2026-2027 Series (Arrangements) Updates

Arrangements for 2027 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 2027 diet.

Changes confirmed for 26/27 (see Qualifications Scotland: Rebalancing assessment) include some rebalancing of marks in Higher English. There are structural changes in Higher Chemistry; in N5 Physics; in Higher Physics and in Advanced Higher Physics.  Please see the relevant sections below for details.

PN All Prelims Order Form (Prelims publishing October 2026, valid for 2026/2027)

English (codes 26/01, 26/02, 26/03 and 26B/ENG)

No planned changes to exam papers but a rebalancing of marks at Higher. Modifications to other aspects of the course as per 22/23 (see course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

26/02 Higher English changes for 26/27

At Higher: Reducing the number of marks for the final question of the Scottish text question from 10 marks to 8 marks; adding 2 marks to the questions on the printed text/extract; updating the marking instructions for the final question to clarify that 4 marks, rather than 6, are available for discussion of the rest of the text / other texts.

Drama (codes 26/04, 26/05 ( H changes – removal of theatre production: application section) and 26B/DRA)

No planned changes to N5 exam papers. The modifications to arrangements for question papers in Higher are that Section 2 (theatre production: application) is being removed. Section 3 (performance analysis) becomes Section 2 and the revised paper will be worth 40 marks (as opposed to the previous 50 marks). (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27 and the new Higher CAS).

Modern Languages – French, German, and Spanish (codes 26/06 and 26/07, codes 26/08 and 26/09, codes 26/10 and 26/11)

No planned changes to exam papers. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

Mathematics (codes 26/12 to 26/15)

National 5 Mathematics (code 26/12)

Modifications to assessment length and marks are 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 26/13)

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 26/14)

Modifications to assessment length and marks are 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 26/15) [CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER]

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

Geography (codes 26/16 and 26/17)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

National 5 Geography (code 26/16)

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

Higher Geography (code 26/17)

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 26/18 and 26/19)

Full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

National 5 History (code 26/18)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

Higher History (code 26/19)

Full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

Modern Studies (codes 26/20 and 26/21)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

National 5 Modern Studies (code 26/20)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

Higher Modern Studies (code 26/21)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

Physics (codes 26/22, 26/23 and 26/24 and 26B/PHY)

Changes to assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

26/22 National 5, 26/23 Higher and 26/25 Physics changes for 26/27

N5 Physics change to paper length (reduction overall by 30 minutes to 2 hours) and reduction in marks S1 (MC): 20 marks and S2: 90 marks (an overall reduction of 25 marks – 5 from S1 and 20 from S2)

Higher Physics change to paper length (reduction overall by 30 minutes to a single paper length of 2 hours 30 minutes) and reduction in marks P1 now S1 (MC): 20 marks and P2 now S2: 110 marks (and overall reduction of 25 marks – 5 from S1 and 20 from S2)

Advanced Higher Physics change to paper length (reduction overall by 30 minutes to a length of 2 hours 30 minutes) and reduction in marks to 130 marks (an overall reduction of 25 marks).

Higher Chemistry (code 26/25)

Changes to assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

26/25 Higher Chemistry changes for 26/27

Higher Chemistry change to paper length (reduction overall by 30 minutes to a single paper of 2 hours 30 minutes) and reduction in marks S1 (MC): 20 marks and S2: 80 marks (and overall reduction of 20 marks – 5 from S1 and 15 from S2).

Computing Science (codes 26/26 and 26/27 and 26B/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/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

2026-2027 Series (Arrangements) Updates

Arrangements for 2027 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 2027 diet.

Changes proposed for 26/27 (see Qualifications Scotland: Rebalancing assessment) include some rebalancing of marks: in Higher English, in Higher Chemistry change to paper length (reduction overall by 30 minutes to a single paper of 2 hours 30 minutes) and reduction in marks S1 (MC): 20 marks and S2: 80 marks (and overall reduction of 20 marks – 5 from S1 and 15 from S2); in N5 Physics change to paper length (reduction overall by 30 minutes to 2 hours) and reduction in marks S1 (MC): 20 marks and S2: 90 marks (an overall reduction of 25 marks – 5 from S1 and 20 from S2); in Higher Physics change to paper length (reduction overall by 30 minutes to a single paper length of 2 hours 30 minutes) and reduction in marks P1 now S1 (MC): 20 marks and P2 now S2: 110 marks (and overall reduction of 25 marks – 5 from S1 and 20 from S2); in Advanced Higher Physics change to paper length (reduction overall by 30 minutes to a length of 2 hours 30 minutes) and reduction in marks to 130 marks (an overall reduction of 25 marks).

PN All Prelims Order Form (Prelims publishing October 2026, valid for 2026/2027)

English (codes 26/01, 26/02, 26/03 and 26B/ENG)

No planned changes to exam papers other than a rebalancing of marks in Higher (. Modifications to other aspects of the course as per 22/23 (see course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

At Higher: Reducing the number of marks for the final question of the Scottish text question from 10 marks to 8 marks; adding 2 marks to the questions on the printed text / extract; updating the marking instructions for the final question to clarify that 4 marks, rather than 6, are available for discussion of the rest of the text / other texts.

Drama (codes 26/04, 26/05 ( H changes – removal of theatre production: application section) and 26B/DRA)

No planned changes to N5 exam papers. The modifications to arrangements for question papers in Higher are that Section 2 (theatre production: application) is being removed. Section 3 (performance analysis) becomes Section 2 and the revised paper will be worth 40 marks (as opposed to the previous 50 marks). (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27 and the new Higher CAS).

Modern Languages – French, German, and Spanish (codes 26/06 and 26/07, codes 26/08 and 26/09, codes 26/10 and 26/11)

No planned changes to exam papers. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

Mathematics (codes 26/12 to 26/15)

National 5 Mathematics (code 26/12)

Modifications to assessment length and marks are 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 26/13)

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 26/14)

Modifications to assessment length and marks are 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 26/15) [CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER]

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

Geography (codes 26/16 and 26/17)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

National 5 Geography (code 26/16)

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

Higher Geography (code 26/17)

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 26/18 and 26/19)

Full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

National 5 History (code 26/18)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

Higher History (code 26/19)

Full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

Modern Studies (codes 26/20 and 26/21)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

National 5 Modern Studies (code 26/20)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

Higher Modern Studies (code 26/21)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

Physics (codes 26/22, 26/23 and 26/24 and 26B/PHY)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

Higher Chemistry (code 26/25)

Return to full assessment arrangements. (See course information on SQA/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).

Computing Science (codes 26/26 and 26/27 and 26B/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/Qualifications Scotland’s website for 26-27).