Our NATIONAL 4 COURSE The NATIONAL 4 course assessment has two components:
Component 1: Unit Assessments – you will have to complete three unit assessments (Music Technology Skills, Music Technology in Context and Understanding 20th & 21st Century Music) to achieve a course pass.
Component 2: Added Value (AVU) – You will plan, record, manipulate and evaluate a short creative production using music technology
Both the AVU and unit assessments will be marked internally in school. The course assessment is graded pass/fail. There is no question paper exam at N4 level. Our internal marks may be externally verified by SQA at any time.
NATIONAL 5 COURSE The NATIONAL 5 course has three components totalling 140 marks:
Component 1: Question Paper – 40 marks -30% of final mark
The question paper requires you to use listening skills and to draw on and apply knowledge and understanding of a sample of all the technological terms, styles and genres, and music concepts.
Component 2: Assignment – 100 marks (50 marks for each production) - 70% of final mark
You will be required to plan, implement and evaluate TWO creative productions using music technology such as live performance, radio broadcast, sound design for cartoons, audiobooks and computer gaming.
Both components are externally marked by SQA. The grade awarded is based on the total marks achieved across all course assessment components. The course assessment is graded A-D.
UNDERSTANDING 20th & 21st Century Music
Below you will find some useful information relating to the unit of work and will assist in preparing you for the final exam.
Our National 5 pupils produced 2 projects for their final folio. Below is one of 2 projects from their final submission. All pupils deleted sound from a short cartoon and added their own sound effects and foley. They were given the choice for project 2 and chose audiobooks, radio shows, advertisements and sketch shows. All audio you hear has been produced by our young people.