Preparing for assessments

Learners studying for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses will be assessed through coursework and exams.

Your child’s teachers or lecturers will advise them on how each of their courses will be assessed. Qualifications Scotland has also published a table that summarises how each National Course is assessed, which you can view on the Qualifications Scotland website.

Useful websites

Revision guides

Qualifications Scotland revision tips can help your child to get exam ready, with tips on creating a study plan and taking notes.

Past papers and marking instructions

Your child can practise for their exams using past papers and marking instructions. These are available from the past papers and marking instructions page of the Qualifications Scotland website.

Some of the 2022 and 2023 past papers are labelled ‘modified’. This means the question paper was temporarily modified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your child should check with their teacher before using past papers for revising. 

Additional support needs/disabilities

Qualifications Scotland can put assessment arrangements in place to support disabled learners or learners with additional support needs during their assessments. View Qualifications Scotland assessment arrangement guide for learners.

This support may include digital question papers for learners who have reading and/or writing difficulties.

View more information on digital question papers on the Qualifications Scotland website.

Qualifications Scotland works in partnership with CALL Scotland (Communication, Access, Literacy and Learning) on developing digital question papers. CALL have an Adapted Digital Assessments website that provides advice and guidance on using digital question papers.

Enquire is the national advice and information service for additional support for learning. Their website is for young people with additional support needs. You can find:

• information about the help available to support your child with exams and assessments
• details on how to contact Enquire’s helpline for advice

Reach has advice and tips for sitting examinations and information on different support available.  

Related links

Qualifications Scotland NQ learner support web page contains essential information to help your child prepare for their exams, along with useful information for parents and carers.

Support for Gaelic learners