English · Advanced Higher
Advanced Higher English is literary study at a serious level: textual analysis of unseen poetry or prose, a comparative literary study of two texts, and a dissertation on a topic you choose.
What it offers you
English develops analysis, argument and writing to a high standard — the skills behind law, journalism, publishing, teaching and communications careers.
What Advanced Higher actually asks of you
Textual Analysis
Close analysis of an unseen poem or prose passage, with 20 marks available for detailed comment on technique and effect.
Literary Study
Three sections — poetry, prose fiction and drama. You answer one question comparing two texts in your chosen genre.
Dissertation — an independently researched essay of around 2,500 words comparing texts, worth 30% of the grade.
Exact timings and mark allocations are printed on the front cover of each paper below.
Topics that come up
Papers & marking schemes
SQA publishes the most recent five years of papers. Older papers and specimen papers live on their site — open English Advanced Higher on sqa.org.uk.