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SQA Higher Classical Studies: complete guide to the literature paper, the society paper and the assignment

A complete guide to SQA Higher Classical Studies, an SCQF level 6 qualification. Covers the Classical Literature paper, the Classical Society paper (Life in Classical Greece and Life in the Roman world, each with power and freedom and religion and belief), the assignment, the skills tested, and how to study each part for an A.

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SQA Higher Classical Studies is a one-year course at SCQF level 6, building on National 5 Classical Studies and preparing learners for Advanced Higher or university study. It develops in-depth knowledge of the religious, political, social and cultural life of classical Greece and Rome, and is graded A to D from three assessment components: the Classical Literature paper, the Classical Society paper, and the assignment. This page is the index: below is a map of the modules, the assessment structure, the skills tested, and how to study each part.

The modules of SQA Higher Classical Studies

The course is organised into a literature paper, a two-section society paper, and the assignment with its supporting skills.

Classical Literature
Study of a prescribed text in depth: a Greek tragedy such as Sophocles' Antigone (the conflict of divine and state law, the chorus, the danger of pride) or a Roman epic such as Virgil's Aeneid (duty, fate against desire in the Dido episode, epic technique), plus the skill of analysing an extract and writing the extended response.
Life in Classical Greece
Section 1 of the Classical Society paper, in two parts: Power and freedom (how Athenian democracy worked, its strengths and weaknesses, and the limited freedom of women, slaves and metics) and Religion and belief (the gods, sacrifice, festivals, oracles, the afterlife, and religion in the state).
Life in the Roman world
Section 2 of the Classical Society paper, in two parts: Power and freedom (the emperor behind republican forms, citizenship, the social hierarchy and slavery) and Religion and belief (the pax deorum, the imperial cult, tolerance, and attitudes to Christianity).
Assignment and skills
The 30-mark assignment (choosing, researching and writing up a classical issue) and the exam technique for the society paper (describe, explain and evaluative-essay questions).

Course assessment

The Higher Classical Studies award is graded A to D and is made up of three components, all set and marked by the SQA.

  • Classical Literature question paper - 30 marks, sat under exam conditions. Close reading of a prescribed text through extract and extended-response questions.
  • Classical Society question paper - 50 marks, sat under exam conditions. Two sections (Greece and Rome), each with Power and freedom and Religion and belief, tested by describe, explain and evaluative-essay questions.
  • Assignment - 30 marks. A candidate chooses a classical issue, researches it from a range of sources, and writes it up under controlled conditions, reaching a supported judgement.

The skills tested

Across the components, the SQA tests how you analyse, evaluate and argue, not just recall:

  1. Analysing literature. Reading a prescribed text closely and explaining how the writer creates meaning and effect through technique.
  2. Evaluating classical society. Using detailed knowledge of Greece and Rome to weigh evidence and views on an issue.
  3. Reaching a supported judgement. Building a line of argument and concluding, in the evaluative essays and the assignment.

How to study SQA Higher Classical Studies

Higher Classical Studies rewards close knowledge and confident argument.

  1. Know your prescribed text closely. Learn the key scenes, speeches and techniques so you can quote and analyse.
  2. Learn the society content in detail. Master Greece and Rome (power and freedom, religion and belief) with named examples and dates.
  3. Drill the question types. Practise the literature extract and essay, and the society describe, explain and evaluative questions.
  4. Always reach a judgement. The big essays and the assignment need a supported conclusion.
  5. Frame the assignment well, and practise past papers. A debatable question makes top marks possible; SQA past and specimen papers show what examiners reward.

The modules, part by part

Each module has answer pages with worked questions and cross-links, plus a skills section covering the assignment and the society and literature techniques. Browse the full set from this hub.

For the official course specification

The SQA publishes the full Higher Classical Studies course specification, specimen and past papers, marking instructions, and the coursework assessment task at sqa.org.uk. Always revise from the current specification and SQA past papers, because the prescribed texts, question style and terminology are board-specific.

Classical Studies guides

In-depth written guides with paired practice quizzes.

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Classical Studies practice quizzes

Multiple-choice drills with worked answer explanations. Your scores stay on this device.

The SQA-HIGHER system, explained

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Common questions about Classical Studies

How is SQA Higher Classical Studies structured?
Higher Classical Studies is an SCQF level 6 course that develops in-depth knowledge of the religious, political, social and cultural life of classical Greek and Roman societies. It is built around two question papers and an assignment. The Classical Literature paper studies a prescribed text in depth, such as Sophocles' Antigone or Virgil's Aeneid. The Classical Society paper has two sections, Life in Classical Greece and Life in the Roman world, each studied through two parts, Power and freedom and Religion and belief. The assignment is independent research on a classical issue. The course builds on National 5 Classical Studies and prepares learners for Advanced Higher or further study.
How is SQA Higher Classical Studies assessed?
The award is graded A to D and has three components. The Classical Literature question paper is worth 30 marks and tests close reading of a prescribed text through extract and extended-response questions. The Classical Society question paper is worth 50 marks and covers Life in Classical Greece and Life in the Roman world through describe, explain and evaluative-essay questions. The assignment is worth 30 marks and is a candidate-chosen classical issue researched and written up under controlled conditions. Together these test knowledge, analysis of literature and society, and the skill of reaching a supported judgement.
What is the Higher Classical Studies assignment?
The assignment is an independent piece of research worth 30 marks. A candidate chooses a classical issue, ideally framed as a debatable question such as 'How fair was Athenian democracy?', researches it using a range of sources including ancient evidence and modern scholarship, and writes it up under controlled conditions. It rewards a clear, debatable issue, the use and referencing of sources, analysis and evaluation, comparison between the ancient and modern worlds where relevant, and a conclusion that reaches a supported judgement. The biggest lever on the marks is how the question is framed: a debatable question makes top marks possible, while a broad descriptive topic caps them.
What does SCQF level 6 mean for Higher Classical Studies?
SCQF is the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. Higher sits at level 6, the same level as other Highers and the access point most Scottish universities use for entry. It is more demanding than National 5 (level 5) and below Advanced Higher (level 7). Higher Classical Studies signals the depth of understanding and the independent analytical and evaluative skills expected of a learner moving towards degree-level study in classics, history or related subjects.
Which texts and topics are studied in SQA Higher Classical Studies?
For the Classical Literature paper you study a prescribed text in depth: a Greek tragedy such as Sophocles' Antigone or a Roman epic such as Virgil's Aeneid. For the Classical Society paper you study Life in Classical Greece (Athenian democracy and the limits of freedom, and Greek religion, gods, festivals and the afterlife) and Life in the Roman world (the power of the emperor and Roman citizenship, the social hierarchy and slavery, and Roman religion including the imperial cult and attitudes to Christianity). Your school chooses the prescribed literary text, so check which one you are studying.
How should I revise for SQA Higher Classical Studies?
Learn your prescribed literary text closely so you can quote and analyse technique, and learn the society content (Greece and Rome) in enough detail to support evaluation. Drill the question types: close reading of an extract and the extended response for literature, and describe, explain and evaluative essays for society. Practise reaching a supported judgement, because the big essays and the assignment are incomplete without one. Frame your assignment as a debatable question. Use SQA past papers, the specimen papers and the marking instructions, because question style and the wording markers reward are board-specific.
How does SQA Higher Classical Studies differ from A-Level Classical Civilisation?
Higher Classical Studies is a one-year SCQF level 6 Scottish qualification, whereas A-Level Classical Civilisation is a two-year qualification used in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Higher is assessed by two question papers (Classical Literature and Classical Society) plus an assignment, uses the SQA course specification and Scottish question styles, and focuses on power and freedom and religion and belief in Greece and Rome alongside a prescribed text. Always revise from the current SQA specification and SQA past papers rather than English-board materials.