A route into languages that is not a traditional exam
Language qualifications in the United Kingdom are often assumed to mean a GCSE or a grade at the end of a timed exam. In Scotland there is a different option. The Modern Languages for Life and Work Awards, at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) levels 3 and 4, are ungraded awards aimed at learners of any age. This article summarises the qualification pages for the two levels published by Qualifications Scotland, whose site states it is working on a new website and shows references to both Qualifications Scotland and SQA during the transition. It covers Scotland’s qualification system and does not describe qualifications in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
What the Awards cover
The level 3 page says the Award develops knowledge and skills in areas such as society, culture and employability, and that learners can specialise in one or two modern languages. It says the qualification covers communication, self-awareness, confidence, leadership and independent learning, and that it meets the principles of Curriculum for Excellence. The level 4 page uses the same description and lists ten languages: Cantonese, French, Gaelic (Learners), German, Italian, Mandarin, Polish, Russian, Spanish and Urdu.
Who they suit and how they are delivered
Qualifications Scotland says the Awards are open to all learners, regardless of age, academic experience or ability. It lists the groups they suit: S3 to S6 pupils, school leavers, college students, adult returners to education, trainees preparing for employment, employees studying as part of a continuing professional development programme, and people in employment who want to enhance their career prospects.
The qualification is available through schools, colleges, community organisations and volunteer-involving organisations. Entry is at the discretion of the centre, and prior learning in the subject is not essential, although the Award offers opportunities to build on earlier learning.
Structure
Each Award consists of three mandatory units worth 15 SCQF credit points in total. The units are Modern Languages for Life (6 SCQF credit points), Modern Languages for Work Purposes (6 points) and Building Own Employability Skills (3 points). At level 3 the group award code is GF0C 43, and at level 4 it is GF2H 44, with the units set at the corresponding SCQF level.
How learners are assessed
The pages say the Awards are not graded. Each unit specification sets out the evidence requirements. Evidence can be presented in any form appropriate to the contexts chosen for the assessment and the learner. It may be paper-based, such as responses to questions in English or in the target language, extended pieces of writing or folios, or recorded, whether oral, visual or electronic. Performance evidence must be supported by assessor observation checklists, oral questions and assessor records. Learners may also provide evidence through audio recordings, video diaries, blogs or other electronic means.
The absence of a grade and the flexibility of the evidence are the main differences from a conventional exam. A learner who is uncomfortable with timed written tests may find this format more accessible.
Who can deliver the Awards
Qualifications Scotland says schools are auto-approved to deliver the Awards. Centres with devolved authority for approval should use their own internal approval process, and centres without devolved authority need to come forward for approval through the organisation’s Business Development Team. It says assessors and verifiers must meet its general requirements for technical or occupational competence. The pages describe the Awards as having a wide potential market and say centres have flexibility to choose the delivery method that best suits their circumstances and learners.
Progression
The level 3 page lists progression to the same Award in one or two other modern languages, to the level 4 Award in the same language, to Modern Languages courses at SCQF level 3, and to Modern Languages for Work Purposes and Modern Languages for Life units at level 4. The level 4 page lists parallel routes to level 5 units and to other languages at level 4. Together, these routes show the Awards as a stepping stone, not an end point.
What to check before enrolling
Because entry is at the centre’s discretion, learners should ask the school, college or community organisation which languages it offers and how the units are delivered. The Awards are ungraded and are not a CEFR-based proficiency test, so learners who need an internationally recognised level, for example for study or immigration, should check the requirements of the receiving institution.
The bottom line
The Modern Languages for Life and Work Awards at SCQF levels 3 and 4 are ungraded, 15-credit qualifications open to learners of any age, offered through schools, colleges and community organisations in Scotland. They combine language learning with employability and allow flexible forms of evidence. They are a useful entry point, but learners who need a graded or externally benchmarked result should look at other qualifications.
Sources
- Qualifications Scotland (SQA), “Modern Languages for Life and Work SCQF level 3”
- Qualifications Scotland (SQA), “Modern Languages for Life and Work SCQF level 4”