Higher English

Higher English past papers from SQA and Qualifications Scotland, with marking instructions.

Past papers

English question papers and marking instructions
Year	Question papers	Marking instructions
2026	RUAE Question paper for 2026 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Text booklet for 2026 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Question paper for 2026 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)	RUAE Marking instructions for 2026 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Marking instructions for 2026 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)
2025	RUAE Question paper for 2025 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Text booklet for 2025 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Question paper for 2025 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)	RUAE Marking instructions for 2025 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Marking instructions for 2025 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)
2024	RUAE Question paper for 2024 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Text booklet for 2024 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Question paper for 2024 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)	RUAE Marking instructions for 2024 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Marking instructions for 2024 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)
2023	RUAE Question paper for 2023 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Text booklet for 2023 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Question paper for 2023 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)	RUAE Marking instructions for 2023 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Marking instructions for 2023 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)
2022	RUAE Question paper for 2022 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Text booklet for 2022 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Question paper for 2022 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)	RUAE Marking instructions for 2022 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Marking instructions for 2022 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)
2019	RUAE Question paper for 2019 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Text booklet for 2019 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Question paper for 2019 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)	RUAE Marking instructions for 2019 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Marking instructions for 2019 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)
2018	RUAE Question paper for 2018 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Text booklet for 2018 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Question paper for 2018 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)	RUAE Marking instructions for 2018 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Marking instructions for 2018 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)
2017	RUAE Question paper for 2017 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Text booklet for 2017 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Question paper for 2017 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)	RUAE Marking instructions for 2017 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Marking instructions for 2017 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)
2016	RUAE Question paper for 2016 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Text booklet for 2016 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Question paper for 2016 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)	RUAE Marking instructions for 2016 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Marking instructions for 2016 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)
2015	RUAE Question paper for 2015 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Text booklet for 2015 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Question paper for 2015 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)	RUAE Marking instructions for 2015 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Marking instructions for 2015 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)

Specimens, exemplars and assessment resources

English question papers and marking instructions
Year	Question papers	Marking instructions
2021 assessment resourceAssessment resource, not an annual exam.	RUAE Question paper for 2021 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Text booklet for 2021 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Question paper for 2021 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)	RUAE Marking instructions for 2021 Higher English RUAE (PDF, opens in a new tab) Reading Marking instructions for 2021 Higher English Reading (PDF, opens in a new tab)