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Labour calls for review of Scotland's exams system in light of 2015 pass marks Labour calls for review of Scotland's exams system in light of 2015 pass marks
(about 2 hours later)
Scottish Labour has called for a review of the exams system because of what it said were large discrepancies between the pass marks in different subjects.Scottish Labour has called for a review of the exams system because of what it said were large discrepancies between the pass marks in different subjects.
The party's demand for action came in the light of the 34% pass mark for this year's Higher Maths exam.The party's demand for action came in the light of the 34% pass mark for this year's Higher Maths exam.
Labour highlighted that while just a third of correct answers was needed for a pass in Maths, almost two thirds was needed for a pass in Classical Studies.Labour highlighted that while just a third of correct answers was needed for a pass in Maths, almost two thirds was needed for a pass in Classical Studies.
The Scottish government said it had confidence in the exams body.The Scottish government said it had confidence in the exams body.
Minister for Learning, Alasdair Allan, told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The Scottish qualifications authority listens very carefully after every exam, including Higher Maths.Minister for Learning, Alasdair Allan, told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The Scottish qualifications authority listens very carefully after every exam, including Higher Maths.
"There has been an acknowledgment with the SQA, not just with Maths but with all subjects, that you have to have a pass mark and a grade boundary that reflects how difficult the exam is from year to year."There has been an acknowledgment with the SQA, not just with Maths but with all subjects, that you have to have a pass mark and a grade boundary that reflects how difficult the exam is from year to year.
"Pass marks are different from year to year and they are different subject to subject.""Pass marks are different from year to year and they are different subject to subject."
'Consistent and fair' ANALYSIS
By BBC Scotland education correspondent Jamie McIvor
As Labour's acting leader Iain Gray would be the first to admit, it's normal for grade boundaries and the pass marks in exams to vary from year to year.
It is relatively unusual for the pass mark to be exactly 50%.
This is a safeguard against the inevitability that some exams will prove a little harder or easier than intended and ensure consistency from year to year.
The issue with the new Higher Maths paper is the exceptionally low pass mark of just 34%
Labour point out the wide variation in pass marks - in the new Higher Classical Studies it was 63%.
Still many of the most popular new Highers, the pass mark was much closer to 50%.
In English it was 56%, History students needed a mark of 52% to pass while in Chemistry it was 45%.
It will be interesting to see what the grade boundaries are in next year's exams but, in general, the flexible grade boundaries are designed to be a reassurance to students.
Various possible explanations are being advanced for the Higher Maths debacle.
These include an exam paper which simply had too many hard questions, individual questions which were hard to understand and an exam paper which was unlike the one students and candidates had expected.
With schools set to go back shortly, one challenge is to ensure maths teachers and students have confidence that next year's Higher Maths exam will be set at an appropriate level of difficulty.
An "easy" paper which led to the pass mark being raised would also undermine confidence in the SQA.
However, Scottish Labour's acting leader Iain Gray said Highers were the "gold standard" of the Scottish exam system so it was important to protect them.However, Scottish Labour's acting leader Iain Gray said Highers were the "gold standard" of the Scottish exam system so it was important to protect them.
He told Good Morning Scotland: "We have to be sure that they are consistent and fair.He told Good Morning Scotland: "We have to be sure that they are consistent and fair.
"What is unusual this year is how extreme the process [of changing the pass marks between subjects] is across all subjects."What is unusual this year is how extreme the process [of changing the pass marks between subjects] is across all subjects.
"How well a pupil does depends on the subjects they choose and that's the thing we have to make sure doesn't happen in future.""How well a pupil does depends on the subjects they choose and that's the thing we have to make sure doesn't happen in future."
Focus on Scottish exams came last week after pupils found out their results for the new-style Highers.Focus on Scottish exams came last week after pupils found out their results for the new-style Highers.
The changes were designed to fit into broader alterations to the country's education system.The changes were designed to fit into broader alterations to the country's education system.
More than 140,000 candidates received their results for a wide range of qualifications including National 4s and 5s, Highers and Advanced Highers.More than 140,000 candidates received their results for a wide range of qualifications including National 4s and 5s, Highers and Advanced Highers.
Skills Development Scotland has a free exam results helpline which can offer advice to candidates whose exam results were poorer - or better - than expected.Skills Development Scotland has a free exam results helpline which can offer advice to candidates whose exam results were poorer - or better - than expected.
The helpline will be open from 08:00 until 20:00 on 4 and 5 August, and from 09:00 until 17:00 daily until 12 August. The number to call is 0808 100 8000.The helpline will be open from 08:00 until 20:00 on 4 and 5 August, and from 09:00 until 17:00 daily until 12 August. The number to call is 0808 100 8000.