Modern Studies

Pupils are taught a common core of three National qualifications at the three National levels:

  • Political Issues in Scotland and the UK
  • Social Issues in Scotland and the UK
  • International issues
There is also an ‘Added Value’ part to each of the courses. This ‘Added Value’ will take the form of a small project with a written report.
National 3
Three study areas are:
Political Issues
Social Issues
International Issues.
The course work will include self-study and group work and will be formally and informally assessed.

National 4
Three study areas are:
Political Issues
Social Issues
International Issues.
The course work will include self-study and group work and will be formally and informally assessed.
National 5
Three study areas are:
Political Issues;
Social Issues and
International Issues.
The course work will include self-study and group work and will be formally and informally assessed.
 
N5 EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
This course assessment has 2 components:
Component 1: question paper, 80 marks, 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Component 2, assignment, 20 marks, 1 hour. PROGRESSION PATHS
  • Linear progression – National 5 pass in Modern Studies leads on to Higher Modern Studies, and a pass at Higher Modern Studies allows entry to Advanced Higher Modern Studies. Both Higher and Advanced Higher require strong literacy skills.
  • Skills progression – there is a variety of skills which form part of the National series of assessments, these are continued to be developed through to National 5 and beyond.