English · Higher
Higher English rewards precision. The RUAE paper demands tighter analysis of more demanding prose, and the Critical Reading paper expects a controlled critical essay plus detailed knowledge of a Scottish text.
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 Higher actually asks of you
Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation
An unseen passage (often two in the final question) testing analysis of language, structure, tone and argument, ending with an extended comparison of style.
Critical Reading
Scottish texts section (including an 8-mark comparison with another text by the same author) plus a critical essay on a studied text.
Portfolio — two writing pieces worth 30% of the grade, one broadly discursive and one broadly creative.
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 Higher on sqa.org.uk.