TheAdvanced Higheris an optional qualification which forms part of the Scottish secondary education system brought in to replace theCertificate of Sixth Year Studies(CSYS). The first certification of Advanced Higher was in 2001. It is normally taken by students aged around 16–18 years of age after they have completedHighers,which are the main university entrance qualification in Scotland.
An Advanced Higher is the highest certificate offered by theScottish Qualifications Authorityas part of theScottish Credit and Qualifications Framework.An Advanced Higher qualification is essentially a simulation of the first year of university in that particular subject; this is the reason that Advanced Highers can be used for second-year university entry.
Universities in Scotlandtraditionally tended to take students with onlyNQ HigherorA-levelqualifications, but many have since begun to take students with qualifications gained elsewhere in the UK or, as with theUniversity of Glasgow,for example; anInternational Baccalaureateand American qualifications such as aHigh School Diplomain combination ofSAT/ACTscores and SAT Subject Tests orAdvanced Placementexams.[1]
The Advanced Higher is Level 7 on theScottish Credit and Qualifications Framework.[2]
History
editAdvanced Highers were introduced to replace the Sixth Year Studies Certificate (often abbreviated toCSYSor justSYS). The final CSYS exams were taken by students at the end of the Sixth Form studies.
UCAS tariff
editTheUCAStariff of valuing qualifications for university entry has increased its scores for Advanced Highers at A, B and C in comparison to the past. Advanced Highers now attract moreUCAStariff points than A-Levels at the same grades.[3]
Also, research studies have revealed a major gap of performance on Advanced Highers examinations between different schools sectors (i.e. private schools' students attaining, on average, higher results than state schools' students).[4]
A-levels and Advanced Highers
editSome English Universities, such asOxford UniversityandCambridge University,have begun to take into account the wider syllabus involved in studying Advanced Highers and have been giving slightly lower conditions for entry into their institutions. Oxford University's admissions forms require schools to comment on the percentage of students achieving the top grades in examinations, presumably to provide contextual background to the achievements of a particular student. The question is framed in terms of the percentage of candidates achieving AAA+ at A-level and AAB+ for Advanced Higher, possibly indicating that greater value is attributed to the Advanced Higher.[5]However,Churchill College, Cambridgewas/is the first Oxbridge College to state that their typical offer for Scottish students will be A1, A1, A2 at Advanced Higher.[6]
Subjects
editThe following subjects are available at Advanced Higher:[7]
- Accounting
- Art and Design (Design)
- Art and Design (Expressive)
- Biology
- Business Management
- Cantonese
- Chemistry
- Classical Studies
- Computing Science
- Design and Manufacture
- Drama
- Economics
- Engineering Science
- English
- French
- Gaelic (Learners)
- Gàidhlig
- Geography
- German
- Graphic Communication
- Health and Food Technology
- History
- Italian
- Latin
- Mandarin (Simplified)
- Mandarin (Traditional)
- Mathematics
- Mathematics of Mechanics
- Modern Studies
- Music
- Music Technology
- Music: Portfolio
- Physical Education
- Physics
- Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies
- Spanish
- Statistics
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"University of Glasgow - International students - Your country - USA".gla.ac.uk.Retrieved12 July2021.
- ^The Scottish Credit and Qualifications FrameworkArchivedOctober 1, 2006, at theWayback Machine
- ^Introducing Advanced Highers
- ^"Attainment gap between school sectors widens".HeraldScotland.Retrieved12 July2021.
- ^(Highers pass A-levels as Oxbridge gold standard - Times Online[dead link]
- ^"Typical offers – Churchill College".chu.cam.ac.uk.Retrieved12 July2021.
- ^"SQA Catalogue of National Qualifications".Retrieved2020-03-21.