Scottish History: overview of the SQA Higher History Scottish options

Scottish History is one of the three sections of SQA Higher History; every candidate studies one Scottish option alongside one British and one European or World option. The Scottish section is examined entirely through source-handling questions, so it rewards both secure knowledge and the skill of evaluating evidence. This page maps the popular Scottish options and shows how to approach them.

The popular Scottish options

Each candidate studies one Scottish option in depth. Three are widely taught.

The Wars of Independence 1286 to 1328

The death of Alexander III and the succession crisis, the Great Cause and John Balliol, Edward I's overlordship, the resistance of William Wallace and Robert Bruce, Bannockburn, and the recovery of independence by the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton.

Migration and Empire 1830 to 1939

Immigration into Scotland by Irish, Italians, Lithuanians and Jews and their experience, the emigration of Scots within Britain and overseas, the impact of Scots on the British Empire, and the effects of migration on Scotland.

The Impact of the Great War 1914 to 1928

Scots on the Western Front, the home front and the role of women, the wartime boom and post-war slump in heavy industry, and political change including Red Clydeside.

How the Scottish section is assessed

The Scottish History question paper is built around source-handling skills, worth 20 marks. Three kinds of source question recur:

1. Evaluate a source using its origin and purpose. Judge how useful a source is for a given enquiry by examining who produced it, when, why and for whom, alongside its content.
2. Put a source in context. Explain how a source's content fits the wider historical situation, using your own knowledge to add points the source does not mention.
3. Compare two sources. Identify overall and detailed points of agreement and disagreement between two sources.

Because the marks come from handling sources on Scottish content, you cannot pass on source technique alone; you need the detailed knowledge that lets you judge and contextualise what each source says.

How to study Scottish History

1. Learn the option in depth. The source questions assume detailed knowledge of your chosen option, so master the narrative and the key issues.
2. Drill the source skills. Practise origin-and-purpose evaluation, contextualising and comparison on past-paper sources.
3. Build context recall. Keep a list of contextual points for each topic so you can add knowledge beyond the source.
4. Use SQA past papers. The source styles and the marking instructions show exactly what the examiners reward.

For the official course specification

The SQA publishes the full Higher History course specification, specimen and past papers, and marking instructions at sqa.org.uk. Always revise from the current specification and SQA past papers, because question style and content are board-specific.