Scotland Releases Exam Results for Over 148,000 Students

More than 148,000 people across Scotland are receiving their results today. The results for Nationals, Highers, Advanced Highers and Skills for Work Awards are being issued from 08:00 on Tuesday. The system is now run by new exams body Qualifications Scotland, which took over from the SQA after a number of controversies in previous years. Advice lines offering support and guidance will be open over the coming days.

The results are being issued for Nationals, Highers and Advanced Highers - as well as the more vocational National Progression Awards, Skills for Work Awards, and National Certificates. More than 131,000 learners sat exams in more than 460 schools, colleges and training centres this year, while 17,000 will receive their results for vocational courses. The results are sent out by first-class post but many students have opted to also receive their grades digitally. Text messages and emails are due to be sent to the 67,000 candidates who have an activated My Qualifications Scotland, external account from 08:00 onwards. Every learner will also receive their results by post, but it will depend on when their mail normally arrives.

Courses at National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher are graded A-D. National 2, National 3, and National 4 courses are not graded - the units that make up these courses are assessed as pass or fail. Grade boundaries vary from year to year. Qualifications Scotland sets initial grade boundaries for their assessments at 50% for a C, 70% for an A, and 85% for an Upper A. This is the starting point for deciding the final grade boundaries, which are set at meetings in June and July after marking has been completed. Details of the 2026 grade boundaries have now been published - you can see the full details here for each subject here, external. Yes, and every year thousands of pupils do. Before anyone sits an exam, their school, college or training centre submits estimated grades for every candidate to Qualifications Scotland. If you don't think your grade is correct, you should first talk to your school or college. It can contact the exam board on your behalf and ask for your marks to be reviewed. You can also submit your own appeal, external. Appeals will be subject to a marking review - a check that marks have been added up and submitted correctly and a check that the marking meets the national standard. An appeal can be prioritised if you have a conditional place at university or college, or are in training or employment that depends on your grade. The deadline for individuals to submit a priority appeal is 11 August, or 25 August for other appeals. If the appeal is being lodged by your school or college, the deadlines are 20 August for priority cases and 28 August for others.