1. Changes to assessment
National 5
Technical Subjects

2. Short presentation
Discussion
Review specimen material

3. Introduction
Units removed from National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses.

4. Time schedule:
National 5 from 2017–18
Higher from 2018–19
Advanced Higher from 2019–20

5. Following the removal of units and unit assessments, course assessments are to be strengthened to ensure they assess the full content of the course.

6. The goal:
to reduce the volume of assessment, while maintaining the standards and integrity of National Qualifications

7. How will this be achieved:
For each course, one or more of the following changes will be made to the course assessment:
extend the existing question paper
extend the existing item of coursework
introduce a new question paper component
introduce a new coursework component

8. Important things to note:
Dual-entry at National 4 and National 5 is not allowed.
Candidates can be entered for the free-standing SCQF level 5 units in addition to the National 4 course.
Grade D will be extended from a notional 45–49% to a notional 40–49%. This move is intended to recognise the achievement of candidates who are aspiring to attain a National 5 course, but who do not perform as well as predicted in the course assessment. It will provide opportunities for candidates who do not achieve grades A to C to have their achievement recognised and to be certificated for the level of qualification for which they were entered.

9. How this effects technical subjects

10. National 5 Design & Manufacture
The existing assignment will be extended and split into two separate assignments:
Assignment 1 (Design), which will be externally assessed by SQA
Assignment 2 (Manufacture), which will be marked internally by centres and subject to visiting verification by SQA.
The question paper will be extended and restructured to include more questions and the number of available marks will increase from 60 marks to 80 marks.
The duration of the exam will therefore also increase.

11. National 5 Design & Manufacture
Comparison
Old structure
The course assessment has 2 components:
Component 1
Assignment
Design - 45 marks (30%) Practical - 45 marks (30%)
Total marks for assignment = 90 marks (60%)
Component 2
Question paper marks (40%)
Time - 1 hour 30 minutes
Total = 150 marks
New structure
The course assessment has three components.
Component 1
Question paper - 80 marks (44%) - 1 hour and 45 minutes
Externally marked
Component 2
Assignment — design 55 marks (31%)
Component 3
Assignment — practical 45 marks (25%)
Internally marked but subject to SQA verification
Total = 180 marks

12. National 5 Design & Manufacture
Assessment conditions:
The assignment is set annually by the SQA.
The design part of the assignment will be sent away for external marking.
The practical activity will be internally marked and subject to SQA verification.
The time taken to complete the assignment is not fixed.

13. National 5 Graphic Communication
All assessment is now externally assessed.
The question paper is being extended to ensure it samples a greater amount of course content, following the removal of units.
Moving to the external assessment of the assignment will address issues relating to the reliability of marking.
The weighting of the question paper and coursework has been adjusted to enhance the reliability of the course assessment
The assignment is now “closed book” and must be completed within 8 hours

14. National 5 Graphic Communication
Comparison
Old structure
The course assessment has two components:
Component 1
Question paper – 60 marks (50%)
Component 2
Assignment – 60 marks (50 %)
Total 120 marks
New structure
The course assessment has two components.
Component 1
Question paper - 80 marks (67%) - 2 hours
Externally marked
Component 2
Assignment marks (33%)
Externally marked.
Total marks = 120

15. National 5 Graphic Communication
Assessment conditions:
The assignment is set annually by the SQA.
The assignment is carried out over 8 hours.
This is a closed book assessment.
The assignment must be carried out without interruption by periods of learning and teaching.

16. National 5 Practical Woodworking
A question paper has now been added to the assessment
When completing the practical activity, a log book must be kept and is used as part of the assessment.

17. Practical Woodworking
Comparison
Old structure
Component 1 – practical activity 100 marks, internally marked subject to SQA verification
New structure
Component 1 – question paper 60 marks -1 hour, externally marked
Component 2 – practical activity 70 marks – internally marked subject to SQA verification.

18. National 5 Practical Woodworking
Assessment conditions:
The assignment is set annually by the SQA.
The practical activity will be internally marked and subject to SQA verification.
The time taken to complete the assignment is not fixed.

19. Support
All pupils have been offered course notes book and past exam/model papers for a refundable deposit of £5
Support is available to all pupils, who work in class, every lunchtime
Details of skills, knowledge and understanding that are assessed in the final exam will be issued to all pupils.
A detailed preliminary exam study plan will be issued to all pupils.
Websites: Technologystudent.com, SQA.org, inveralmondchs.org

21. N5 Graphic Communication
Sample
Revision topic 1
DTP
The use of thumbnails and what they can be used for.
The advantages of using DTP software to produce a graphic layout.
Elements and principles
DTP generic terms
Revision topic 2
British Standards
Use of scale
Types of dimensioning
Line types
Title block
Revision topic 3
2D and 3D CAD
Modelling plans
N5 Graphic Communication
Prelim Revision Topics
Modelling techniques (including assembly)
2D drawing and edit commands
Advantages of 3D CAD illustrations
Revision topic 4
The 3P’s
Identification and uses of preliminary, production and promotional drawings.
Revision topic 5
Orthographic Drawings
Sectional drawings
True shapes
Surface Developments
Revision topic 6
Construction drawings
Types
Symbols
Common scales
Revision topic 7
Pictorial drawings
Recognition
Advantages
Revision topic 8
Visualisation
Recognise components/assemblies in different views
Revision topic 9
Impact on the environment
Packaging
Remote working
Electronic v hard copy