Advanced Higher English
Advanced Higher English is marked out of 100, and 60 of those marks come from coursework. The two exam papers are on the afternoon of Monday 10 May 2027.
- Literary Study13:00 to 14:30
- Textual Analysis15:00 to 16:30
What grade is my mark?
Type a total mark to see the grade it would have got.
How the A and C boundaries have moved
Boundaries as a share of the total marks. A lower line means the papers were judged harder that year. Qualifications Scotland publishes boundaries from 2022 in this format.
| Year | Out of | A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 100 | 66 | 57 | 48 | 39 |
| 2025 | 100 | 66 | 57 | 48 | 39 |
| 2024 | 100 | 66 | 57 | 48 | 39 |
| 2023 | 100 | 65 | 55 | 46 | 36 |
| 2022 | 100 | 65 | 55 | 46 | 36 |
Course structure
Two question papers make up 40% of the mark. The portfolio and dissertation make up 60%. That balance makes Advanced Higher English unusual: most of the grade is settled before the exam.
In 2027 both papers are on Monday 10 May. Literary Study runs 13:00 to 14:30 and Textual Analysis runs 15:00 to 16:30.
Literary Study
You write one critical essay in 1 hour 30 minutes on texts you studied in class. Genres are poetry, prose fiction, prose non-fiction and drama.
Textual Analysis
You analyse an unseen text in 1 hour 30 minutes. It comes from the same four genres. You may choose the same genre in both papers.
Portfolio-writing
You submit one piece, marked out of 15 and doubled. The length depends on purpose and genre.
Dissertation
The dissertation is 2,500 to 3,500 words, including quotations but excluding footnotes and bibliography. Its texts must be literary and untaught. You cannot use dissertation writers or texts in the Literary Study paper.
Examiner comments from 2025
Literary Study essays on Shakespeare were often good. So were essays on modern dramatists such as Kushner and McDonagh. Weaker essays did not reach the depth of analysis expected, or treated two texts unevenly. Some misread key words in the question.
Textual Analysis produced high marks in all four genres. Answers set out as bullet points tended to fragment. Some missed subtext in prose fiction or said little about poetic structure.
In the portfolio, persuasive and informative essays were strong. Weaker prose fiction lacked complexity, and some poems lacked shape. Careless editing cost marks.
Dissertations showed sophistication and personal engagement at the top end. But the report noted more that tried to diagnose characters' assumed mental health conditions. Others retold the story, used texts with too little literary substance, or quoted too little.
Advice drawn from the report
Build a precise critical vocabulary. Connect analytical points into an overall evaluative stance. Choose dissertation texts of real literary quality and a narrow, manageable topic. Submit only one poem in the portfolio, not a collection.
Using past papers
Practise Textual Analysis on a mix of genres, as you will not know the text in advance. For Literary Study, plan answers to several past questions on your texts, then write some in full under time.
Revision checklist
Tick topics as you revise. Ticks are saved on this device only.
- Choose dissertation texts of clear literary substance that you have not been taught.
- Set a narrow dissertation question with a literary focus, not a character diagnosis.
- Support every dissertation point with a range of quotation and close analysis.
- Keep the dissertation between 2,500 and 3,500 words, including quotations.
- Draft the portfolio piece early and edit it carefully for technical accuracy.
- Submit one poem only if you choose poetry for the portfolio.
- Practise Textual Analysis on poetry, prose fiction, prose non-fiction and drama.
- Write analysis in continuous prose that builds an overall evaluative stance.
- Build a glossary of critical terms and use them precisely.
- Write timed Literary Study essays in 1 hour 30 minutes, covering both texts evenly.
Quick answers
- How long is the Advanced Higher English dissertation?
Between 2,500 and 3,500 words, including quotations but excluding footnotes and bibliography.
- How many portfolio pieces are needed?
One. It is marked out of 15 and the mark is doubled to make up 30% of the course.
- Can I write about a taught text in my dissertation?
No. Dissertation texts must be untaught and cannot be used again in the Literary Study paper.
- When is the Advanced Higher English exam in 2027?
Monday 10 May 2027. Literary Study runs 13:00 to 14:30 and Textual Analysis 15:00 to 16:30.