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Higher

Higher English

Higher English is marked out of 100: Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation (30), Critical Reading (40) and the portfolio-writing (30). Both exam papers are on Friday 7 May 2027.

2027 examFriday 7 May 2027
  • Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation09:00 to 10:30
  • Critical Reading11:00 to 12:45
Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation (RUAE)30 marks, 1 hour 30 minutesTwo linked non-fiction passages.
Critical Reading40 marks, 1 hour 45 minutesSection 1 Scottish text (20 marks) and section 2 critical essay (20 marks), on different genres.
Portfolio-writing30 marks, First draft written in class, up to 4 hoursOne piece, creative or discursive, up to 1,300 words. Marked out of 15 and doubled to 30.
Performance: spoken language0 marks, No set timeAchieved or not achieved. Must be passed to gain the course award.

What grade is my mark?

out of 100
?

Type a total mark to see the grade it would have got.

How the A and C boundaries have moved

40%45%50%55%60%65%70%75%202220232024202520262022: 68 of 1002023: 67 of 1002024: 67 of 1002025: 68 of 1002026: 71 of 1002022: 47 of 1002023: 48 of 1002024: 48 of 1002025: 49 of 1002026: 52 of 100AC

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.

YearOut ofABCD
202610071615242
202510068584939
202410067574838
202310067574838
202210068574736

How Higher English is assessed

The course total is 100 marks. Two exam papers make up 70 of them and the writing folio makes up 30.

RUAE gives you two non-fiction passages on a shared theme. You have 1 hour 30 minutes for 30 marks. The last question asks you to compare the writers' ideas.

Critical Reading lasts 1 hour 45 minutes. Section 1 is the Scottish text. Section 2 is a critical essay on a text from a different genre. Each section is worth 20 marks.

You must also pass spoken language through a discussion or presentation. It carries no marks but is needed for the award.

In 2027 RUAE is on Friday 7 May from 9am to 10:30am. Critical Reading follows from 11am to 12:45pm.

Change to the Scottish text for 2026/27

The Scottish text section is still worth 20 marks. The split has changed. From 2026/27 there are 12 marks for the questions on the printed extract and 8 for the final question.

Within that final question, 4 marks go to references to elsewhere in the text or other texts. It used to be 6. Your extract analysis now matters more.

What the 2026 course report said

In RUAE, most candidates analysed word choice well. Many lost marks for lifting key phrases from the passage in place of using their own words. Some missed that words like battlefield and frontline worked as a metaphor.

In the Scottish text, some candidates asserted rather than analysed. Some built their elsewhere comments on memorised quotations that did not fit the question.

In the critical essay, weaker answers used short or simple texts. Others were built around quotations in place of a clear line of argument.

For the folio, many candidates scored 9 to 11 out of 15. A few went over the 1,300-word limit and lost structure as a result.

In 2026 an A needed 71 out of 100, a B 61 and a C 52.

Getting the most from past papers

For RUAE, time yourself and practise the comparison question on every paper. Read the marking instructions to see how a full analysis mark is built: a quotation plus a comment on its effect.

For Critical Reading, use past Scottish text questions on your set text. Then write essays to past essay questions, not your favourite pre-learned one.

Revision checklist

Tick topics as you revise. Ticks are saved on this device only.

  • Answer the comparison question from at least six past RUAE papers
  • Practise putting passage ideas into your own words without lifting phrases
  • Build a bank of imagery analysis: literal meaning, then what the image suggests
  • Learn your Scottish set text well enough to answer 12 marks on any extract
  • Plan the 8-mark final question with 4 marks of elsewhere references
  • Write timed critical essays to unseen past questions, not memorised essays
  • Structure each essay around a line of argument, using quotations as support
  • Keep your folio piece under 1,300 words and check it against the marking grid
  • Complete your spoken language assessment early in the session

Quick answers

How many marks is Higher English out of?

100. RUAE is worth 30, Critical Reading 40 and the portfolio-writing 30. Spoken language is pass or fail.

What changed in Higher English for 2026/27?

In the Scottish text section, extract questions now carry 12 marks and the final question 8. Elsewhere references are worth 4 marks instead of 6. The section total stays at 20.

How long is the Higher English folio piece?

One piece of up to 1,300 words, either broadly creative or broadly discursive. A penalty applies if it goes more than 10% over the limit.

When is the Higher English exam in 2027?

Friday 7 May 2027. RUAE runs from 9am to 10:30am and Critical Reading from 11am to 12:45pm.