2025-2026 Series (Arrangements) Updates

Arrangements for 2026 maintain a return to full assessment arrangements, with the exception of those subjects where modifications had a positive impact on course delivery (including Computing Science, Applications of Mathematics, Mathematics (with the exception of AH). Please see the individual subject information below for exam arrangements for the 2026 diet.

PN All Prelims Order Form (Prelims publishing October 2025, valid for 2025/2026)

English (codes 25/01, 25/02, 25/03 and 25B/ENG)

No planned changes to exam papers. Modifications to other aspects of the course as per 22/23 (see course information on SQA’s website for 24-25).

Drama (codes 25/04, 25/05 and 25B/DRA)

No planned changes to exam papers. The small modifications to arrangements for question papers in Higher are as per 22-23 – two-year rule removed for section 3: performance analysis. (See course information on SQA’s website for 24-25).

Modern Languages – French, German, and Spanish (codes 25/06 and 25/07, codes 25/08 and 25/09, codes 25/10 and 25/11)

No planned changes to exam papers. (See course information on SQA’s website for 24-25).

Mathematics (codes 25/12 to 25/15)

National 5 Mathematics (code 25/12)

Modifications to assessment length and marks are being kept (apart from topic deletions). The marks and durations are: Question paper 1: 40 marks, 1 hour; Question paper 2: 50 marks, 1 hour and 30 minutes

National 5 Applications of Mathematics (code 25/13)

Modifications to assessment length and marks are being kept (apart from topic deletions). The marks and durations are: Question paper 1: 35 marks, 50 minutes; Question paper 2: 55 marks, 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Higher Mathematics (code 25/14)

Modifications to assessment length and marks are being kept (apart from topic deletions).  The marks and durations are: Question paper 1: 55 marks, 1 hour and 15 minutes; Question paper 2: 65 marks, 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Advanced Higher Mathematics (code 25/15)

Return to full assessment arrangements. Question paper 1: 35 marks, 1 hour; Question paper 2: 80 marks, 2 hours 30 minutes.

Geography (codes 25/16 and 25/17)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA’s website for 24-25).

National 5 Geography (code 25/16)

Question paper: 80 marks with a duration of 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Higher Geography (code 25/17)

Question paper 1: 100 marks with a duration of 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Question paper 2: 60 marks with a duration of 1 hour and 10 minutes.

History (codes 25/18 and 25/19)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA’s website for 24-25).

National 5 History (code 25/18)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA’s website for 24-25).

Higher History (code 25/19) – owing to unforeseen circumstances we are temporarily unable to offer in 2025/26

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA’s website for 24-25).

Modern Studies (codes 25/20 and 25/21)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA’s website for 24-25).

National 5 Modern Studies (code 25/20)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA’s website for 24-25).

Higher Modern Studies (code 25/21)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA’s website for 24-25).

Physics (codes 25/22, 25/23 and 25/24 and 24BPHY)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA’s website for 24-25).

Higher Chemistry (code 25/25)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA’s website for 24-25).

Computing Science (codes 25/26 and 25/27 and 25B/COM)

Confirmed 28/4/23 modifications will continue in 2023/2024 onwards as there was a positive impact on course delivery. Question papers: 80 marks. Section 1 will cover mandatory SDD and CS units. Section 2/3 will offer a choice between Database Design and Development (DDD) and Web Design and Development (WDD). Modifications to other assignments as per 22/23 (see course information on SQA’s website for 24-25).