Standard Grade English
The Standard Grade English course helps pupils to develop the skills of reading, writing , talking and listening . It aims to help pupils to use language which they will need in adult life ; to help them work with others ; to stretch their thinking and imagination.
Literature is an important element in the course, and the language activities based on it - usually in the form of units - are tasks which pupils of different abilities can tackle successfully. The course is the same for all Standard Grade pupils in the school; they follow the same activities at different levels.
ASSESSMENT AND CERTIFICATION
Work is assessed on performance in the following course elements:-
READING
WRITING
TALKING
Each of these carries the same weight
There is no separate assessment of Listening , which, nevertheless forms an important part of discussion in Talking.
In Reading and Writing, each pupil produces a folio of coursework which is sent to the Scottish Qualifications Authority for assessment. The work in the folio is a specified sample of the best of the pupil's coursework in Reading and Writing. Parents should encourage their children to produce a folio of work which represents their best endeavours .
The pupil also sits a written examination, set and marked by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. This arrangement allows work done in class over the two years of the course, and performance in the written examination, to be taken equally into account in assessment.
Question papers for Reading are offered at three levels: Credit, General and Foundation . Pupils attempt the questions at two levels suited to their ability. The examination paper for Writing is the same for all pupils.
Talking is assessed against national standards.