The Scottish government have announced that there will be no external assessment of National 5 this year i.e. 2020/21.  This means there will be no examinations and no prelims and an alternative certification model has been devised. 

They have also announced that examinations for Higher and Advanced Higher courses are also cancelled for 2021. For Higher and Advanced Higher courses we intend to still hold a diet of 'prelims' and key assessments held in school.
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National 5 Key Assessments

This year examinations are replaced with a range of key assessments across the courses.  These will be flexible, classroom-based and used by teachers to determine overall grades at National 5 for submission to SQA.  Therefore, all assessments are vitally important and are key evidence of demonstrated attainment and achievement of learners.

Higher and Advanced Higher Prelim Examinations

​All prelims will be held during class time and primarily over timetabled double-periods wherever possible. Prelim examinations are extremely important as the results of these from reliable and robust evidence of demonstrated achievement.  There may also be a second round of prelim examinations towards the end of the course to ensure full course coverage has been assessed.  Results of prelims will be used to inform estimates of achievement to SQA along with other key assessment evidence from across the courses.
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Download our full N5 Assessments, Higher and Advanced Higher Prelim Examinations Timetable for January 2021.

*** COVID-19 UPDATE ***
In light of latest Scottish government decision to extend school holidays and young people to learn from home until at least 15 January 2021, the prelims/assessment timetable will be adjusted and confirmed post-Christmas.  If pupils return to face-to-face learning Monday 18th January then we would anticipating moving the prelim/assessment calendar in it's entirety to commence Thursday 21 January.  We will keep you updated as the situation becomes clearer. 

It is really important just now not to worry though - please enjoy Christmas and be reassured that your teachers will be there  to support you online w/c/ 11th January and to make sure that you get the chance to do your very best between now and May 2021.
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Higher and Advanced Higher Summer Examinations

Update: The Deputy First Minister has announced that examinations for Higher and Advanced Higher courses have been cancelled for 2021.  SQA are working to develop an alternative certification model that is based on teacher judgement of evidence of learner attainment.

Here is the link to Mr Swinney's full statement (8 December 2020) relating to exams.... 
​https://www.gov.scot/publications/ministerial-statement-deputy-first-minister-john-swinney-scottish-parliament-education-sector-tuesday-8-december-2020/
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N A McLean (SQA Coordinator) 
Last update: 16 December 2020