The SCOTLANG-based research project on modern languages benchmarking in the post-compulsory sector investigated aspects of the highly sensitive and politicised issue of benchmark standards in modern languages. This article looks at the results of focus-group discussions held with higher education practitioners in Scotland at a time when the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) had initiated its first languages subject group consultations in order to set up language degree standards for the whole of the UK higher education sector. It lists a number of ideas voiced by practitioners, both in support of and against benchmarking, but concludes that, in general, there is a positive outlook towards benchmarking and standardisation. (Contains 3 tables.)