Higher Engineering Science
Higher Engineering Science is out of 160: a 110-mark question paper and a 50-mark assignment. The 2027 exam is on Friday 28 May, from 1pm to 3:30pm.
- Question paper13:00 to 15:30
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 | 160 | 117 | 103 | 90 | 76 |
| 2025 | 160 | 112 | 96 | 80 | 64 |
| 2024 | 160 | 112 | 95 | 78 | 61 |
| 2023 | 110 | 74 | 60 | 46 | 32 |
| 2022 | 110 | 71 | 56 | 41 | 26 |
Structure of the course
Higher Engineering Science is out of 160. The question paper is worth 110 marks and the assignment 50. That is roughly a 69% and 31% split.
The paper lasts 2 hours 30 minutes. Section 1 is 20 marks of short-answer questions. Section 2 is 90 marks of structured questions. A data booklet with formulae and data is provided.
In 2027 the exam is on Friday 28 May, from 1pm to 3:30pm.
How the paper's marks are spread
The course specification sets ranges for each area:
| Area | Marks in the paper |
|---|---|
| Analogue electronic control | 20 to 35 |
| Digital electronic control | 15 to 25 |
| Structures and forces | 15 to 25 |
| Drive systems and pneumatics | 10 to 20 |
| Systems approach, energy and efficiency | 10 to 17 |
| Materials | 8 to 14 |
Electronics, analogue and digital together, is the largest share.
The assignment
The assignment is a problem-solving task over 8 hours. You work alone under supervision. It is closed book, apart from the data booklet.
Marks cover five stages: analysing the problem, designing a solution, building it, testing it and evaluating it. Building often means simulating or constructing a circuit.
In 2025, most candidates designed and simulated circuits successfully. Evaluation was much weaker. Many did not refer to performance, testing and the changes they made. Some did not use the fewest logic gates possible in a design task.
What examiners flagged in 2025
Strong areas included redrawing logic circuits with NAND gates, calculating output voltage and rotational speed.
Weak areas included:
- finding the size and direction of a beam reaction
- completing a Boolean equation
- calculating MOSFET drain-source current
- describing pneumatic circuits with correct terminology
The report advised practising evaluation answers that refer back to a specification.
In 2025 an A needed 112 out of 160, a B 96 and a C 80.
Getting the most from past papers
Work through past papers with the data booklet only, as in the exam. Many marks depend on choosing the right formula and showing each step.
After marking, list which topic each lost mark came from. Spend the next week on the two weakest areas.
Revision checklist
Tick topics as you revise. Ticks are saved on this device only.
- Practise past papers using only the data booklet
- Calculate beam reactions with moments and state the direction of each force
- Simplify logic circuits and write Boolean equations from truth tables
- Redesign logic circuits using the fewest NAND gates possible
- Work through op-amp and MOSFET calculations, including drain-source current
- Describe pneumatic circuits using the correct component names
- Calculate gear ratios, rotational speed, torque and efficiency
- Revise stress, strain, Young's modulus and factor of safety
- Write evaluations that refer to the specification, testing and amendments
- Practise the assignment stages within an 8-hour budget
Quick answers
- How many marks is Higher Engineering Science out of?
160. The question paper is worth 110 marks and the assignment is worth 50.
- Do you get a data booklet in Higher Engineering Science?
Yes. A data booklet with relevant data and formulae is provided for the paper. You can also use it in the assignment.
- How long is the Higher Engineering Science assignment?
8 hours. It is a set problem-solving task covering analysis, design, building, testing and evaluation.
- When is the Higher Engineering Science exam in 2027?
Friday 28 May 2027, from 1pm to 3:30pm.