SCQF Level 5 · Qualifications Scotland
National 5 Art and Design
Taken by most Scottish pupils in S4, Art and Design leads to Higher Art and Design in S5. Here is how the course works, what the assessment involves, and what to expect in the exam.
Free download
Get the free Scottish Education Cheat Sheet
Year groups, qualifications, key dates, benefit rates and university finance — the whole system on one printable page. Enter your email and we’ll send it over.
1 hour 20 minutes
Exam duration
80%
Coursework
250
Total marks
S4
Typical year
How Assessment Works
National 5 Art and Design is assessed across 3 components, totalling 250 marks.
Question Paper
ExamTwo sections of 20 marks each — Expressive and Design. Each has six extended-response questions: one mandatory and a choice from the rest. Candidates respond to unseen prompts and images and comment on the work of artists and designers. Scaled to 50 to represent 20% of the overall course award.
Expressive Portfolio
Coursework40% of the total mark. Development work plus a finished expressive piece, submitted to Qualifications Scotland for external marking.
Design Portfolio
Coursework40% of the total mark. Research, development and a finished design solution answering a brief, submitted to Qualifications Scotland for external marking.
Grade boundaries, 2026 and before
The minimum mark for each grade, as published by Qualifications Scotland after each diet. The notional design points are 70% for an A, 60% for a B, 50% for a C (the pass) and 40% for a D, and the actual lines are moved after marking so a grade means the same whether the paper ran hard or easy — which is why the C sits where it does below rather than at exactly half marks.
| Year | Out of | A | B | C | D | C as % of marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 250 | 175 | 150 | 125 | 100 | 50% |
| 2025 | 250 | 175 | 150 | 125 | 100 | 50% |
| 2024 | 250 | 175 | 150 | 125 | 100 | 50% |
| 2023 | 250 | 174 | 149 | 124 | 99 | 50% |
| 2022 | 250 | 175 | 150 | 125 | 100 | 50% |
Marks, not percentages — the paper is graded out of the “out of” column, which can change when a course is revised. Source: Qualifications Scotland — Grade boundaries 2026 workbook (ref 26GB), read 2026-09-14. Boundaries are set after marking each year and the next set appears on results day.
What You Study
National 5 Art and Design is organised into 3 course areas.
Expressive Activity
- Analytical drawing and investigative studies in response to stimuli
- Using visual elements expressively
- Developing and refining creative ideas in 2D and/or 3D
- Producing a finished expressive piece
Design Activity
- Focused investigative visual and market research
- Working to a design brief and target audience
- Developing and refining design ideas
- Producing a finished design solution
Art and Design Studies
- The work of significant artists and designers from any time period
- How artists and designers use materials, techniques and technology
- Social, cultural and other influences on artists’ and designers’ work
Important Assessment Notes
Practical / Lab Component
National 5 Art and Design includes a practical or laboratory component as part of the coursework assessment. This may involve carrying out experiments, writing up practical reports, or completing hands-on tasks under teacher supervision.
Assignment Note
Two separate portfolios — one expressive, one design — worth 40% each. Together they are 80% of the course, so the written exam is the smallest part of the grade by some distance. Portfolio work runs across the whole year rather than being crammed at the end.
After National 5 Art and Design
Most pupils who achieve a grade C or above in National 5 Art and Design progress to Higher Art and Design in S5. Higher Art and Design.
Next step
Higher Art and Design guide →
Course structure, assessment and grade boundaries for Higher Art and Design.
Editor’s note
The 80% coursework weighting is the highest of any National 5 subject on this site. That cuts both ways: exam nerves matter far less than in most subjects, but a portfolio cannot be revised for in April — it has to be built through the year. Note the question paper is scaled from 40 marks to 50, so its raw mark is not its contribution to the grade.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions about National 5 Art and Design
How is National 5 Art and Design assessed?
National 5 Art and Design is assessed through the following components: Question Paper (40 marks (scaled to 50), 1 hour 20 minutes); Expressive Portfolio (100 marks, Internally managed); Design Portfolio (100 marks, Internally managed). The total is 250 marks, with 80% coming from coursework.
How long is the National 5 Art and Design exam?
The National 5 Art and Design exam is 1 hour 20 minutes. There is also a coursework component worth 80% of the total grade.
What grade do you need to pass National 5 Art and Design?
You need a grade C or above (50% or more) to pass National 5 Art and Design. Grade C is the minimum required for progression to Higher Art and Design in S5. Grade A requires 70%+, grade B requires 60–69%, and grade C requires 50–59%.
Does National 5 Art and Design have coursework?
Yes — coursework makes up 80% of the total grade in National 5 Art and Design. Two separate portfolios — one expressive, one design — worth 40% each. Together they are 80% of the course, so the written exam is the smallest part of the grade by some distance. Portfolio work runs across the whole year rather than being crammed at the end.
What do you study in National 5 Art and Design?
National 5 Art and Design covers the following course areas: Expressive Activity, Design Activity, Art and Design Studies. Together these give a broad foundation at SCQF Level 5, leading to Higher Art and Design in S5.
What comes after National 5 Art and Design?
After National 5 Art and Design, most pupils progress to Higher Art and Design in S5. See our detailed guide to Higher Art and Design for course structure and assessment information.
Course data sourced from Qualifications Scotland course specifications. Assessment details correct for the 3.0 (May 2024) specification.
Full course documentation available at qualifications.scot.