S4 Information Evening 2 nd September 2015

 Welcome  Structure of National Qualification  Tracking and monitoring progress  Support available  Advice from Senior students  Career’s Advisor  Questions

Old National QualificationNew National Qualifications Advanced HigherAdvanced Higher (N7) HigherHigher (N6) Standard Grade Credit/Intermediate 2 National 5 Standard Grade General/Intermediate 1 National 4 Standard Grade Foundation/Access 3 National 3

 It is assessed as pass or fail and there are no exams  Instead, learners are assessed through coursework, which is marked internally by the school  Those who achieve National 4 can also go on to study for National 5 and Higher

 Most National 5 courses consist of Units, Coursework and an external exam  In order to be eligible to gain a full course award candidates must pass all units  A National 5 award provides progression to Higher level, although it is challenging to convert a C pass into a Higher pass  Units may be assessed in various ways  Candidates will often sit the National 4 Added Value Unit to allow for RPA arrangements

 Levels will be intimated by letter from individual departments  Please contact Principal Teacher directly if you wish to discuss any levels

COURSE STRUCTURE Internal Assessments: There are two units which pupils must pass in order to achieve the full award. Each unit has two elements both of which they must pass: Creation and Production: Talk – Solo talk Writing – Creative/Personal/Discursive Analysis and Evaluation: Listening Close Reading

External Assessments: Pupils’ work is externally assessed via a final exam and a portfolio of writing. Portfolio:30 Marks During the session, pupils are expected to work independently on different pieces of writing, with some guidance from their teachers. Two essays only are selected for their portfolio which meet the following criteria:  Creative or personal  Discursive or persuasive or a report Essays based on literature studied are not relevant here.

Final Examination: Paper 1 – 1 Hour 30 Marks Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation Pupils are presented with a previously unseen passage and have to answer questions on it. Paper 2 90 Minutes40 Marks Critical Reading Context Question – pupils answer questions on a section from a previously studied Scottish text. Critical Essay – pupils write a critical essay. They will study a variety of texts to prepare for this.

Course structure  This Course is made up of four mandatory Units.  The Course provides learners with the opportunity to develop their listening, talking, reading and writing skills in order to understand and use language. This will help them to progress to National 5.

Analysis and Evaluation  Close Reading  Listening Creation and Production  Talk  Writing Literacy  This unit develops learners’ reading, listening, writing and talking skills in a variety of forms relevant for learning, life and work. Learners will develop the ability to understand straightforward ideas and information presented orally and in writing. Learners will also develop the ability to communicate ideas and information orally and in writing with technical accuracy. Added Value Unit: English Assignment  Pupils write a word essay comparing two texts.

Conditions of award  To achieve the National 4 English Course, learners must pass all of the required Units, including the Added Value Unit.  National 4 Courses are graded Pass or Fail

English is a reading intensive course. We recommend that all students Read, Read, Read!  Quality journalism  Novels If a pupil reads for 20 minutes a day, they are exposed to 1,800,000 words a year. It can only help!

SQA unit assessments  Detailed information on skills, knowledge and understanding required for each assessment standard is issued to students  Assessment standards which are not achieved will be reassessed, usually within two weeks – parents will be alerted in advance by text message  At National 5 level, progress will also be tracked through homework and through a series of in-class check-ups: these will take place fortnightly on a Thursday and will consist of two or three questions that focus on recent teaching and learning.  Check-up results sheets will be sent home - look out for them!  Students who complete National 4 in S4 (anticipated before December) will attempt National 5 Numeracy unit before starting to work on National 5 Mathematics (with a view to completing in S5).

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 Candidates who have passed N4 AV Units and/or Literacy/Numeracy units and achieved a band 8 or 9 at N5 level can be automatically awarded a N4 qualification  Candidates who achieved a band 7 (D) at N5 level are not awarded with a N4  This can happen retrospectively

 Exceptional circumstances can be requested during the exam period for serious illness and serious issues that would impact on exam performance  Post Results Services have replaced Appeals and have a strict criteria  Please contact SQA Co-ordinator directly with any queries

 Class Teacher and Principal Teachers  Standard Letters, Phone Calls  Merits and Alerts  Intervention Meetings  Learning Diaries  Tracking Reports and Full Report including Target Grade and Working Grade  Support

 2 nd September S4 Info Evening  14 th September Work Experience Week  7 th October Tracking Report  9 th December S4 Parents’ Meeting  1 st February Tracking Report  11 th -19 th February Prelims  7 th March S4/5 Info Evening  21 st March Full Report  11 th -19 th February Prelims  4 th May SQA Exams begin