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S5 Higher/Intermediate

The Higher/Intermediate Two courses offered at Webster’s are challenging but rewarding.  Each course is designed to not only expose pupils to stimulating literature and ideas, but further develop their writing and analytical skills.

Entry requirements

In order to gain entry to the Higher course, you should have previously attained either:

• Credit level at Standard Grade (grades 1 or 2 for Reading and Writing)
• Intermediate Two (grade A or B)

In order to gain entry to the Intermediate Two course, you should have previously attained:

• General Level at Standard Grade (grades 3 or 4 for Reading and Writing)

Course Content

• Unit 1              Language Study        (Close Reading and Writing)
• Unit Two         Literary Study            (Critical Essay and Textual Analysis)
• Unit Three      Personal Study          (Literature)

There are both internal and external assessments for both Higher and Intermediate Two.

Internal Assessment

• Close Reading           (controlled conditions, 1 hour)
• Writing                        (controlled conditions, open book)
• Textual Analysis        (controlled conditions, 45 mins)
• Personal Study          (controlled conditions, open book, 1 hr)

You must achieve a pass in the above internal assessments before you can gain an overall course award.

External Assessment

• Paper 1          Close Reading
• Paper 2          Critical essay

Exam Dates

Higher and Intermediate Two prelims         February 2007

Higher and Intermediate Two final exams  May 2007

The Advanced Higher course offered at Webster’s is demanding but very rewarding.  The course is designed to not only expose pupils to stimulating classic literature, but will help to further develop their writing and analytical skills.  This will also equip pupils for the rigours of University education and give them a good analytical background on which to draw in years to come.

Entry Requirements

In order to gain entry to Advanced Higher, the pupil should previously have obtained a course award at Higher, preferably at grade A or B.

Course Structure

There are three components in the course:

• Specialist Study        1 credit           (40 hours)       40%
• Literary Study            1 credit           (40 hours)       30%
• Creative Writing        1 credit           (40 hours)       30%

All these sections of the course are externally assessed.

The award of Advanced Higher English will be based on a combination of internal and external assessment.  To gain the award, the pupil must pass the internal unit assessment in all three units and pass the external course assessment related to these units.  External course assessment will provide the basis for grading attainment for the course award.

Internal Course Assessment

In addition, the pupil will be required to pass the following internal assessment:

• One literature essay on text(s) studied, to be completed under controlled conditions in 1 ½ hours.

• There will also be a prelim exam which will reflect the requirements of the external exam and involves one critical essay.  This is to be completed in 1 ½ hours, with no access to text(s).