Higher Spanish
Higher Spanish is scaled to 120 marks, with reading, listening and talking worth 30 each. The 2027 exam papers are on Tuesday 25 May.
- Reading and Directed Writing09:00 to 11:00
- Listening11:30 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 | 120 | 82 | 70 | 59 | 47 |
| 2025 | 120 | 84 | 72 | 60 | 48 |
| 2024 | 120 | 81 | 69 | 57 | 45 |
| 2023 | 120 | 75 | 63 | 51 | 39 |
| 2022 | 120 | 72 | 60 | 48 | 36 |
Five components, 120 marks
Higher Spanish is built from five parts. Three are worth 30 marks each: reading, listening and talking. Directed writing and assignment-writing are worth 15 each.
Two of those are raw marks that get scaled. Directed writing is marked out of 20 and scaled to 15. Listening is marked out of 20 and scaled up to 30.
The exam happens on Tuesday 25 May 2027. Reading and Directed Writing runs from 9am to 11am, with a bilingual dictionary allowed. Listening begins at 11:30am and lasts about 30 minutes, without a dictionary.
Talking and assignment-writing are done in school before the exam.
What examiners saw in 2025
The 2025 course report was positive overall. Most candidates answered the first three reading questions correctly. Many used signposting in the text to find answers quickly.
Translation was where marks slipped. Some candidates did not give the meaning in natural English, so they lost the sense unit.
Directed writing was described as very good. The strongest answers had prepared openings and conclusions, adapted to the task. Some candidates found it harder to cover every bullet point at the level needed.
Listening was strong, with few blank answers. Precision still mattered. Writing 25 when the speaker said more than 25 cost marks.
Most assignment-writing pieces scored 16 or 20 out of 20. A minority wrote a personal response when the task needed a discursive piece.
In 2025 the minimum for an A was 84 out of 120. A B needed 72 and a C needed 60.
Assignment-writing
You write 200 to 250 words in class, with a dictionary, grammar notes and word lists allowed. It is discursive, so present more than one side and reach a view. Plan your structure first, then build in a range of tenses.
Revising with past papers
Past reading papers are best used in two passes. First answer the questions in full English sentences. Then check the marking instructions for the exact detail needed, such as quantities and qualifiers.
For listening, note phrases like más de, menos de and casi. These small words often decide a mark.
Write directed writing answers to old scenarios. Tick off each bullet point as you cover it.
Revision checklist
Tick topics as you revise. Ticks are saved on this device only.
- Practise the translation question from past papers in natural English
- Note qualifiers such as más de, menos de and casi in listening practice
- Write to past directed writing scenarios and tick off every bullet point
- Prepare adaptable openings and conclusions for directed writing
- Revise the preterite, imperfect and future tenses for writing tasks
- Build vocabulary for society, learning, employability and culture
- Plan assignment-writing to argue both sides before giving your view
- Rehearse the talking with a partner who asks unexpected questions
- Sit listening papers without a dictionary and review the transcript after
Quick answers
- How many marks is Higher Spanish out of?
120 after scaling. Reading, listening and talking are worth 30 each. Directed writing and assignment-writing are worth 15 each.
- Is a dictionary allowed in Higher Spanish?
A bilingual dictionary is allowed in the Reading and Directed Writing paper and in the assignment-writing. It is not allowed in listening.
- Is the Higher Spanish assignment-writing discursive?
Yes. The 2025 course report noted that a few candidates wrote a personal response, not a discursive piece.
- When is the Higher Spanish exam in 2027?
Tuesday 25 May 2027. Reading and Directed Writing is 9am to 11am, and Listening starts at 11:30am.