Advanced Higher Modern Studies
Advanced Higher Modern Studies is a 90-mark exam lasting 3 hours plus a 50-mark dissertation. The 2027 exam is on Wednesday 26 May, 9:00 to 12:00.
- Question paper09:00 to 12:00
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 | 140 | 98 | 84 | 70 | 56 |
| 2025 | 140 | 98 | 84 | 70 | 56 |
| 2024 | 140 | 97 | 83 | 69 | 55 |
| 2023 | 140 | 98 | 82 | 67 | 51 |
| 2022 | 140 | 96 | 82 | 68 | 54 |
The exam
The paper lasts 3 hours and has 90 marks in two parts. You study one of three options: political issues, law and order, or social inequality.
In Part A you write two 30-mark extended essays from a choice of three in your option. In Part B you answer two 15-mark questions. One is on research methods and the other asks you to evaluate how trustworthy a source is.
Every option uses a comparative approach. Essays should compare the UK or Scotland with at least one other country.
The dissertation
The dissertation carries 50 of the 140 marks. The course specification sets 5,000 words, counting the main body and research methods evaluation. Exceeding it by more than 10% is penalised.
The 2026 course report recommended an analytical aim beginning with a phrase such as to what extent. It suggested two aims for enough depth. It also called for a detailed evaluation of at least two research methods.
Examiner messages in the 2026 report
Top essays gave balanced analysis, for example on how electoral systems shape the influence of smaller parties. They compared the UK or Scotland with international examples using current evidence. Weaker essays were one-sided, used limited or dated evidence, or described problems without judging responses.
In research methods, strong answers weighed unstructured interviews against surveys and tied each point to the scenario given. They also covered ethics. Weaker answers were generic and some left out a conclusion.
In source evaluation, strong answers judged strengths, weaknesses and overall trustworthiness, then gave a justified verdict. Weaker answers listed features of the source without developing them.
Most dissertations were built around hypotheses that allowed balanced analysis. Weaker ones set out to prove a view rather than test it. Many lacked appendices showing where evidence came from, or did not weigh up research ethics.
Practical preparation
Keep an evidence file for your option with recent data from the UK and your comparison countries. Practise judging research methods against a specific scenario, using the terms validity and reliability accurately. Proofread the dissertation and use one referencing style throughout.
Using past papers
Plan essays from past papers for your option in 10 to 15 minutes each. With 3 hours for 90 marks, each Part A essay merits about an hour. Mark with the marking instructions and check that every paragraph includes a comparison.
Revision checklist
Tick topics as you revise. Ticks are saved on this device only.
- Build a comparison file pairing UK or Scottish evidence with another country for each topic.
- Plan past paper essays for your option, each with a clear line of argument.
- End every essay with a conclusion that answers the question directly.
- Learn the strengths and limits of surveys, interviews, focus groups and official statistics.
- Practise research methods answers that refer to the given scenario in every point.
- Use validity, reliability and ethics accurately in research methods answers.
- Practise source evaluation answers that end with a justified verdict on trustworthiness.
- Frame your dissertation aims as questions to test, such as to what extent.
- Evaluate at least two research methods in the dissertation.
- Add appendices that show where each piece of dissertation evidence came from.
Quick answers
- How long is the Advanced Higher Modern Studies dissertation?
5,000 words for the main body and research methods evaluation. A penalty applies beyond 10% over.
- What is in Part B of the exam?
Two 15-mark questions: one on research methods and one on evaluating the trustworthiness of a source.
- When is the Advanced Higher Modern Studies exam in 2027?
Wednesday 26 May 2027, 9:00 to 12:00.