Scottish Exam Results 2020

[Lidlfix]

After hearing DD3's deep sigh and worried voice observe "this time in four weeks..." I feel it's acceptable to begin the 2020 thread.

Over the years Scotsnet regulars and visitors have given great support, advice and even (tales of blissfully unaware snoring DC) light hearted relief to each other over the years.

This year has been particularly fearful for us and our DC and I know how much I have appreciated results threads in previous years. As there are plenty of threads with political discussions and chances for posters to express concerns about what politicians/councils/ schools/ teachers are or aren't doing, can I gently ask that we keep this to topic?

I have DD3 waiting on 1 AH and 2 Highers for a conditional offer and DD4 waiting on 5 Highers - results depending she'd like to apply for Law for the end of S6.

Thank you for your comments regarding Higher English. I'll see what his school says. He would like to apply to study CS at St As, Edinburgh or Cambridge (long shot). Their prospectuses don't mention anything about requiring Higher English, just lots of maths.

My elder son is second year Oxford law. He could have had any combination of Advanced Highers for an offer but they preferred at least one essay based subject. He needed AAB and took Music, RMPS and Mods. He had Higher English A1 but didn't really enjoy it and took crash AH RMPS instead which he loved and got the top mark in the class. He'd have hated to do English at AH level! instead!

Tricky one @Lidlfix. DD is at Glasgow and knows of a couple of ex school pals who are at Edinburgh - all had A at H English. Only 1 of the 3 did AH English - this was dd and her place was conditional on getting a B in this and a B in the other AH she was doing.
Might be best to go for the AH if your dd feels she could get at least a B ? That may depend on how engaged she is and how much she enjoys English. For my dd English was never her favourite subject but she worked very hard and I was able to help as an English/History grad myself - but I second the comments about family harmony !

Coming from the English school system I got into a top 6 UK law firm with an A*/A in English (language/lit) at GCSE and no other proper essay subjects, French doesn't count as they were about 400 words long.

Degree (Law) was a bit of a shock after no essays since GCSE but I did fine and got into a top firm which was what I wanted then... (ignoring that city law was totally wrong for me once I actually grew up!). There was a lot of demand for STEM competence because so many projects and contracts actually relate to very techy things, even outside Intellectual Property/ proper patents work!

In addition to Aurea's comments - entry to Law is competitive and they do look for good results at Higher in one sitting and are very likely to place conditions on subjects taken in S6. Good luck

Readsalot she is the opposite to your username and not a lover of reading. Parts of the AH course the dissertation and folio she'd be fine and this would dovetail well with the AH French she is doing. She would read precisely enough for her dissertation and associated secondary reading and not a page over . The essay she'd be ok but the TA she'd struggle as she doesn't have that instinctive capacity to analyse language that comes with reading lots.

I think it will be upgrade, hopefully the school will allow us to take an independent approach if not her timetable will be jam packed and she is Depute Head Girl too.

If she's not enthusiastic about reading is she quite sure about law - there is a lot of reading (or at least that's what dd tells me )
In fairness I should probably change my user name to don'treadasmuchasIusedto

Of the fiction for pleasure variety. She reads willingly for research and to revise as that has a point . It's her way of rebelling against my love of literature.

School have looked at all of ds's NAT5 Maths work and agree they have massively cocked up by estimating a B when he is a strong A, they have no idea how it happened and have apologised profusely. They are going to put an appeal through for an A to SQA as an admin error.

His Application of Maths, they say he should have been estimated an A as well but they have no evidence to submit (the whole class had done no work on it yet as it was a last minute NAT5 they were doing). He'll get his SQA D changed back to estimated B. Just need to live with that one.

So if everything changes as expected instead of 5A,2B,1D, he'll have a much better 7A,1B 👍 (where the B should have been an A!)

@Lidlfix

Friends son wants to do Law. Has AAAAC at Higher with C in French. Applied and got no offers from any Scottish Unis.

Has just got ABB at AH in 6th year. Still cannot get into Law anywhere except Robert Gordon’s.

They conclude it’s the C at Higher that has scuppered him, as he’s obviously got better grades now overall that the applicants who were given UC offer for AAAAA at 5th year.

ALLISON

Sorry to hear about your friend's son.

My own son is a current law student.

What was his personal statement like? A lot of unis view this as quite significant in the application process.

I don’t know anything about his Ps. He’s quite a “ laid back “ young man, I wouldn’t be surprised if the personal statement is somewhat lacking.

Or he’s not got good enough work experience.

They are the complete opposite of helicopter parents , they leave everything up to him. They are one of these “ Oh well something will come up I guess, it’s all for best “ families.

Whereas I would be making him go through all The courses on Clearing and email admissions officers.

No doubt they would think I’m a Bossy control freak.

My DD ( 4th year uni) as a lot of friends doing law ( all girls ) and they all got UC offers with AAAAA. All stayed on to 6th year and made good use of it.

I do think the difference in maturity between Upper school boys and girls Is really noticeable.

ALLISON - a friend's dd did Law at Robert Gordon's (was going to do Medicine, got in on Clearing ). She graduated with a 1st, went to Edinburgh to do her post grad with a scholarship (special bursary?) and is now working for one of Scotland's top law firms

The PS needs to show a real interest in law but equally doesn't need any work experience.

My son spoke about a book he'd read and his thoughts on it, his debating competitions, a law essay competition he'd entered etc It was clear that he was very keen on law and had spent much thought on it. He received all 5 offers.

Your friends son's grades are good so his PS is probably key.

Eek might have to help DD manage her expectations. I knew it was highly competitive and she is looking more toward Strathclyde, Dundee rather than Ancients. Is combining Law with other subjects less likely to lead to out and out rejection as she has a C for Biology?

I should add my friend's dd graduated from RGU less than 10 years ago.

@Lidlfix she will need an LLB to go on to practice law. As well as the ancients and the ones you have mentioned that can be done at RGU, Stirling or I think maybe Abertay? There is always an option to do a two year accelerated LLB degree after an honours or ordinary degree in any subject.

I understand that anything at Strathclyde business school is very competitive. As others have said the personal statement will be key.

DDs friend got a Glasgow uni conditional law+business offer with 4As at H this year (condition was BB at AH). He had a good LNAT. Did a 2-year college thingy in S5 which he dropped out of after a year hence why only 4Hs which they seem to have cut him some slack about. I think he got Dundee and Stirling too and these might have been unconditional but not sure.

@lidlfix - re the reading reading for research will stand her in good stead then!
dd is in 3rd year law at Glasgow and loving it. She had no legal work experience prior to applying but I do think the personal statement makes a big difference. She applied to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Strathclyde, Dundee and Aberdeen with AAAAB from S5 and got rejected by Edinburgh, a conditional from Glasgow (BB at AH _ and unconditionals from Aberdeen, Dundee and Strathclyde. We hadn't been to Dundee open day but went to an applicant day and really liked it - much more than Strathclyde. Dundee dies dual Scots/ English qualification which I think would have been a really good way to go but dd didn't want to do that as it reduced elective choices. LNAT was a bit of a stress have to say as it's difficult to practice for.
Another dc at the same school who had 5As did get an unconditional for Edinburgh.
Hope that helps - happy to answer questions

oops lots of typos

@lidlfix
I am very happy to email you my DS's PS for law (as an example) if you think it may help your DC and if you would be happy to message me your email address.

My DS spent a lot of time on it and he received unconditionals from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and conditionals from Durham and Oxford. He is now happily studying at Oxford. His school offered no help except a cursory read through at the end, so if you think a good example may help your DC, please say.

Aurea, that's so kind and helpful. I will attempt to find a "how to PM" and send you my details. I have been a UCAS mentor for many years but I tend to attract applicants to teaching, journalism and those who haven't made their minds up yet . The dynamic Law applicants tend to go for Depute Heads not mumsy English teachers.

@Frazzled13

Out of interest, they've said they're using the teacher grades, but a small number of pupils had their grades increased from the teacher grade didn't they? Will they have their grade marked down to what the teacher said, or kept?

They will keep the higher grades.

Thanks @Prettybird for the info on RG law. I think the issue is that lad concerned wants to stay more local 🙄

Even though the family concerned live about 5 miles from you and I’m aware that your son is in Aberdeen and loving it. It’s not Alaska.

Maybe it’s subtle pressure from ostensibly laid back mummy, I know she’s managed to get her older kids to stay at home for uni. It’s not a money issue, as you know it’s a Glasgow thing. My DD1 went down south and DD2 is at Dundee. Several people have said words to the effect of “ oh dear what a shame, couldn't she get into Glasgow ? “.

This week’s plan is that he’s now trying to get into accountancy on clearing. Which last time I checked wasn’t law.

The more I write and think about him , the more pathetic he sounds 🤭. Bless, he’s a nice lad really.

@Lidlfix

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It’s definitely a Glasgow thing! I grew up near Glasgow, only 3 of us went to uni somewhere else, out of 150!