Higher modern studies past papers and practice questions
Where the official papers and marking instructions live now, how to use them properly, and three Paper 2 style questions built on real Scottish figures.
By Graeme · Published 29 October 2026 · 7 min read
Last updated · Figures checked
Quick answer · Higher Modern Studies past papers
5years of papers, 2022 to 2026
Paper 1, Paper 2 and the marking instructions for every year are free on the Qualifications Scotland past papers page, still hosted on sqa.org.uk. Some 2022 and 2023 papers are shorter, modified versions.
- Paper 1
- 52 marks, 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Paper 2
- 28 marks, 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Marking instructions
- Free, one set for each paper
- Practice on this page
- 3 Paper 2 questions using real data
Checked 29 October 2026Source Qualifications Scotland
On this page
Higher Modern Studies past papers are free from Qualifications Scotland, with the marking instructions for every year from 2022 to 2026. Below is exactly where to find them, how to use them properly, and three Paper 2 style practice questions I've built from real Scottish data.
SQA past papers higher modern studies: where to find them now
Qualifications Scotland replaced SQA on 1 February 2026, but the past papers haven't moved. They are still on the SQA website. Go to the Higher Modern Studies past papers page and you get:
- Paper 1 and Paper 2 for every year from 2022 to 2026, as PDFs.
- The marking instructions for each paper, which show what earns marks and why.
- A button to download the whole set in one go.
Some 2022 and 2023 papers are labelled modified. That means they were changed because of Covid disruption, for example made shorter, so they won't match the full exam you will sit. They're still good practice for individual questions.
The specimen papers, which show the current layout with marking instructions, are on the Higher Modern Studies course page instead, along with the course reports. I don't copy any papers onto this site. Always get them from the official page so you have the right version.
How to use past papers well
- Time yourself. Paper 1 is 1 hour and 45 minutes for 52 marks and Paper 2 is 1 hour and 15 minutes for 28. Practise at that pace at least once before the exam.
- Mark it with the marking instructions. Don't just check whether you got the content right. Look at how marks are split between knowledge, analysis, structure and conclusions.
- Read the course report for that year. It says which questions pupils found hard and the mistakes that cost them. The reports are on the course page.
- Don't memorise essays. The 2026 course report warned that prepared essays fall down when the question is worded differently. Practise planning answers to lots of questions instead.
- Update the examples. Older papers and answers will have older figures. Swap in the latest ones. This site keeps the Scottish figures current, with the source on every page.
The question types and their marks
Paper 1 and Paper 2
Every question type at Higher
| Paper | Question | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Discuss: Analyse and evaluate different views of the statement. | 20 |
| Paper 1 | To what extent: Analyse the issue and reach a judgement, usually about how much. | 20 |
| Paper 1 | Evaluate: Make a judgement based on criteria. | 12 |
| Paper 1 | Analyse: Break the issue into parts and show how they relate and what follows. | 12 |
| Paper 2 | Drawing conclusions: What conclusions can be drawn about ...? | 10 |
| Paper 2 | Objectivity: To what extent is it accurate to state that ...? | 10 |
| Paper 2 | Reliability: To what extent are Sources A, B and C reliable? | 8 |
In a 20 mark essay, up to 8 marks are for knowledge, 6 for analysis, 2 for structure and 4 for conclusions. The Higher modern studies guide explains each part of the course in more detail.
Practice question 1: conclusions
These sources use real figures. The question is written by me in the style of Paper 2. It isn't an official question, so there is no official marking scheme, but the hints after it show what a strong answer covers.
Source A
Drug death rates by how deprived the area is, Scotland, 2025
| Area | Deaths per 100,000 people |
|---|---|
| Most deprived fifth | 54.5 |
| Second fifth | 29.5 |
| Middle fifth | 14.2 |
| Fourth fifth | 7.2 |
| Least deprived fifth | 3.6 |
Source B
Child poverty after housing costs, selected council areas, 2023/24
| Council area | Children in poverty |
|---|---|
| Glasgow City | 36.1% |
| Clackmannanshire | 28.5% |
| Dundee City | 26.1% |
| East Dunbartonshire | 14.9% |
| Shetland Islands | 14.5% |
| East Renfrewshire | 12% |
| Scotland | 23.3% |
Source C
How deep poverty goes in Scotland, 2022 to 2025
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| People in poverty | 17% |
| People in deep poverty | 11% |
| People in very deep poverty | 7% |
| How far below the poverty line people in poverty are, on average | 26% |
| How far below the line people in very deep poverty are, on average | 60% |
Question (10 marks)
Using only Sources A, B and C, what conclusions can be drawn about poverty and inequality in Scotland?
You should reach a conclusion about each of the following:
the link between deprivation and drug deaths; the differences in child poverty between council areas; how far below the poverty line people in poverty are.
You should make an overall conclusion about the most serious inequality shown in the sources.
What a strong answer covers
- A clear link: the death rate rises steadily with deprivation, and the most deprived fifth is about 15 times the least deprived. Use the steps in between, not just the two ends.
- A comparison with the Scotland figure, not just a list: which councils are well above 23.3% and which are well below.
- Linking sources: Source C shows many people in poverty are far below the line, which helps explain why the gaps in Sources A and B are so large.
- An overall conclusion that makes a judgement, not a summary of the three bullets.
Practice question 2: objectivity
Source A
Shoplifting recorded by the police in Scotland
| Year | Crimes recorded |
|---|---|
| 1996/97 | 26,174 |
| 2019/20 | 30,688 |
| 2023/24 | 38,674 |
| 2024/25 | 44,730 |
| 2025/26 | 53,369 |
Source B
Shoplifting and child poverty in selected council areas
| Council area | Shoplifting per 10,000 people, 2025/26 | Child poverty, 2023/24 |
|---|---|---|
| Dundee City | 211.8 | 26.1% |
| City of Edinburgh | 199.6 | 22.8% |
| Glasgow City | 149.5 | 36.1% |
| Inverclyde | 140.7 | 22.4% |
| Clackmannanshire | 67.9 | 28.5% |
| East Renfrewshire | 33.7 | 12% |
| Argyll and Bute | 23.6 | 21.2% |
| Shetland Islands | 2.6 | 14.5% |
Question (10 marks)
Using only Sources A and B, to what extent is it accurate to state that shoplifting is highest in the parts of Scotland with the most child poverty?
You must make an overall judgement on the extent of the accuracy of the statement.
What a strong answer covers
- Evidence for: some councils with high child poverty also have high shoplifting rates. Find them and link the two columns.
- Evidence against: the council with the most child poverty in Source B does not have the highest shoplifting rate, and the City of Edinburgh has less child poverty than Clackmannanshire but a far higher shoplifting rate.
- Source A sets the scene: shoplifting across Scotland is at its highest in the series, but the question is about where, so use it to frame the answer, not as your main evidence.
- A judgement with a size to it, such as “only partly accurate” backed by your strongest evidence. The marking warns against absolute answers and vague ones like “to an extent”.
Practice question 3: reliability
These are three real sources this site uses. Read the descriptions, then answer the question.
Sources A, B and C
Three sources on poverty in Scotland
| Source | Who made it | How the figures were produced | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| A: Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland | Scottish Government statisticians | Official statistics from a large national household survey, averaged over three years | March 2026 |
| B: Poverty in Scotland 2026 | Joseph Rowntree Foundation, a charity that campaigns to end poverty | Analysis of the official statistics, plus its own public attitudes survey and interviews | 5 October 2026 |
| C: Local child poverty estimates | End Child Poverty, a coalition of charities, with Loughborough University | Estimates for each council area worked out by university researchers from official data | Covers years up to 2023/24 |
Question (8 marks)
To what extent are Sources A, B and C reliable?
You must provide an overall conclusion on the most reliable source of information.
What a strong answer covers
- Something specific about each source: who made it, how, and whether it could be biased. A charity that campaigns on poverty may choose what to emphasise, but its figures can come from official data.
- Method, not just author: a three year average from a big survey is steadier than a single year; estimates for small areas are less certain than national figures.
- Date, explained properly: say why the age matters for this topic, rather than assuming older means worse. The 2026 course report is clear there is no cut off.
- An overall conclusion that compares all three, not just praise for the one you pick.
Practise the essays too
A few Paper 1 style questions to plan with real evidence: To what extent is low pay the main cause of poverty in Scotland? Government measures have failed to reduce health inequalities. Discuss. To what extent does the Additional Member System produce fair representation in Scotland? The causes of poverty guide and the Higher evidence section have figures for all three.
Get the official papers
Every Higher Modern Studies paper and marking instruction from 2022 to 2026, free from Qualifications Scotland.
Open the past papers page
