Facebook (White).png

  • Sep 29, 2021

SQA Higher English: an expert guide to RUAE

Updated: Mar 31, 2022

Note: the techniques and approaches listed are not exhaustive and definitive. Rather, they are based on analysis of the last 7 years of SQA RUAE papers and are only suggestions.

Before beginning the questions:

Before you begin the passage, always ask yourself two questions:

· what is the passage about?

· how does the writer feel about the subject?

The answer to the first question helps you with context and answering the 5-mark question (more on that later), whilst the answer to the second question will help you identify the types of words, sentence structure, images and tone the writer will use. The italics before the passage will often offer a guide to these questions but do not always offer definitive answers.

An effective strategy is to read the last question before you begin to read the passage. You then highlight the quotations required for the last question as you read the passage thereby ensuring that you read with a purpose. It also means that you are not left in a panic with 5 minutes left as you desperately try to find quotes for the last question.

GOLDEN RULE

FIND WORDS FROM THE QUESTION IN THE PASSAGE. LOOK AROUND THEM AND YOU WILL OFTEN BE GIVEN THE ANSWER.

Types of question

Understanding questions:

For the most part, these questions involve putting information into YOUR OWN WORDS .

For a number of years this has been signposted in the question with use your own words in your answer .

Your basic approach to doing this should be:

· Find the information

· Highlight it

· Put it in your own words

How do I put things into my own words?

There are a number of strategies for this:

· Substitute one word for another

· Substitute a phrase for a word

· Ask yourself: what idea is the writer communicating?

· Interpret/ quantify numbers and dates. This is something that candidates often fail to do but it is quite simple. For example, 1920 becomes over 100 years ago and 140, 000 000 becomes an enormous number .

Variations:

Whilst the vast majority of understanding questions simply ask you to put things in your own words, occasionally the question includes the phrase, ‘ supported by the example .’ Here you are being asked to summarise the importance of the example at least partially, rather than simply substituting one word for another.

An example of this would be the 2019 Higher English paper where the question reads ‘Explain how the writer’s argument about fake news is supported by the example of the Paris attack.’ In the answer to this question, you can gain marks for substituting incredibly fast for ‘quickly’ but you can also gain marks for summarising. The passage contains the following extract: ‘during the November 2015 Paris terror attacks, rumours quickly spread on social media that the Louvre and the Pompidou Centre had been hit, and that the French president had suffered a stroke.’ Rather than attempting to find other words for ‘Paris’, ‘Louvre’, ‘president’ you should respond to the question by saying the example shows that stories can become exaggerated.

Developing an argument questions:

These questions are about how a paragraph or a sentence move the writer’s argument/ topic from one aspect of the argument/ topic to another. They seem to have replaced the Link Question which has not featured since the inception of the new Higher in 2015. They have appeared in the 2015, 2017 and 2021. You must quote and explain how the quote reveals that the writer is using it to move from one topic to the other.

Think: before and after.

Example: Explain the function of these lines in the development of the writer’s argument. You should make close reference to the passage in your answer.

Answer: ‘could the British… look like this? Signals the writer’s change of focus from the USA to the UK (1 mark).

You must do this twice. NOTE: YOU ARE NOT ANALYSING TECHNIQUES, JUST IDENTIFYING HOW THE LINE DEVELOPS THE ARGUMENT.

Analysis questions:

These questions involve looking at techniques, using quotes, and offering explanations. When answering, think:

· what does it mean?

· Why is it being used?

One quote and explanation will get you one mark unless it is imagery you have commented on. Language or style questions mean you can comment on any of the following.

Sentence Structure

Remember to be detailed - what is being emphasised? Also, you should remember to quote at all times. The underlined parts should always be used when answering these questions. Remember to quantify - ‘the amount…’ is not enough; you must say ‘the huge amount…’ etc.

Short sentence: bluntly emphasises its content, adds drama.

The short sentence ‘There is a lot to be done.’ bluntly emphasises the writer’s belief that there is much work to be completed in combating these industries.

List: emphasises variety and number of things.

The list ‘other cultures… climates’ emphasises the huge number of things that air travel allows people to experience.

Repetition: emphasise something - say what is being emphasised.

The repetition of ‘We need’ emphasises the idea that society as a whole must come together and fight these companies.

The above are the most likely features of sentence structure. Indeed, knowledge of the three techniques listed above would enable you to answer any analysis question from the past 7 years, allowing you to comment on sentence structure.

However, you might also comment on topic sentences - the first sentence in a paragraph - which might bluntly introduce the topic.

You might comment on how sentences start ‘Originally… After that’ which might communicate a sequence.

You might also be asked about parallelism - where sentences are repeatedly structured/ balanced in the same way.

Example: ‘Don’t buy a baby walker, your toddlers might brain themselves. Don’t buy plastic baby teethers, your baby might suck in harmful chemicals.’

This emphasises all the things they discourage you from buying and underscore their idea that there is threat everywhere/ everything is dangerous/ has consequences.

Word Choice:

You should try to say what the definition/ connotations of these words are and why they are used. Try to keep your quotes to 1 word if possible

Follow this structure:

2. Suggests

3. Context (he, she they, it)

4. Two connotations

‘Crammed’ suggests they were kept in claustrophobic, unpleasant conditions.

If you are dealing with imagery – usually a simile, personification or a metaphor – then there are two stages:

1. say what the connotations of the image are - give two connotations

2. say what connotations the subject shares with the image, again giving two but using different words.

‘ Just as a tumour is unhealthy, ugly and can lead to serious illness or death (stage 1) 1st mark, so too was London destructive to the country, filled with disease and unpleasant to look at. (stage 2) 2nd mark.

Punctuation:

Often a part of sentence structure but not the first thing you should look at. Look out for colons and dashes that come before an explanation - they introduce an expansion or explanation, a list or extra information. Say what it is a list of or extra info about. To find out what is being introduced, look just before the dash or colon.

Semi-colons split up a list, creating a definite break between each item. They also set up a contrast.

Inverted commas show speech. The writer might use them to show they are someone else’s words and not the writers, to show a quote, or show the writer doubts what is being said. It might also be used to mock an idea

Parenthesis is a regularly used feature - it is information contained within two rackets, two dashes, or two commas. You should say that parenthesis is used to emphasise the extra information contained within the punctuation.

Evaluation:

You should try to quote with these questions. They are similar to analysis questions but you should say how effective something is - say it is effective and why, using quotes as evidence.

Mostly, they ask you about how effective a sentence or a paragraph is as a conclusion - look for links to ideas earlier in the passage or even the title and state what they are. This gives a sense that the writer is summing up/ emphasising a point. Also look for them to drive a point home with a powerful topic sentence, an angry tone or a mocking tone, or repetition.

How effective do you find lines 36-39 as a conclusion to the writer’s condemnation of video gaming in the passage as a whole?

‘So I say now’ is effective because it is a powerful start signalling he will sum up his thoughts.

‘yank out that plug’ is effective as he commands parents to stop their children playing these games. This reinforces the point he has been making throughout, especially in the second paragraph when he commands that parents ‘just say no to Nintendo’.

‘strike a blow for literacy’ returns to the titles giving a sense of summing up and reinforcing the central idea of the passage - cutting down on gaming will improve school performance.

Last Question:

For a number of years, the last question in an RUAE paper is a 5-mark question that asks you to look at how the writers agree and/ or disagree on a topic. To get 5 marks you must find 3 areas of agreement and/ or disagreement. Most of the time the paper only asks for agreement or disagreement.

From my experience as an SQA marker, I would say that this is the question that is most poorly done, which is silly when I would consider it the easiest question to score highest in. I would recommend the following approach:

· read the last question BEFORE you read the passage

· with a specific colour, highlight the point the writer makes about the topic

· do all the questions up to the last question

· read the second passage up until you have at least three areas of agreement and/ or disagreement (if you have time, do four and use one as a back up in case one of the first three points is wrong)

· stop reading

· begin answering the question

Template for the 5-mark question:

· Point of agreement/ disagreement

· Passage one states ‘quote’ which shows ____________________- this should be a summary of how the quote links to the point of agreement/ disagreement. Try the drag it out a little/ not make it too brief or you run the risk of receiving 4 marks instead of 5.

· Passage two states ‘quote’ which shows__________________________- same as above but for passage two.

· You should do the above 3 times to receive 5 marks.

This was from a paper where the question asked about how the writers disagreed on the experience of shopping.

Passage 1 states that shopping is ‘the heroin of human happiness’ which shows she thinks it is damaging and harmful to both the individual and society.

Passage 2 states that shoppers are ‘doing something important’ which shows he thinks that it benefits both society and the individual.

Passage 1 states that ‘our needs are never satisfied’ which shows she thinks that long term happiness cannot be achieved through shopping no matter how hard we try.

Passage 2 states that ‘shopping is enormous fun and profoundly satisfying’ which shows he thinks the experience can be emotionally beneficial and bring real, lasting happiness.

Architecture

Passage 1 states that shopping has created a ‘mainstream monoculture’ which shows she thinks that the obsession with shopping means towns and city centres all look the same.

Passage 2 states that ‘malls are marble-floored temples’ which shows he thinks they are visually stunning.

_______________________________________________________________________________

If you need support in National 5 or Higher subjects you can book classes here.

Not ready to book? That's fine! Sign up for updates here instead until you're ready to book.

higher english critical essay marking scheme sqa

  • SQA Nat 5 and Higher English

Recent Posts

Saturday School Guide to Higher RUAE

SQA National 5 English: An expert guide to National 5 RUAE

Maximising success in your N5 or Higher English folio

rhsenglish.com

Really helpful stuff for English

  • NATIONAL 4/5

higher english critical essay marking scheme sqa

Monday, April 02, 2018

Higher english past papers.

higher english critical essay marking scheme sqa

No comments:

Post a Comment

Exam skills Section One - Scottish Set Text

The Higher English course is assessed on folio writing, a spoken language assessment and a final exam in addition to revision and coursework throughout the year. Structuring your answers and understanding the marking can help you get the best result.

Section One - Scottish Set Text

At the beginning of your Higher year, your teacher will select an appropriate Scottish text from a list prescribed to them by SQA. Class teachers can choose from:

  • six poems by one of the four poets listed OR
  • one of the three prescribed plays OR
  • a piece of prose fiction (either a novel or set of four short stories) from a selection of five authors

The prescribed Set Text list can be found on the SQA website.

You will study these texts carefully, thinking about features appropriate to genre and the themes or issues presented to you by the writer. In the final exam you will be faced with:

  • one of the six poems OR an extract from the play/novel OR an extract from one of the four stories
  • a series of understanding, analytical or evaluative questions on the extract (totalling 10 marks)
  • a final question, worth 10 marks , asking you to compare an aspect of the extract with another aspect in the same text (novel) OR with another poem (poems) OR with another short story you have studied.

The 10-mark question

A question worth 10 marks might seem daunting at first. However, it might help you to think about how the marks are secured:

  • 2 marks will be awarded for commonality (ie. stating clearly what is similar about the texts/aspects of the text you are comparing)
  • 2 marks will be available for quoting/referencing the extract and then analysing its significance
  • 6 marks will be available from quoting/referencing from elsewhere/another text studied and analysing the significance

It might be helpful to structure your 10-mark answer using the following headings:

Commonality:.

  • first point of commonality
  • second point of commonality

From the extract:

From elsewhere in the text or another text:.

Whilst at National 5 marks were awarded for reference to the text(s), 0 marks are awarded at Higher for reference/quotation alone .

You will receive:

  • 2 marks for detailed and insightful comment that includes reference/quotation to the text
  • 1 mark for a more basic comment

It is always best to aim for quality over quantity. However, if you are unable to write insightful or detailed comments, it might be worth providing six more basic points .

More guides on this topic

  • Analysing language
  • Understanding and inference
  • Critical essay

Related links

  • BBC Skillswise
  • BBC Writers Room
  • Skills You Need - Presentation
  • Writing a Descriptive Essay
  • Scottish Poetry Library
  • BBC 500 words
  • Accessibility
  • Main SQA Website
  • Using the site
  •  >  Subjects
  •  >  English
  •  >  National 5
  •  > Critical reading

In this section

Select a subject Accounting Administration and IT Applications of Mathematics Apprenticeships Art and Design Baccalaureates Biology Business Management Care Chemistry Childcare & Development Classical Studies Computing Science Core Skills Dance Design and Manufacture Drama Economics Engineering Science English Environmental Science ESOL Fashion and Textiles French Gaelic Gaidhlig Geography German Graphic Communication Health and Food Technology History HN Human Biology Italian Latin Mandarin Mathematics Mathematics of Mechanics Media Modern Studies Music Music Technology National 1 & 2 Philosophy Photography Physical Education Physics Politics Practical Cake Craft Practical Cookery Practical Electronics Practical Metalworking Practical Woodworking Psychology RMPS Science NPA's Scots Language Skills for Work Sociology Spanish Statistics SVQ Urdu

  • National 3 and 4
  • Reading for UAE
  • Critical reading
  • Advanced Higher
  • Presentations
  • Course Reports
  • Additional resources for sessions 2020-22

National 5 English - critical reading

Critical reading 2023.

  • 2023 Question paper   (External link to SQA website)
  • 2023 Marking instructions   (External link to SQA website)

Scottish Text - Section 1

  • Text 3 Drama - Tally's Blood
  • Candidate 1 Evidence
  • Text 2 Poetry - Edwin Morgan
  • Candidate 2 Evidence
  • Text 1 Prose - The Cone Gatherers
  • Candidate 3 Evidence
  • Candidates 1 to 3 Commentaries

Critical Essay - Section 2

  • Question 5 Poetry (Shooting Stars by Carol Ann Duffy)
  • Question 7 Film and Television Drama (The Truman Show)
  • Question 4 Prose (The Hate U Give)

Critical Reading 2022 (All links open to PDF files)

  • 2022 Question paper   (External link to SQA website)
  • 2022 Marking instructions   (External link to SQA website)
  • Candidate 1 Evidence - Question 7 - Shutter Island
  • Candidate 2 Evidence - Question 6 - Mrs Tilscher's Class
  • Candidate 3 Evidence - Question 9 - Letter to an MP

Critical Reading 2021 - Section 2

  • 2021 Question paper   (External link to SQA website)
  • 2021 Marking instructions   (External link to SQA website)
  • Candidate A - Q4 Of Mice and Men
  • Candidate B - Q3 Lord of the Flies
  • Candidate C - Q4 The Solution
  • Candidates A to C Evidence
  • Candidates A to C Annotated Evidence
  • Candidates A to C Commentaries

Critical Reading 2019  (All links open as PDF files)

  • 2019 Question paper   (External link to SQA website)
  • 2019 Marking instructions   (External link to SQA website)

Scottish text: Tally's Blood. Critical essay: On the Sidewalk Bleeding

Scottish text: the way my mother speaks. critical essay: a view from the bridge, scottish text: tally's blood. critical essay: shooting stars, scottish text: my grandmother's houses. critical essay: lord of the flies.

  • Candidate 4 Evidence

Scottish text: Bold Girls. Critical essay: The Pedestrian

  • Candidate 5 Evidence

Scottish text: The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Critical essay: Mid-Term Break

  • Candidate 6 Evidence

Scottish text: The Way My Mother Speaks. Critical essay: Of Mice and Men

  • Candidate 7 Evidence

Scottish text: Brooklyn Cop. Critical essay: A Hanging

  • Candidate 8 Evidence
  • Candidates 1 to 8 Commentaries

Critical Reading 2017  (All links open as PDF files)

Candidate 1 (section 1 - war photographer. section 2 - the dark knight).

  • Candidate 1 Commentary

Candidate 2 (Section 1 - Aunt Julia. Section 2 - The Ferryman's Daughter)

  • Candidate 2 Commentary

Candidate 3 (Section 1 - Sailmaker. Section 2 - The Hanging)

  • Candidate 3 Commentary

Candidate 4 (Section 1 - Tally's Blood. Section 2 - Animal Farm)

  • Candidate 4 Commentary
  • Candidates 1 to 4 Commentaries
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Back To Top

IMAGES

  1. Marking Scheme Essay

    higher english critical essay marking scheme sqa

  2. Sqa higher english essay past papers

    higher english critical essay marking scheme sqa

  3. Sqa higher english critical essay marking grid

    higher english critical essay marking scheme sqa

  4. 😍 Advanced higher english dissertation marking scheme. English Essay

    higher english critical essay marking scheme sqa

  5. Criteria For Marking Essay

    higher english critical essay marking scheme sqa

  6. Higher English 6x critical essays on Philip Larkin and Sylvia Plath

    higher english critical essay marking scheme sqa

VIDEO

  1. Essay questions chapter 1

  2. National 5 English

  3. Essay questions chapter 8

  4. Essay questions chapter 4

  5. Essay questions chapter 5

  6. Essay questions chapter 6

COMMENTS

  1. PDF 2022 Higher English Critical Reading Marking Instructions

    • In the final 10-mark question the candidate should answer the question in a series of linked statements, or in bullet points. 2. Critical essay • If a candidate response achieves minimum standards, then the supplementary marking grid allows you to place the work on a scale of marks out of 20.

  2. SQA

    Higher English - critical reading Critical Reading 2023 - Section 1 Scottish Text (All links open as PDF files) 2023 Question paper (External link to SQA website) 2023 Marking instructions (External link to SQA website) Candidate 1 - Question 40 (The Way My Mother Speaks by Carol Ann Duffy) Candidate 1 Evidence Candidate 1 Commentary

  3. SQA

    The examples here can be viewed in web-page format where questions, marking instructions, responses and commentaries are grouped together: see Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation - Scottish Text - Critical Essay - Portfolio. Alternatively, all content is available to view or download from the PDF files page.

  4. Section Two

    (20 marks) As with National 5, the second half of the Critical Reading exam requires you to write a critical essay on a text you have studied in class. The texts that you encounter in this...

  5. additional resources for sessions 2020-22

    Carried forward We have created pre-recorded webinars for Higher English question paper 1 reading for understanding, analysis and evaluation and question paper 2 critical reading (Scottish text). These pre-recorded webinars provide guidance on marking and how to apply marking principles. These pre-recorded webinars and accompanying presentations can be found on SQA's secure website.

  6. Structure of a critical essay

    Structure of a critical essay - Critical essay - Higher English Revision - BBC Bitesize Higher Critical essay Structure of a critical essay Critical analysis is where you make...

  7. SQA Higher English Past Papers And Mark Schemes

    View Question Paper View Mark Scheme SQA Higher English Past Papers And Mark Schemes. View and download Higher English past papers and mark schemes for exam revision and practice.

  8. PDF 2016 English Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation Higher

    Learnyay is a website that provides free past papers and revision materials for GCSE, iGCSE, A-Level and SQA exams. You can access the SQA Higher English Paper 1 mark scheme from May 2016 in PDF format and prepare for your exam with confidence.

  9. Exam skills How to pass Higher English

    There are four parts to Higher English assessment: Reading for Understanding, Analysis and Evaluation. 30 marks/30%. Exam time: 1 hour and 30 minutes. Critical Reading. 40 marks/40%. Exam time: 1 ...

  10. PDF Higher English Useful Information, Websites and Revision Tips

    Critical Essay Writing - Use the BBC Bitesize sites for their tips on improving critical essays. - Use the English Departments resources to show you how to write good introductions, essay paragraphs, analyse and evaluate correctly. - Read over your notes and texts so that they are firmly embedded in your mind. You should revise English at

  11. PDF General Marking Principles for the portfolio

    Higher English Portfolio 2015 Marking Instructions 3. ... Marks 9-7 Marks 6-4 Marks 3-1 Marks 0 Content The discursive essay demonstrates, as appropriate to genre: strong attention to purpose and audience audiencestrong understanding and engagement and evidence of skilful research and selection

  12. SQA Higher English: an expert guide to RUAE

    Last Question: For a number of years, the last question in an RUAE paper is a 5-mark question that asks you to look at how the writers agree and/ or disagree on a topic. To get 5 marks you must find 3 areas of agreement and/ or disagreement. Most of the time the paper only asks for agreement or disagreement. From my experience as an SQA marker ...

  13. Higher English Past Papers

    The Past Papers section of the Higher page has been updated. Here are the links to the past papers for Higher English that are available online: 2017 Higher (SQA): Critical Reading & RUAE .pdf. 2017 Higher (SQA): Marking Instructions .pdf. 2016 Higher (SQA): Critical Reading & RUAE .pdf.

  14. PDF HOW TO PASS HIGHER ENGLISH: 2018-19

    Selecting from a range of questions candidates are required to do two tasks: 1. write one Critical Essay and 2. answer a range of questions on a section of text from their pre-studied Scottish set text. Each task must focus on a different genre (drama, poetry or prose).

  15. SQA

    Advanced Higher English - textual analysis Question paper 2023: Textual Analysis (All links open as PDF files) 2023 Question Paper (External Link to SQA Website) 2023 Marking Instructions (External Link to SQA Website) Candidate 1 (Poetry - Sticklebacks) and Candidate 2 (Non-fiction - Minor Venetians) Candidates 1 and 2 Evidence

  16. PDF National 4XDOLÛFDWLRQV X824/76/12 English

    SECTION 2 — Critical essay — 20 marks. Attempt ONE question from the following genres — Drama, Prose Fiction, Prose Non-fiction, Poetry, Film and Television Drama, or Language. Your answer must be on a different genre from that chosen in Section 1. You should spend approximately 45 minutes on each section.

  17. Exam skills Section One

    (20 marks) At the beginning of your Higher year, your teacher will select an appropriate Scottish text from a list prescribed to them by SQA. Class teachers can choose from: six poems by one of...

  18. SQA

    Candidate 1 Evidence Question 7 Film and Television Drama (The Truman Show) Candidate 2 Evidence Question 4 Prose (The Hate U Give) Candidate 3 Evidence Candidates 1 - 3 Commentaries Critical Reading 2022 (All links open to PDF files) 2022 Question paper (External link to SQA website) 2022 Marking instructions (External link to SQA website)