WHAT IS A NATIONAL QUALIFICATION?

National Qualifications are one of the most important types of qualification in Scotland, and almost everyone leaving school or college today has one or more National Qualifications. They are mainly taken by learners in the Senior Phase of secondary school (S4 - S6) and learners in colleges, including adult learners.

They cover a range of subjects and are designed to develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed beyond the classroom; whether progressing to other SQA qualifications, training, employment or university. Find out more here.

Progression in S5 and S6 from N4 to N5 or from N5 to Higher is the target for many. Some individuals may go straight to Higher in S4, while Advanced Higher will be the appropriate choice for some in S6.