What are Standard Grades?
Standard Grades are national qualifications awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). They are assessed by exams which are normally taken by Scottish pupils in the fourth year, or S4 (at age 15/16).
What can I study?
Standard Grades are mainly in ‘core’ academic subjects. Unless there is a good reason all students are normally required to take:
- English
- Maths
- At least one science (biology, chemistry, physics or general science)
- At least one social science (history, economics, geography, classical studies or modern studies).
Less common subjects include graphic communication, home economics and business management. The majority of people take between five and nine subjects, depending on their school’s timetable.
What grades could I get?
In most subjects, there are three different sets of exams which require different skills and levels of ability:
- Credit level leads to the top grades, 1 or 2
- General level leads to grades 3 or 4
- Foundation level leads to grades 5 or 6.
Schools usually advise their pupils which level to attempt.
What is the difference between a GCSE and a Standard Grade?
Some people believe that GCSEs are harder than Standard Grades, and some think the opposite. It’s hard to tell who’s right because almost nobody sits both. In fact, it’s probably safe to say they are roughly equivalent.
Where will Standard Grades get me?
Students with Credit level Standard Grades are encouraged to do Highers. If you get a General grade, it may be possible to take the Higher anyway, but many schools offer the Intermediate II qualification as a next step.
Access Qualifications and Intermediates are also national qualifications. They are offered by the SQA as an alternative to the Standard Grades route.
- Access I, II and III are starter courses: it is possible to progress to any Access level with no previous knowledge of the subject. There is no formal exam or grade, and you are assessed by the person teaching you.
- Intermediate I is similar in difficulty to a General level Standard Grade, and could be the next step after getting a 5, 6 or 7 at Standard Grade.
- Intermediate II is similar in difficulty to a Credit level, and could be the next step after getting a 3 or 4 at Standard Grade.
These are offered in a very wide range of subjects, tested by regular ‘unit assessments’ (which it is possible to retake during the course) and exams.
What changes are on the way?
The Scottish Parliament is planning to phase out Standard Grades and Intermediate qualifications. The last Standard Grade qualifications will be awarded in August 2013, and from then on students will get National Qualifications instead.
Picture of boy by Shutterstock.
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