Graphic Communication · National 5
Graphic Communication is where technical drawing meets design. You learn how images and objects are represented and produced — in 2D, in 3D and by hand — then put it into practice with CAD and desktop publishing software.
What it offers you
Graphic Communication builds visual and technical design skills — sketching, CAD, desktop publishing and 3D modelling — for design, engineering and creative media study and careers.
What National 5 actually asks of you
Question paper
Questions on 2D graphics (layout, colour, typography, illustration), 3D and pictorial graphics (modelling, rendering, sketching) and technical graphics (drawing standards, views, dimensions), plus desktop publishing and promotional design.
Assignment — a design and production task built in CAD and DTP software, submitted as a finished graphic outcome with supporting work.
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 Graphic Communication National 5 on sqa.org.uk.