Intermediate 2
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Intermediate 2 (Scottish Gaelic: An Meadhan Ìre 2) is an educational qualification in Scotland on the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) Scottish Qualifications Certificate (SQC) achievement ladder similar to Credit Level at Standard Grades; it is the next step after Intermediate 1. It is delivered by the majority of Scottish secondary schools as part of the Higher Still reforms instituted in 2000 by the SQA and the Scottish Executive.
Intermediate 2 is Level 5 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework.Though equivalent to the Credit Level Standard Grade, there is an element of debate to this as it is perceived to be more difficult in some subjects, but less in others.
It was initially available to pupils (generally in S5) who achieved a grade 3 or 4 Standard Grade but, with some schools choosing to use Intermediates over Standard Grade, it is now more available to S3/S4 pupils (dependent upon the school or individual departments within schools choice). It is believed that in certain subjects Intermediates are more useful to the students than Standard Grades because the work required for completion is more demanding, and better prepares the pupils for Higher, with a similar format to the reformed higher exams. Furthermore the pupils are introduced to Higher work before they have sat their Intermediate 2 exam which also makes the transition easier (again this is very much dependent upon the subject).
The Intermediate 2 courses are generally made up of 3 national units, the main exceptions are English, Physics, and French, with mandatory internal assessments in each. The courses all consist of 40 hours. Mandatory passes are needed in the internal assessments or NAB's National Assessment Bank to gain the overall Course Award. However internal assessments are minimum competence, and so many schools have introduced end-of-unit assessments to help stop complacency.
As with other exams in the Higher Still curriculum, the grades pupils can receive in the final exam are A (usually about 70%+), B (usually about 60%+), a C (usually about 50%+), a D (usually 45%-49%: a near fail) or a Fail.
The next level of education provided in Scotland are the "Highers"
[edit] Subjects Offered at Intermediate 2
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