Scotland’s pupils begin first exams in three years

Heads are bowed in examination rooms across Scotland as the first examination diet has begun in three years.

SQA exams have been on pause since 2020, with students struggling with teacher assessments, coursework and in-school assessments instead.

Tuesday, April 26 through Wednesday, June 1 will host the full schedule of National 5, Higher, and Advanced Highers.

More than 128,000 candidates will take exams over the five weeks.

In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic resulted in the closure of schools and an abrupt end to the school year.

Pupils switched to online learning and time was lost due to the Covid illness.

Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) exams have been canceled for the first time in history and coursework has not been assessed for National 5, Higher or Advanced Higher courses.

Instead, the review panel said teachers should use their professional judgment to estimate a grade and band for each student.

However, the system, based on teacher ratings, employed a moderation technique that resulted in about 125,000 estimates being downgraded.

Nicola Sturgeon finally apologized after accepting that the Scottish Government “didn’t get it right”.

In 2021, exams were canceled again after a surge in Covid cases prompted a second lockdown.

Grades were awarded according to ‘teacher judgement’, supported by evidence collected in tests.

But students said they had “taken exams under a different name” after some schools ran numerous tests in exam-like conditions but with much less preparation.

More than 128,000 candidates will take formal exams this year, and for most it will be their first time taking national exams.

Aminah, a sixth-year pupil at Cumbernauld Academy in North Lanarkshire, told BBC Scotland she has never taken a formal exam.

It will cover advanced biology, advanced mathematics and higher psychology.

She said: “It’s a lot of pressure just because it’s our last year and we don’t get a chance to try again.

“I was a little scared because we’ve never done anything like this before. These exams feel a bit different because they’re just based on exam work, they won’t take into account what we’ve done over the year, so that’s a lot of pressure, a lot depends on it.”

Classmate at S6, Ewan, majoring in Advanced Geography, Advanced Business Administration and Advanced Advanced Mathematics.

“It was a bit strange when the exam schedule came out in September,” he said. “I realized that I actually have to do exams this year. It’s a little nervous. This time it’s serious and there’s definitely a little more nerve.

“It’s the old classic way your parents told you where you came from and sat in an exam room.”

Student Chloe is taking Higher Psychology, Higher RMPS (Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies) and Advanced Higher English.

“Our teachers explained the process to us. These feel a little more daunting compared to the trials we’ve taken before.

“I think I prefer the way we’ve been doing it for the past few years, where we’ve been collecting tons of evidence throughout the year with class assessments and heats to get our grades, rather than a final exam, which is what everything boils down to I feel when we’ve gathered a lot of evidence, we have a safety net.

“It feels like a lot of pressure. It’s been set up and everyone in the school is talking about it.”

More than two million questionnaires have been sent to more than five hundred schools, colleges and training providers used as testing sites.

SQA exams are also held in the US, Croatia, Israel and the Netherlands as special arrangements have been made to accommodate candidates who represent their country at the time of their exams.

Results day is Tuesday 9th August.

Fiona Robertson, Chief Executive of SQA and Chief Examing Officer of Scotland, said: “I wish all learners the very best as they prepare for their exams and complete their assessments.

“I also pay tribute to the professionalism of the Scottish teachers and lecturers. Their work and that of their colleagues plays a crucial role in ensuring that our young people get the qualifications they deserve.”