PagineScotland Curriculum Guide & Practice Tests
Scotland follows Curriculum for Excellence, organised by levels (Early, First, Second, Third, Fourth and Senior Phase) rather than key stages. Qualifications are being reformed: Qualifications Scotland is replacing the SQA, following the Hayward review of qualifications and assessment.
- 13 levels
- 280 practice tests
- 3 exam guides
Choose a level
Exams and tests
| Exam | Subjects | When | Counts? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish National Standardised Assessments (SNSA) | Literacy (reading and writing) and numeracy | Any time during the school year | Diagnostic only; not reported as a mark. |
| National 5 | Maths, English, sciences, history and many more | Exams April–June of S4 | Typical S4 qualification; leads to Higher courses. |
| Highers and Advanced Highers | Maths, English, biology, chemistry, physics, history and more | Exams April–June | Main qualifications for university entry in Scotland. |
How school is organized
P1–P7 (primary; children start P1 at about 4½–5½) and S1–S6 (secondary). S4–S6 is the Senior Phase with National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses.
Finishing school: There is no single leaving certificate; students build a profile of qualifications such as National 5s (S4), Highers (S5) and Advanced Highers (S6), used for college and university entry.
Official curriculum: Curriculum for Excellence
Other nations
Frequently asked questions
What curriculum does Scotland use?
Scotland follows Curriculum for Excellence, organised by levels (Early, First, Second, Third, Fourth and Senior Phase) rather than key stages. Qualifications are being reformed: Qualifications Scotland is replacing the SQA, following the Hayward review of qualifications and assessment.
How are school years organized in Scotland?
P1–P7 (primary; children start P1 at about 4½–5½) and S1–S6 (secondary). S4–S6 is the Senior Phase with National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses.
What is needed to finish school?
There is no single leaving certificate; students build a profile of qualifications such as National 5s (S4), Highers (S5) and Advanced Highers (S6), used for college and university entry.
Which exams do students take in Scotland?
Scottish National Standardised Assessments (SNSA); National 5; Highers and Advanced Highers.