English · National 5
National 5 English is two papers plus a portfolio of your own writing. One paper tests close reading of unseen passages, the other tests the texts you have studied — including 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 National 5 actually asks of you
Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation
An unseen non-fiction passage with questions on what it says (understanding), how it says it (analysis) and how well it works (evaluation), finishing with a longer comparison question.
Critical Reading
Two sections: Scottish texts (questions on a set text you have studied) and critical essay (an essay on a text from a chosen genre).
Portfolio — two pieces of your own writing (broadly discursive and creative), submitted to SQA and worth 30% of your 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 National 5 on sqa.org.uk.