National 4 Chemistry
This Course is valid from August 2013.
The National 4 Chemistry Course enables learners to develop and apply knowledge and understanding of chemistry. Learners also develop an understanding of chemistry’s role in scientific issues and relevant applications of chemistry in society and the environment.
Updates and announcements
Understanding Standards Events Materials
Following any Understanding Standards Events for new National Qualifications, workshop materials and presentations will be made available to subject specialists. These can be accessed using the link below.
Qualification content and delivery tools
The documents on this page are for teachers and lecturers.
Learners studying this qualification may also find the documents useful.
The 'Related information' panel on this page contains information that applies to all new National Qualifications in this subject.
This explains the overall structure of the Course, including its purpose and aims and information on the skills, knowledge and understanding that will be developed.
These provide an outline of what each Unit will cover within the Course and detail the Outcomes and Assessment Standards.
Added Value Unit Specification
These define the mandatory requirements for the Added Value Unit, including the Outcomes and Assessment Standards.
They also include the further mandatory information on Course coverage for the National 4 Course and include information on the assessment method to be used and the conditions of assessment.
Advice and guidance
Course and Unit Support Notes
These provide advice and guidance for teachers/lecturers on learning, teaching and assessment within the Course and its Units.
Past Papers and Marking Instructions
Added Value Unit Assessment
For the first two years of implementation (in session 2013/14 and session 2014/15), for all subjects practitioners must use the SQA-published Added Value Unit assessments. These include information for assessors, such as conditions of assessment and guidance on evidence to be gathered and on judging candidates’ evidence. Appendix 1 provides instructions for candidates.
The Chemistry Added Value Unit assessment is an assignment. While describing what candidates must do, the published assessment offers considerable flexibility in the choice of a context for the assessment.
In the assessment, candidates apply skills, knowledge and understanding to investigate a topical issue in chemistry and its impact on the environment and/or society. The issue should draw on one or more of the key areas of the Course, and should be chosen with guidance from the assessor.
Centres can access the assessment through their SQA Co-ordinator.
Information on suggested topical issues can be found in the National 4 Chemistry Course and Unit Support Notes. It is not mandatory to use any of the topical issues suggested. A resource pack for one possible context for this assignment is also included in the National 4 Chemistry Course and Unit Support Notes.
As with all SQA Unit assessments, Added Value Unit assessments must be internally verified by centres.
Unit Assessment Support
These documents contain details of Unit assessment task(s), show approaches to gathering evidence and how the evidence can be judged against the Outcomes and Assessment Standards. Teachers/lecturers can arrange access to these confidential documents through their SQA Co-ordinator.