National 5 History
National 5 History is marked out of 100: an 80-mark question paper and a 20-mark assignment. The 2027 exam is on Wednesday 19 May, 13:00 to 15:20.
- Question paper13:00 to 15:20
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 | 70 | 60 | 50 | 40 |
| 2025 | 100 | 69 | 59 | 49 | 39 |
| 2024 | 100 | 70 | 60 | 50 | 40 |
| 2023 | 80 | 56 | 45 | 34 | 23 |
| 2022 | 80 | 54 | 42 | 30 | 18 |
The question paper
The paper lasts 2 hours 20 minutes and carries 80 marks. It has three sections: Scottish history, British history, and European and world history. You answer on one context in each section, the one your class studied.
The course specification lists six question types:
- Describe
- Explain the reasons why
- To what extent, how important or how successful
- Evaluate the usefulness of a source
- Compare the views of two sources
- How fully does a source describe or explain
The 2025 course report describes the to what extent style questions as 9-mark essays. They need an introduction, balanced points and a conclusion with a reason.
The assignment
You choose your own historical question and research it. You then write it up in 1 hour under supervision, using a resource sheet of up to 200 words. If you do not submit the resource sheet, 4 marks are deducted. The assignment is marked out of 20.
A good question is about one clear issue that can be argued both ways. For example, a question about how far one factor caused an event works better than a broad topic title.
Messages from the 2025 course report
Most candidates finished the paper on time. Many handled the 9-mark essays and the compare questions well. Many also made sound evaluative comments on author, type, purpose and timing of sources.
Problems came up in these areas:
- how fully questions with generic links rather than specific source points
- explain questions answered with facts instead of reasons
- 9-mark answers not written as an essay
- usefulness comments that interpreted the source rather than evaluating it
- assignments missing the resource sheet or copying full sentences from it
- primary sources quoted without their origin and date
The report advised using the resource sheet for key words only. It also asked candidates to cite author, title and quotes, and to pick a single-issue question.
Working through past papers
Time each section separately so the European and world section is not rushed. For source questions, practise writing one evaluative comment each on author, type, purpose and timing. Then add a point about content and one about what is missing.
Use the marking instructions to see what counts as a developed reason. Compare your essays with their structure: introduction, factors on both sides, and a conclusion that ranks them.
Revision checklist
Tick topics as you revise. Ticks are saved on this device only.
- List the six question types and write a model answer for each from your contexts.
- Practise 9-mark essays with an introduction, balanced factors and a reasoned conclusion.
- For usefulness questions, comment on author, type, purpose and timing in every answer.
- For how fully questions, match each source point to your own knowledge and add an omission.
- Turn every explain answer into a reason by adding because or this meant that.
- Make timelines for your Scottish, British, and European and world contexts.
- Choose an assignment question about one issue that you can argue both ways.
- Keep the resource sheet under 200 words, using key words rather than full sentences.
- Record author, title and date for every source you plan to quote in the assignment.
- Sit a full past paper in 2 hours 20 minutes at least three times before May.
Quick answers
- How many marks is National 5 History out of?
100 marks. The question paper has 80 marks and the assignment has 20.
- What happens if I forget the History resource sheet?
The course specification says 4 marks are deducted from the assignment if the resource sheet is not submitted.
- When is the National 5 History exam in 2027?
Wednesday 19 May 2027, 13:00 to 15:20.