Qualifications Update: English Qualifications Update: English

Developing qualifications - drivers Progression – provide progression from Es & Os and maximise continuity between levels More open and flexible requirements – fewer, broader outcomes, more focus on skills Assessment which supports learning - open evidence requirements – choice of assessment approaches – opportunities for combined assessment Refreshed and relevant contexts for learning, providing challenge and enjoyment Personalisation and Choice – in content/contexts for Units - Added Value Unit at National 4 – coursework assessment at National 5 Robust and credible – current high standards in qualifications will be maintained

CfE Levels early years SCQF Levels Continues to 12 Relationship between CfE and SCQF Levels

Courses and Units Unit Outcomes are skills based and provide flexibility and choice through range of texts and contexts Reading and listening skills – developed in contexts of literature, language and media Talking and writing skills – flexibility to combine with other skills where appropriate Combines the best aspects of current English qualifications Added Value at National 4 N4 - Has added value assessment that provides personalisation and choice in an Assignment Key points

Course Assessment at National 5 Reading for analysis and evaluation – more open questions and Marking Instructions more holistic critical reading – critical essay in Section 1; Scottish texts extract in Section 2 Portfolio – 2 pieces of writing - 2 different genres

Unit Structure National 3National 4National 5 English: Understanding Language English: Analysis and Evaluation English: Producing Languge English: Creation and Production Literacy PLUS Added Value unit - Assignment

New Quality Assurance arrangements Will cover new National 1 to National 5 from 2013/14 New arrangements will promote shared understanding of national standards through a collaborative and partnership approach New Nominee role - provides a pool of nationally trained experts Intense verification in the first 3 years, then an intelligence led approach will be adopted Verification in Nov/Dec, Feb and Apr/May - allows for early identification of issues and support/guidance to be given

Assessment Support Schedule 2012/13 Oct 12 to Mar 13 N3 to N5 Unit Assessment Support (Package 1) Feb 13 N3 to N5 Unit Assessment Support (Package 2) Feb 13 N5 Specimen Question Paper Apr 13 N3 to N5 Unit Assessment Support (Package 3) Apr 13 N5 Specimen Coursework Apr 13 N4 Added Value Assessment Support

English Unit Assessment National 3 to National 5

Unit assessment Flexible and open Assessment Standards and Evidence Requirements in Units Greater range of techniques and methodologies for assessment – encouraged through Unit assessment support packages Assessments can be designed to provide evidence across more than one outcome or Unit – combined assessments More opportunities to gather naturally occurring evidence – assessment as part of learning and teaching

Unit Assessment Support packages – purpose Assessment support packages will be provided which you can use to: Assess your candidates Adapt for your own assessment programmes Help you develop your own assessments

Unit Assessment Support packages – key features Valid from August 2013 Designed to encourage professional judgement Provide broad-based tasks – allow assessors to choose appropriate context and forms of evidence Show range of approaches to generating assessment evidence Give information on the type of evidence which could be gathered and how this is to be judged against Assessment Standards

Unit assessment support packages - approaches Unit by Unit approach – discrete assessment tasks for each Unit (eg National 5 Analysis and Evaluation – reading and listening) Combined approach – groups Outcomes and Assessment Standards from different Units (eg National 3 listening and talking)

Assessment Package 1 -N3 – combined approach -N4 – combined approach -N5 – Unit-by-Unit -Contexts of literature, language and media illustrated -Making assessment judgements -Assessment of Literacy at N3 and N4

Assessment Package 1 Overview National 3National 4National 5 Listening and talking Reading and talkingAnalysis and Evaluation Reading and writing Listening and writing Creation and Production Literacy

Unit Assessment Support Package 1 stand-alone Literacy Unit National 3National 4National 5 Literacy – Healthy Eating Literacy – cross curriculum

English Added Value Assessments: - National 5 Course Assessment - National 4 Added Value Unit

Adding Value – National 4, National 5 Each Course at National 4 and National 5 includes assessment of Added Value For National 4, the added value is in an Added Value Unit - not graded For National 5, the added value is in the Course Assessment - graded A - D (as at present)

Added Value Makes the Course more than the sum of its parts Builds on current Course assessment and Group Award approaches Defined as breadth, challenge and/or application as outlined in Building the Curriculum 5 May involve accumulation, assimilation, integration and/or application of skills, knowledge and understanding Uses 7 defined assessment methods (there usually two of these)

Controlled Assessment Where the assessment method is not a question paper, SQA has introduced the concept of controlled assessment to ensure fairness and reliability 3 stages of assessment: Setting, Conducting, Marking the assessment Each will have a defined level of control: SQA-led activity, Shared responsibility between SQA and centres, Centre-led Subject-specific decisions, but mostly SQA-led activity in initial years

National 5 – National 5 – English Course Assessment Question Paper- Reading: – Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation – Critical Reading Critical essay Scottish texts Portfolio- writing

National 5 – National 5 – English Question Paper - Reading Two sections Section 1: Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation (30 marks) Section 2: Critical Reading (40 marks) – Critical essay (20 marks) – Scottish text extract-based assessment (20 marks)

National 5 Question Paper – Critical Reading Critical essay : open and free choice of text(s) Scottish texts : – Extract-based approach to assessment – Range of marks – Marks for wider knowledge of text(s) or writer – Set list – refreshed by SQA on regular basis

National 5 – National 5 – English Coursework: Portfolio 30 marks in total Two essays: – Creative writing – Discursive writing Similar to current Int 2 Writing

National 4 Added Value Unit English National 4: Assignment Apply language skills to investigate a chosen topic from one of the following contexts: literature, language or media reading: by selecting relevant information from at least two straightforward texts talking or writing: by using straightforward language in a written or oral presentation listening: by responding appropriately to questions