.

Intermediate 1 and 2 courses are being offered in an increasing number of subjects instead of, or as well as, Standard Grades. Intermediate 1 and 2 are different to Standard Grades in many ways. They are part of a group of new courses called National Qualifications (NQs). Intermediate 1 courses are similar level to General Standard Grade and Intermediate 2 courses are similar level to Credit Standard Grade.

The coursework for most Intermediate subjects involves NQ unit assessments that you must pass as you go through the course. These are internal assessments marked by your teacher, and are often called “NABs”. These are official SQA tests. See below for details.

A Unit is one part of a whole National Qualification Course. All Intermediate Courses (but not Standard Grades) include the equivalent of 3 Units, eg the Intermediate Product Design Course has 3 units. Each of these Units is internally assessed, usually using a “NAB” test. All Units have to be passed successfully (and the Course Assessment passed – see below) before a candidate is eligible for an overall Course award.

A NAB is a term used by pupils and teachers to describe the End-of-Unit assessment that pupils must pass (see above) and is short for National Assessment Bank. NAB tests are provided by the SQA, but delivered and marked internally by subject teachers.

Units are very important. You must pass all Units in a course to be successful and gain an overall award for that course, but you also do gain full credit for every Unit that you pass and this is shown on your SQA Qualifications Certificate.

The Course Assessment is usually the end of course exam. It is a very formal, externally assessed exam, which you sit in May/June. It is then marked by the SQA and you receive your results on a certificate two months later.

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) allows pupils, parents, employers and the public in general to understand the full range of Scottish qualifications and how they relate to each other. More details can be found here.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) are the organisation responsible for providing and approving the curriculum taught in Scottish schools. Therefore they are also the organisation who produce the exams that assess a pupil’s learning, and finally they are responsible for awarding the Scottish Qualifications Certificate to document a pupil’s achievements.

Mr Slavin (DHT) is responsible for most SQA related matters. These include the management of candidate information and results and management of SQA exams. If you cannot find the answer to your query here, please contact him by email at balfronhs@stirling.gov.uk .

Further information can be found in the SQA’s own list of FAQ here. Alternatively email your question to balfronhs@stirling.gov.uk  

Last Updated June 2007