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The majority of information on this site has been updated for session 2025/26.
Qualification Levels
Qualification Levels
In the Senior Phase, the difficulty and demand of each qualification is classified by its SCQF level.
The table below gives an overview of SCQF levels as well as qualification types at each level and what they were previously referred to before Curriculum for Excellence:
As a guide, pupils will predominantly study SCQF level 5 in S4, SCQF level 6 in S5 and SCQF level 6/7 in S6, although this will vary for individual pupils.
Qualification Types
Qualification Types
In S6 pupils can choose from a range of courses at any level. The majority of courses offered in school for S6 pupils are National Qualifications, Highers and Advanced Highers. There are however other types of qualification on offer at SCQF levels 4-7.
A description of each qualification type is given below:
Level 4/5 National Qualifications (NQ)
Level 4/5 National Qualifications (NQ)
Level 4 and 5
National 4 – internally assessed
National 5 – exam + folio, assignment, practical performance depending on subject. Note: Skills for Work (SfW) National 5 courses have no final exam and are awarded on a pass/fail basis
Most subjects initially start all pupils on Nat 5 work before reviewing later in the session
Level 6/7 National Qualifications (NQ)
Level 6/7 National Qualifications (NQ)
Higher:
- Level 6 qualification
- Consists of final exam + folio, assignment, practical performance depending on subject.Advanced Higher
- Level 7 qualification
- Consists of final exam + folio, assignment, practical performance depending on subject
- Time allocation dependent on subject with increased expectation that learners work independently.
National Progression Awards (NPA)
National Progression Awards (NPA)
Levels 4 - 6
Internally Assessed
No Final Exam
Awarded on a Pass/Fail Basis
Pass is equivalent to a grade C
e.g. pass in level 6 NPA is equivalent to Higher Grade C.
Foundation Apprenticeships (FA)
Foundation Apprenticeships (FA)
Level 5
Work-based learning project
Development of Meta-Skills
Focus on skills and knowledge needed for employment i.e. job competence
Level 6
Qualification is split into two parts
- In school: NPA
- Work Placement: SVQNo Final Exam
Awarded on a Pass/Fail Basis
Equivalent to A or B at Higher (or 2 Bs)
Qualifications built around Labour Market Information
Further information about FAs can be found on the subject guide page
National 5 to Higher Progression Stats
National 5 to Higher Progression Stats
These charts are based on statistics produced by the SQA each year which give a breakdown of how candidates performed at Higher based on their National 5 performance the previous year.
They should be used to help inform learners of the likelihood of achieving a Higher qualification based on their predicted / final grade for National 5, to ensure the most appropriate pathway is chosen for next session.
Using English as an example, of the candidates who achieved an A at National 5, 95% will go on to achieve an A-C pass at Higher with 48% achieving an A at Higher and 80% achieving at least a B. For candidates who achieved a C at National 5, 29% of candidates will go on to achieve an A-C pass at Higher with 1% achieving an A at Higher and 8% achieving at least a B at Higher.
Please note that these statistics are based on candidates who were presented for the final exam. If pupils who started courses but then dropped out were factored in, these pass rates would likely be much lower.
National 4 to National 5 Progression Stats
National 4 to National 5 Progression Stats
This chart is based on statistics produced by the SQA each year which give a breakdown of how candidates progressed from National 4 to National 5.
It should be used to help inform learners of the likelihood of achieving a National 5 qualification in S5/6 if they have previously been presented for National 4, to ensure the most appropriate pathway is chosen for next session.
Using Mathematics as an example, 29% of National 4 candidates will go on to achieve an A-C pass at National 5 the following year with 4% of candidates achieving an A at N5, and 12% achieving at least a B.
Please note that these statistics are based on candidates who were presented for the final exam. If pupils who started courses but then dropped out were factored in, these pass rates would likely be much lower.
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