Spoken language: overview of the SQA National 5 English talking and listening assessment
An overview of the SQA National 5 English spoken language component: assessed internally on an Achieved or Not Achieved basis, it covers both talking (presentation and contribution) and listening (active participation in discussion), and must be achieved for the course award though it contributes no marks to the grade.
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Spoken language is the internally assessed component of SQA National 5 English. It covers talking and listening, and is graded Achieved or Not Achieved rather than contributing marks to the A to D grade. This page maps the component and its skills.
The two strands
Talking. A presentation or spoken contribution, assessed on clear, audible communication, structured content suited to purpose and audience, and verbal and non-verbal technique.
Listening and interaction. Active participation in a group discussion: listening to others, responding to and building on their points, and helping the discussion progress.
How it is assessed
Spoken language is assessed by your school, internally, on an Achieved or Not Achieved basis. It does not add to your grade, but it must be achieved for the course award, so it cannot be skipped.
How to prepare
- Plan your talk. Structure it with a clear beginning, middle and end, suited to your audience.
- Speak from notes. Prepare cue cards to talk from, not a full script to read.
- Rehearse delivery. Practise pace, tone, eye contact and gesture.
- Engage in discussion. Listen actively and respond to others, building on their points.
For the official course specification
The SQA publishes the National 5 English course specification and spoken language requirements at sqa.org.uk. Always follow the current spoken language requirements.
Sources & how we know this
- National 5 English Course Specification — SQA (2019)