Mathematics · Higher
Higher Mathematics is where calculus starts. Two papers, no coursework, and a big jump in algebra — you need to recognise which technique a question is asking for, often without being told.
What it offers you
Mathematics is the entry requirement for a huge range of degrees — engineering, physics, economics, computing and more — and the reasoning it builds is valued in every technical career.
What Higher actually asks of you
Paper 1 — non-calculator
Short-answer questions on algebra, functions, calculus and geometry that must be done by hand. An answer booklet is provided.
Paper 2 — calculator
Longer, context-heavy questions across calculus, trigonometry, sequences, exponentials and logs, vectors and statistics.
This course is graded entirely on the question papers — there is no assignment or project to submit.
Exact timings and mark allocations are printed on the front cover of each paper below.
Topics that come up
Papers & marking schemes
2026
6 files2025
6 files2024
6 files2023
6 filesSQA publishes the most recent five years of papers. Older papers and specimen papers live on their site — open Mathematics Higher on sqa.org.uk.