How is the Advanced Higher Classical Studies question paper structured, and how are the marks split?
The question paper: Part A classical literature source questions and Part B the classical society essay, the marks for each, the time allowed, and how to choose questions matching your sections.
The structure of the SQA Advanced Higher Classical Studies question paper: Part A classical literature source questions and Part B the classical society essay, how the marks divide, the time allowed, and how to choose the questions that match the sections you studied.
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What this key area is asking
The externally set, externally marked question paper is one of the two components of the award. It is in two parts: Part A, Classical literature, sets source based questions on the themed sections you studied, and Part B, Classical society, requires an extended essay on one of your sections. Together they reward the close analysis of ancient texts and the building of a sustained argument.
The two parts of the paper
- Part A, Classical literature. Source based questions on your sections. You are given short passages from set ancient works and asked to analyse how the writer uses language, imagery, structure and ideas, and to relate the passage to the wider work and its context.
- Part B, Classical society. One extended essay on a chosen section. You argue a case in response to the question, drawing on detailed knowledge of the ancient evidence and on ancient and modern scholarly views, and reach a clear judgement.
How the marks divide
The question paper is marked out of 60, and it is paired with the 40 mark project dissertation to make an award out of 100. Within the paper, the essay is the largest single block of marks, so it must not be rushed, while the source questions reward precise, focused analysis rather than length.
Timing the paper
Because the essay carries the most marks, plan your time so it gets the largest share, then divide the rest across the source questions. A reliable approach is to read the whole paper first, find your sections, allocate minutes in proportion to marks, and leave a few minutes to check the essay has a clear judgement.
Examples in context
Try this
Q1. What does Part A of the question paper test, and in what form? [2 marks]
- Cue. Classical literature, through source based questions analysing short passages from set ancient works.
Q2. Why must the Part B essay be given the largest share of your time? [2 marks]
- Cue. It carries the largest single block of marks in the paper, so rushing it costs the most.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
SQA AH (paper shape)4 marksDescribe the two parts of the Advanced Higher Classical Studies question paper and what each tests.Show worked answer →
Part A, Classical literature, sets source based questions on the themed sections you have studied. You analyse short passages from set ancient works, showing how a writer uses language, structure and ideas, and you place the source in its wider literary and social context.
Part B, Classical society, requires an extended essay on one of your themed sections. You build a sustained line of argument, supported by detailed knowledge of the ancient evidence and reference to ancient and modern scholarship, and reach a judgement on the question set.
SQA AH (choosing questions)3 marksExplain how a candidate decides which questions in the paper to answer.Show worked answer →
The paper sets questions across all four themed sections, but you answer only on the sections your centre taught. In Part A you tackle the source questions belonging to your sections; in Part B you select the essay question from one of your sections.
The first task in the exam is therefore to find your sections quickly and ignore the rest. A common error is to start reading a striking question from a section you did not study, which wastes time you cannot recover.
Related dot points
- The shape of the course: the study of Greek and Roman society through classical literature and classical society, the four optional themed sections, and how a centre selects what to teach.
How SQA Advanced Higher Classical Studies is built: the study of the ancient Greek and Roman world through classical literature and classical society, the four optional themed sections, and the skills that run through the whole course.
- The level and grading: SCQF level 7, the credit value, how the question paper and project dissertation combine for an award graded A to D, and what each grade signals.
What SCQF level 7 means for Advanced Higher Classical Studies, the credit value, how the 60 mark question paper and the 40 mark project dissertation combine, and how the award is graded A to D against published bands.
- Reading classical literature as evidence: treating an ancient text as a source for the ideas, values and assumptions of its society, not just retelling its story.
How to read an ancient text as evidence in the SQA Advanced Higher Classical Studies source questions: drawing out the ideas, values and assumptions it reveals about its society, rather than retelling the plot.
- The Part B essay: building a sustained line of argument across an introduction that takes a position, analytical paragraphs and a conclusion that judges, answering the exact question set.
How to structure the Part B classical society essay in SQA Advanced Higher Classical Studies: an introduction that takes a position, analytical paragraphs that advance one line of argument, and a conclusion that judges, all tied to the exact question.
- Using scholarship: bringing ancient and modern scholarly interpretations into the argument, weighing them against the evidence, rather than naming scholars as decoration.
How to use scholarly views in SQA Advanced Higher Classical Studies: bringing ancient and modern interpretations into the argument and weighing them against the evidence, in the Part B essay and the project dissertation, rather than name dropping scholars.