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Pupils across Scotland receive exam results Pass rate up as pupils in Scotland get exam results
(about 3 hours later)
Young people across Scotland are receiving their exam results - though mail deliveries in some parts of the country are delayed due to Storm Floris. The pass rate for exams in Scotland has risen slightly on last year, it has been announced.
Email and text results are unaffected but those waiting for certificates in the Outer Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland have been told to expect delays. Young people across the country are receiving their results - although mail deliveries in some parts of the country have been delayed due to Storm Floris.
More than 147,000 candidates are getting their marks for Nationals, Highers, Advanced Highers and Skills for Work Awards, as well as National Progression Awards and National Certificates. The number of pupils achieving an A, B or C grade at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher was up across the board when compared with last year, however still below levels from 2023.
Certificates have been be sent by first-class post, although many students will also receive a text or email. The SQA also reported a reduction in the attainment gap between candidates from the most and least deprived areas.
Digital results are being sent to those with an activated MySQA account from 08:00 onwards. More than 147,000 candidates are getting their marks for those qualifications, as well as Skills for Work Awards, National Progression Awards and National Certificates.
As Storm Floris brought gusts of 80mph and widespread travel disruption, the SQA said Royal Mail had confirmed delays in the Outer Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland. Admissions service UCAS said a record number of young Scots had been offered university or college places.
It said there could be delays in other areas at short notice and affected candidates should contact their school or college to find out their results. The number of Scottish pupils receiving the top grades in their National 5 and Higher exam results is roughly back to pre-pandemic levels.
However, the number of students receiving the same grades in Advanced Higher is down on pre-pandemic levels, despite rising since 2024.
The SQA said the attainment gap – between the level of qualifications achieved by children from the most affluent and the least affluent areas – narrowed at National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher levels.
There were more than 200,000 Higher entries for the first time since Curriculum for Excellence qualifications were introduced in 2014, while the number of vocational and technical qualifications also passed 100,000 for first time.
Donna Stewart, Scotland's chief examining officer, said: "All of those achievements are to be celebrated - and they belong to Scotland's learners."
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: "These results are evidence of a strong recovery in Scotland's schools, following the pandemic, with more passes at every level compared to last year.
"They are a testament to the hard work of learners, teachers and parents and carers."
Ucas said that 17,350 17 and 18-year-olds had been accepted to university or college, up from 16,650 last year.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth welcomed this year's exam results
Ahead of results day, Royal Mail had warned that deliveries of certificates to the Outer Hebrides, Orkney, Arran and Shetland could face delays due to weather disruption.
BBC Scotland News has been told that Shetland and Orkney flights have departed with mailbags and that students there should receive their results on Tuesday.
It is likely that students on Arran could see their results arrive after the 11:00 ferry docks.
Results sent via email and text are unaffected.
The SQA's Candidate Advice Line is open from 08:00 to 18:00 on Tuesday, then open between 08:30 and 17:00 from Wednesday to Friday.
Further advice can be found on the SQA website.Further advice can be found on the SQA website.
A Skills Development Scotland helpline will offer advice to anyone with questions about their results or the next steps in their education. A Skills Development Scotland helpline will offer advice to anyone with questions about the next steps in their education.
'Celebrate success' 'Nerve-wracking'
SQA senior operations manager Annette McKenna said: "I encourage anyone who has any queries or needs advice come results day to call the helplines where dedicated members of staff will be happy to help and guide you. Earlier, Gilruth told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that delays to mail deliveries would be "disappointing" and "nerve-wracking" for some candidates.
"Remember, whether your achievements are what you expect, or not, there are many different routes available to shape your future success." She added: "But those signed up for the text and email service should still receive their results by that route and certificates when they do arrive in the post.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: "Results day is an important opportunity to celebrate achievement and success which is clear through a wider range of pathways for learners than ever before. "They can also contact their school or college or the SQA helpline, but the first port of call is to contact the school or college directly."
"There are many options available for young people, no matter the results they achieve, and the helpline offers invaluable advice on a whole host of issues – from college and university places, to UCAS confirmation and clearing, apprenticeships, jobs and volunteering." Gilruth also insisted the government was making progress on its pledge to cut the attainment gap - which has been a government priority since 2015.
Last year, the difference widened for pupils sitting National 4s, National 5s and Highers.
The education secretary said: "This is the pandemic generation. These children and young people's experience of school was disrupted at regular points and I think that has impacted on some of what we have seen in recent years in terms of attainment.
"But there is also evidence of recovery."