2. Understanding Standards: Advanced Higher Event
Classical Studies

3. Grade Boundary and Statistical Information
Number of resulted entries: 67
Statistical information: Performance of candidates
Distribution of Course awards including grade boundaries
Distribution of Course awards %
Cum. %
Number of candidates
Lowest mark
Maximum Mark - A
65.7% 44
105 B
19.4%
85.1% 13 90 C
4.5%
89.6% 3 75 D
1.5%
91.0% 1 67
No award
9.0% - 6

4. Aims of the day
To support teachers, lecturers and assessors in their understanding of national standards by:
explaining and illustrating what is being assessed in question paper and project: dissertation
reviewing candidate evidence
discussing this evidence and associated Marking Instructions with colleagues
asking questions and seeking clarification about national standards

5. Outcomes of Classical Studies (Advanced Higher) – Social Aspects of the Classical World
Critically analyse and evaluate sources of evidence about the classical world, by:
1.1 Explaining, in depth, the content of different sources of evidence
about classical Greek or Roman societies
1.2 Analysing, in depth, the meaning and context of sources of evidence about classical Greek or Roman societies
1.3 Evaluating sources of evidence about classical Greek or Roman
societies in terms of their origin, purpose, content and context

6. Outcomes of Classical Studies (Advanced Higher) – Social Aspects of the Classical World
Use information from a range of sources to structure and sustain lines of argument, by:
2.1 Using a range of sources of evidence to compare aspects of life in
classical Greek or Roman societies with modern society
2.2 Synthesising information from a range of sources of evidence
about classical Greek or Roman societies to inform a sustained line of argument
2.3 Expressing a well-structured, reasoned conclusion, supported by
evidence, about aspects of life in classical Greek or Roman societies

7. Outcomes of Classical Studies (Advanced Higher) – Social Aspects of the Classical World
Apply understanding of the continued impact of classical Greek or Roman societies in the world today, by:
3.1 Explaining a key value, concept or system of classical
Greek or Roman societies, in depth
3.2 Analysing the way in which a key value, concept or
system of classical Greek or Roman societies continues to exist in modern society

8. Important updates The following updates have been made
Advanced Higher Coursework
The assignment marking instructions have been revised. The course assessment task and general assessment information documents have been updated to reflect these changes. This is accessed from the Secure Site.
Advanced Higher Question paper
The marking grids for each question type
have been revised. The specimen question paper marking instructions have been updated to reflect these changes.

9. Course Report – key extracts
Section 3: Advice for the preparation of future candidates
Component 1: Question Paper
Teachers and lecturers should pay close attention to the way in which marks are allocated for different types of question, and ensure that this is passed on to candidates very clearly

10. Classical Literature (source-based questions)
Question Paper: Part A
Classical Literature (source-based questions)
Part A of the Question Paper primarily addresses the following four skills:
Evaluating Source(s)
Analysing Source(s)
Comparing Classical Sources
Comparing Classical and Modern Ideas

11. Course Report – key extracts
Section 3: Advice for the preparation of future candidates
Component 1: Question Paper
Teachers and lecturers must make sure that candidates have read all of the prescribed text.
Candidates should be reminded that pre-prepared responses are unlikely to produce good marks.

12. Question Paper: Part A (50 marks)
Classical Literature (source-based questions)
In Part A of the Question Paper there are four questions:
One Evaluating a Source question
(10 marks)
One Analysing a Source question
One Comparing Classical Sources question
(15 marks)
One Comparing Classical and Modern Ideas question

13. Course Report – key extracts
Section 3: Advice for the preparation of future candidates
Component 1: Question Paper
Candidates must be reminded that the questions in the Classical Literature sections are not mini-essays on a topic. Answers must be specific to the question: that is why it is essential that candidates know all of the prescribed text adequately.

14. Course Report – key extracts
Section 3: Advice for the preparation of future candidates
Component 1: Question Paper
For the Evaluate and Analyse questions it is expected that candidates will derive approximately half the marks on offer from analysis or evaluation of the source in the question. Answers that make little or no reference to the extracts are unlikely to achieve pass marks.

15. Classical Society (essay questions)
Question Paper: Part B
Classical Society (essay questions)
Part B of the Question Paper primarily addresses the following three skills:
Evaluating knowledge (about Classical society)
Analysing knowledge (about Classical society)
Forming an argument (about Classical society)
Drawing a conclusion (about Classical society)

16. Course Report – key extracts
Section 3: Advice for the preparation of future candidates
Component 1: Question Paper
Teachers and lecturers should pay close attention to the way in which marks are allocated for different types of question, and ensure that this is passed on to candidates very clearly

17. Question Paper: Part B (50 Marks) Classical Society (essay questions)
In Part B of the Question Paper candidates answer two questions from a choice of four. Each question is assessing the following:
Analysis (8 marks)
Evaluation (8 marks)
Line of Argument and Conclusion (9 marks)
The total mark for each question is 25 marks

18. Advice for preparation of future candidates
Make clear to candidates that essay questions do not assign marks for comparisons unless that is specifically indicated in the essay title

19. Project Dissertation
The Project is designed to assess the following skills:
Justifying an appropriate complex Classical Studies issue for research (6 marks)
Researching the issue using a wide range of sources of information (10 marks)
Analysing the issue (8 marks)
Comparing the classical world with later times (8 marks)
Evaluating the significance of the classical world (8 marks)
Synthesizing evidence to develop a sustained and coherent line of argument (10 marks)

20. Course Report – key extracts
Section 3: Advice for the preparation of future candidates
Component 2: Project Dissertation
Teachers and lecturers must make sure they are very familiar with how marks are allocated in the published general marking instructions, and ensure that candidates are constructing work that is responding to this.

21. Course Report – key extracts
Section 3: Advice for the preparation of future candidates
Component 2: Project Dissertation
Candidates should be reminded that a piece of work which retraces a few pages of argument from the work of a modern scholar may not meet the requirements of the project dissertation and is unlikely to access all the marks on offer

22. Course Report – key extracts
Section 3: Advice for the preparation of future candidates
Component 2: Project Dissertation
Candidates must quote and directly reference most of their source material in their argument: their use of sources is a skill which is being assessed…. Referring to a source is not the same as using it. To use it a candidate must show why/how it tells us what they claim it does.