Exam boards
Scottish Music Qualifications
Qualifications Scotland is Scotland's national awarding body. It replaced the SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority). Its music qualifications are National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher Music.
Who takes these exams
Secondary school students in Scotland take these courses. Students usually take National 5 before Higher and Higher before Advanced Higher.
What the parts assess
National 5 and Higher Music have four parts:
- a question paper on listening and music concepts
- an assignment, which is a composition
- a performance on a first instrument
- a performance on a second instrument
Advanced Higher keeps the question paper, the assignment and the first performance. Students then choose a second performance or a composing portfolio.
What the qualifications lead to
The assignment and the composing portfolio give students finished compositions. Students can develop these pieces for a college composition portfolio. The two performances help students prepare for a college audition.
How it compares with other exams
Scottish courses combine listening, composing and two instruments in one qualification. GCSE in England has one performing part. Graded exams such as ABRSM test each skill on its own.
Practice on The Music Stem
- Listening practice covers National 5 Music, Higher Music and Advanced Higher Music.
The Music Stem is independent of Qualifications Scotland. Our practice questions use our own recordings. Check the course specification on the Qualifications Scotland site.