SQA Arrangements for 2020-2021

[WeAllHaveWings]

www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/94837.html

Details per subject of proposed changes for next years NAT5, HIGHER and AH and survey to complete for feedback

For ds's subjects

English - no talking assessment and only one essay (ds is pleased!)

French - no writing assignment (ds disappointed as he thinks he would be OK at this)

Maths - mostly unchanged

Chemistry /physics - shorter exams

I reported cocopops awful post (and also my own)

Thanks Whitestick

Hopefully today’s the day we get some concrete information from Swinney & the SQA - c’mon man my patience wore out weeks ago!!

I missed the announcement today for John swinney, got the headlines nat5 cancelled and highers/ah going ahead but later. Was there any further details? Can't find online yet.

That's it in a nutshell. Only outstanding is whether the suggested changes to the coursework and exams ie. only one written portfolio in Higher English, shorter compositions in Higher Music, are going to be made. I guess they will publish this today at some point. I'd like to know and I'm sure all the teachers want to know what they're supposed to be doing too!

www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/outcomes-national-consultation-2021.pdf There's a summary of changes for each subject here. More subject specific information is being uploaded to the website now.

Rapid Review of National Qualifications Experience 2020: our response

A little bit of info on NAT5.

Not much about higher other than to say delayed 2 weeks until 13th May and there will be "Modifications to course assessment will also be made by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) following its consultation in order to maximise learning and teaching time", but doesn't say what the modifications are.

also says teacher assessment will be plan b if higher/ah exams dont goahead.

@fuckweasel

www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/outcomes-national-consultation-2021.pdf There's a summary of changes for each subject here. More subject specific information is being uploaded to the website now.

Thanks, off to read now

@WeAllHaveWings the subject modifications are in the document I've linked to above.

Does anyone know if they will use assessments already done for Nat 5's or start assessing on new criteria after Half Term please?

My child is in her Higher year. Came home in tears about the uncertainty that still exists around whether they will be allowed to sit the exams next Spring, as the caveat that they might still be cancelled is still there.

For ds higher it will be :

Maths - some questions will be mandatory and some will have one or two options
English - no talking, 1 portfolio piece
Physics /Chemistry - no coursework
French - no written assignment

Shame that they are eliminating the course work for some subjects for those that are not great at exams they can make a big difference to the final grade.

@celtiethree

Shame that they are eliminating the course work for some subjects for those that are not great at exams they can make a big difference to the final grade.

Thought the same, missing out on HIGHER coursework is missing out on some learnings they need build on for AH courseworks next year or moving to uni, but I guess there is only so much time to learn the whole science course now.

@Changethetoner

My child is in her Higher year. Came home in tears about the uncertainty that still exists around whether they will be allowed to sit the exams next Spring, as the caveat that they might still be cancelled is still there.

It would have been impossible to remove that caveat and will be dependent on the state of the pandemic.

Nat5s being cancelled gives highers/ah a much better chance of going ahead which you can sell to her as good. What is she concerned about? She has the advantage, over last year's cohort, of knowing in advance there is a plan b if needed and what it is.

My S4 DD is in bits as am I but hiding it from her. She has ASN and already 3 class tests this year have not given her the extra support required resulting in lower grades than she should have. Its a constant struggle to remind the school what she is entitled to. My eldest DS works in hospitality so faces 2 weeks of no income.

School night wine might be required tonight for me.

No Higher History or Physic Assignments, no Music composition and one less folio piece for English. Maths I don't quite understand - more multiple choice questions or more choice of questions? Either way my DS is delighted - although slightly disappointed that he won't be able to complete his composition in Music which was sounding fantastic

I think with maths, the way I read it, for the option questions they will give you two or three questions and you'll choose which one you feel most comfortable answering.

@HigherHeaven

Please can you point me towards the Higher music changes. I can't find them online. I can see the other subjects, just not music.

Thanks!

I read it on the link above Aurea maybe it hadn’t uploaded yet - I think it’s alphabetical order.

Thank you!

How will the marks be distributed for music now?