2. Introduction to Higher and Advanced Higher Courses in Cantonese and Mandarin 7th May 2009 Radisson Hotel, Glasgow

3. Janet Brown Chief Executive SQA

4. Jim McDonald Qualifications Manager NQ Languages

5. Aims of the Event To familiarise delegates with structure and delivery of Courses To explore approaches to assessment of Courses To build on experience/knowledge of delivery of Courses at Access 3, Intermediate 1 & 2

6. Outline of the Event Background Presentation Workshop

7. Melany Lu Lin Principal Assessor Intermediate 1 & 2 Head of Chinese, Eton College Windsor

8. Developments Since May 08 Students undertaking and completing National Courses at Access 3, Intermediate 1 & 2 Practitioners engaging with delivery of the Courses and sharing experience Practitioner experience will inform and enrich todays workshop tasks

9. Overview of the National Course A Course Award ( A/B/C/D) is made on the basis of successful completion of both: Unit Assessments (internal assessment conducted and marked by teacher/lecturer) AND Course Assessment (the final external exam)

10. Introduction to Higher Speaking Listening Reading Writing Four skills are assessed in both Unit (internal) and Course (external) assessment:

11. Higher Courses on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework National CourseSCQF Advanced Higher7 Higher6 Intermediate 25 Intermediate 14 Access 33

12. Introduction to Higher Two Units are assessed at this level: Mandatory Language Unit (80 hours) AND Optional Unit: - Extended Reading and Viewing* - Language in Work* *Candidates choose one of these Units (40 hours)

13. Units: Internal Assessment Language Unit: Reading : One text of 500-600 characters. Approx. 40 minutes Listening: One dialogue of approx. 3 minutes, assessed in approx. 30 mins. Questions for both assesments in English

14. Units: Internal Assessment (cont.) Optional Unit: Extended Reading and Viewing Writing: One essay of approx. 120-200 characters, on one aspect of the text(s) studied Optional Unit : Language in Work Writing: Two letters of 120–200 characters and one message of 60-100 characters

15. Internal Unit Assessment: National Assessment Bank (NAB) NAB assessment items will be available for the Language Unit and the Optional Units The NABs indicate the standard of assessments required at this level NABs can be downloaded by SQA coordinators at www.sqa.org.uk/sqasecurewww.sqa.org.uk/sqasecure

16. Speaking Assessment Speaking assessed by the centre Assessment guidance included in NABs This Speaking Assessment also meets the speaking requirement of the external examination (dual purpose) The assessment consists of a presentation, and then a follow-up discussion Assessment results are subject to Verification by SQA

17. External Examination Paper I : Reading and Directed Writing Reading: 1 text of 650-800 characters Questions in English Word list provided Dictionary : yes Directed Writing Task based on a scenario given in English OVERALL TIME FOR PAPER : 2hrs. 10 mins.

18. External Examination Paper II : Listening and Short Essay Listening: One dialogue of approx. 4.5 minutes Dialogue heard twice Questions in English Dictionary : yes Short Essay: Personal Response essay in Chinese, 150-200 Characters Related to Listening topic Dictionary : yes OVERALL TIME FOR PAPER : 1hr. 20 mins.

19. Approval All candidates for NQ Courses (including Access 3) must be entered by a SQA Approved Centre Centres wishing to seek Approval should contact SQA Customer Contact Centre at customer@sqa.org.ukcustomer@sqa.org.uk Centres which have sought and obtained Approval for Access 3/Intermediate 1/2 will have automatic Approval to deliver Higher and Advanced Higher

20. Workshop Activities Activity 1 – Familiarisation with Units Activity 2 – Specimen Question Paper and construction of external examination Papers

21. For more information visit www.sqa.org.uk

22. Contact Jim McDonald Jim.mcdonald@sqa.org.uk

23. Any Questions?