Advanced Highers

Advanced Highers are an important part of the Scottish Education system. They provide students with the chance to deepen their knowledge in subjects they wish to focus on. This article aims to give you a clear overview of what Advanced Highers mean in practical terms. You will see, how they fit into the wider educational landscape and what benefits they offer to students looking to further their studies. Whether you are a student, parent, or just curious about the system, we will help you understand the basics of this Scottish qualification.

Main Facts:

• • Students take the exams in Adv. Highers in the sixth and final year of secondary school (S6)

• • They offer a deeper understanding of subjects than the Highers (taken in S5, some also in S6)

• • These qualifications are crucial for university applications, especially for competitive courses and competitive universities

• • Students usually choose three to four Advanced Highers, assessed through exams and coursework

• • Pursuing Advanced Highers can enhance university readiness and open up various career opportunities

• Support for students is available through tutoring services, online platforms, and study materials

What is the purpose of Advanced Highers?

Advanced Highers are the next step up from Highers in the Scottish education system. They are for students in their final school year who want to push themselves a bit further in specific subjects. Think of them as a way to really get to grips with a topic before heading off to university. Advanced Highers are not compulsory, but they can be your chance to show universities that you are serious about a particular field of study.

As an example, when I was teaching Undergraduate students of German at the University of Edinburgh, first year students who joined after taking Higher German at their schools, regretted not having stayed a year longer at school to take Advanced Higher German. Their peers who did found the first year at university much easier.

 

How do Advanced Highers compare with Highers?

Apart from the actual time of exams at each of these levels, students usually take Highers in S5. They form the basic requirement for entry to most universities. Advanced Highers, on the other hand, are taken a year later and build on the knowledge of Highers. This makes them more specialised and allows to go into greater depth in the chosen area. They also score more points if entry to some degree programmes, e.g. Medicine, is very competitive.

To summarise:

• • Highers give you a good general grounding in a subject.

• • Highers are definitely necessary when applying to Higher Education

• • Advanced Highers let you explore specific areas within that subject in more detail

• • The workload is generally higher for Advanced Highers, with more emphasis on independent study and research

• • Advanced Highers often score more points than English A Levels when it comes to the scoring in university admissions teams. This makes Scottish applicants more competitive.

 

Let’s focus on the progression to University:

Advanced Highers demonstrate a commitment to your chosen subject and show that you are capable of handling university-level work. Plus, some universities might even lower their entry requirements if you demonstrate good grades in relevant Advanced Highers. It is always worth checking the specific entry requirements for the universities and courses you are interested in.

Basically, if you’re aiming for a top university or a particularly competitive course, Advanced Highers are well worth considering. To provide a concrete example, UCAS website states that for an “A” in Adv. Highers students are given 56 points which is the same as for an “A*” in A Levels. For a “B” in Adv. Highers they are given 48 points which equals an “A” in A Levels.

Thinking about the learning outcomes in Advanced Highers:

Taking Advanced Highers lets you really get into a subject. It is much more than just skimming the surface; you are properly exploring topics. I remember when my children took Advanced Higher History and German, they spent a lot of time analysing primary sources for History and researching and presenting different themes in German. It was hard work, but they learned so much more than in their Higher courses. This deeper understanding and much more proactive approach to learning is great for progression to university because students learn think critically, do and present their own research.

Advanced Highers also teach you how to manage your time, how to write longer essays, and how to think for yourself. They are a big step up from Highers and well-worth the extra work once you get to university and realise you are a bit ahead of the game.

What if you need help?

If you embark on a couple of Advanced Highers and things are getting a bit intense, remember that this is totally normal. Loads of students find that they need a bit of extra help at this level. It is not a sign of weakness, when you reach out for support when you need it. In fact, it is a sign of being well-organised and proactive. One of the most useful things you can do is to look into tutoring services or additional revision options.

Here is a short summary of available support (should you need it):

• • School’s own revision classes. These are often offered during free periods and after school, free of charge

• • Personal tutors are available online and in some places in person. They will focus on your specific weaknesses but will charge for tuition

• • SQA past papers are available on the SQA website .They are a useful way to test yourself and identify the areas in which you need to improve.

You can book a Free Consultation with our tutors below. We regularly help students taking Advanced Highers and other qualifications in Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry (and UCAT for Medicine applicants), German, French, Spanish and Mandarin.