SQA Higher Economics Assignment and Skills: the coursework report, the question paper and the analytical skills

What the assessment demands

Higher Economics is assessed by two components, both set and marked by the SQA: a question paper sat under exam conditions, and an assignment, an independent research report. Together they decide the A to D award. This area is not extra content; it is about the skills that turn your knowledge of the three content areas into marks: research, data handling, applying theory, judgement and answering command words. This guide ties the assignment and the question-paper skills together.

The assignment

The assignment is the coursework component, marked out of 30. You choose a current economic topic, set a focused aim, gather and reference relevant evidence, apply the economic theory from the course, analyse the evidence with data and reasoning, and reach a conclusion that answers your aim. It is produced under the SQA's conditions of assessment and rewards genuine economic analysis over description. A narrow, current topic (one policy, market or event) is far easier to evidence and conclude than a broad theme.

The question paper and its skills

The question paper is sat under exam conditions and tests all three areas of the course. Crucially, it rewards skills as well as knowledge:

• Data handling: calculating percentage changes, reading index numbers (the CPI), and interpreting tables and graphs, always followed by an interpretation of what the figure means.
• Applying theory: connecting the evidence to the relevant concept (demand and supply, elasticity, policy, trade).
• Economic judgement: weighing evidence to make and justify a decision, naming the trade-off.
• Command words: matching the answer to the instruction, describe (detail), explain (reasons), analyse (interpret), evaluate or discuss (both sides plus a judgement).

The mark allocation

The Higher Economics award is graded A to D from the two components. The assignment is worth 30 marks. The question paper is worth 70 marks and is sat in 2 hours from session 2026-27 onwards (in earlier sessions it was 90 marks over 2 hours 30 minutes, with the change introduced to scale the assignment). Because the SQA updates these details, always confirm the marks and timing in the current course specification before sitting the exam.

How the assessment is examined

A typical SQA profile across the assessment:

• Knowledge plus application. Recall the concept, then apply it to the scenario or data.
• Calculate then interpret. Data questions want the figure and its economic meaning.
• Command words. Answer to the depth the command demands.
• Judgement. Decision and evaluation questions reward weighing evidence and justifying a conclusion.

Check your knowledge

A mix of recall and skills questions covering the assessment. Attempt them, then check against the solutions.

1. Name the two components of the Higher Economics course assessment. (2 marks)
2. How is the assignment marked out of? (1 mark)
3. Calculate the percentage change if real GDP rises from 250 to 260 billion. (2 marks)
4. The CPI is 106. By how much have prices risen since the base year? (1 mark)
5. State what the command word "explain" requires. (1 mark)
6. State what a decision or evaluation question rewards. (2 marks)