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Original poster

Scotsnet exams thread 2022

430 replies

WeAllHaveWings · 08/01/2022 14:40

I haven't seen a thread for this years exams yet so thought I'd get the ball rolling (hopefully not too early!). Who has dc sitting exams this year and how are they getting on with their prelims so far?

ds(17) is in S6, he is sitting

Maths AH
Physics AH
Geography H (crash)
PE H (sat 2 years ago at NAT5)

They had their prelims in December which was good as they could relax over Christmas. He has had results back for 3 - will start with the good - Physics AH 70% 😀, then the no so good - Maths AH 45%, PE H 42% 😮.

He is very pleased with Physics, as he didn't expect it. The others he expected but seeing it has still been a shock. Hopefully in a good way and he will get his finger out as he hasn't been applying himself this year due recent first car freedom 🚗 + first girlfriend since he was 14 👫 + out together in said car 💏 + finally started his teenage rebelling phase 🙄.

Did anyone find it was similar in S6 with their teens? I think he is just scunnered this year with school and going through the whole studying and exam process for a 3rd year running. Many of his friends seem to feel the same this year.

OP posts:
Pikachuspal · 25/02/2022 20:05

We have something sorted out now with the school, major breakdown in communication between teacher and class as far as I can see. Thank you for your advice 👍

Original poster
WeAllHaveWings · 26/02/2022 12:26

@Pikachuspal

We have something sorted out now with the school, major breakdown in communication between teacher and class as far as I can see. Thank you for your advice 👍
Glad you got it sorted. Is she getting to do it again next week? I remember spending many an hour listening to ds reciting his presentation and asking the questions (badly pronounced) in random order until it was on point. Tried to get him to record and listen to himself but that wasnt as good apparently 🙄. Then doing it all again at higher when there were more questions and the answers are much longer and more complex. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Was glad when the talking exams were in the bag!

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Pikachuspal · 26/02/2022 19:35

Yes resit on Monday, they are going to investigate the overall process but because she was Unwell for two weeks prior to the exam it’s taken into account for exceptional circumstances.
It’s been a busy weekend listening to a lot of Spanish so far!

Threeboysandadog · 26/02/2022 19:57

@Pikachuspal glad you got things sorted. I hope she’s a wee bit happier now.

Threeboysandadog · 26/02/2022 20:03

How many National 5’s are all your dc sitting. This is new to me as ds1 and ds2 did Standard Grades. I’m told that last year, at our school, they sat 6 or 7 and this year it’s 7 or 8 but all schools/ regions are different?

Ds3 is doing 8.

Original poster
WeAllHaveWings · 26/02/2022 20:18

The usual number at our school is 7, but some years the top maths class get the option to also do Application of Maths making it 8.

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Lidlfix · 26/02/2022 20:45

Seven is the norm where I teach and where DDs attended (different schools same authority) but there can be exceptions. The year DD4 sat Maths was the first year there was no fall back N4 if they failed N5. So all the C pass prelim candidates sat Apps too to maximise their chances of a numeracy qualification. So she ended up with 8 . Orchestral musicians , bilingual pupils might be able to be entered in N5s that they can ace without any class teaching. But it is a lottery and I feel so sorry for pupils who are only entered for 6 as this means they have even less choice for Highers.

Mistressiggi · 26/02/2022 21:38

Why don't they do a fallback N4 Lidfix? Is that just a Maths thing?

Aurea · 26/02/2022 22:25

Our school only offers 6 Nat 5s although it's high performing.

My elder DS got round this by studying for French Nat 5 outside school and ended up with seven.

My younger DS did two highers early in S4 so actually only has 4 Nat 5s but will end up with seven highers by S5 this year.

The school was flexible but this was definitely not the norm. There will be lots of very able kids only offering 6 Nat 5s which I think is wrong.

Threeboysandadog · 27/02/2022 16:51

@WeAllHaveWings yes, I checked with ds and the top maths class are sitting Applications of Maths making it 8. He says his friend, who is also in the top maths class, is sitting Spanish (learnt at home) so looks like he will have 9!

I think that, with the pandemic and lockdown, I haven’t had the same chance to meet the teachers and ask questions as I did with the older boys. I’m relying on ds to keep me informed Hmm.

TeenTraumaTrials · 07/03/2022 12:41

Just wondering if anyone can advise on what unis think about not taking an AH in the subject you want to study!

DD will be choosing subjects for S6 soon. She is predicted to do well enough in Highers this year to get an unconditional for her preferred subject.

She doesn't want to take it that subject at AH both because she is worried about being bored in 1st year if she has covered some of the material, but more importantly there is a column clash.

She wasn't able to take her very favourite subject at Higher as it wasn't offered by the school but she can do it in S6 remotely through other arrangements. She really wants to do it but the AH in her chosen subject is only available in that same column.

She is willing to take a different, unconnected AH in a subject she likes - so essentially she's going to have a timetable of 2 Highers (one of which is a bit relevant to her chosen subject), one Advanced Higher (totally unconnected but she will enjoy) and a Nat 5 she has no real interest in and is only taking to make up 4 columns. I think the school will want her to do 2AHs but she's not keen. And not sure how Unis will view only one AH, in unrelated subject. Anyone with any advice/experience??

Aurea · 07/03/2022 12:56

I would advise contacting the admissions departments of the courses at the preferred unis to pose this question. Hearing from the horses' mouth would be reassuring.

My DS has asked a couple of questions and received useful and accurate responses this way.

If it was a popular and oversubscribed degree course in the S6 subject choice scenario you described, I would feel a little nervous, although I am not an expert in any way shape or form.

susiewong · 07/03/2022 13:30

@TeenTraumaTrials I get that your DD thinks 1st year would be boring if she had already done the advanced higher but it could also be good to have the comfort that she will have done some of the coursework and so have time to settle in and enjoy other aspects of uni life in 1st year. This was my DS experience anyway !! But I get that column choice can be a pain to work within !!

PhilYerboots · 07/03/2022 15:16

Regarding AH, schools are often limited in what they can offer. My DDs school don't offer AHs in any of the subjects she wants to progress with and ultimately study at university. There is the possibility of going to another school in our local authority area but that depends if they have the numbers to run it. I hope it wouldn't disadvantage her chances of getting into a degree if she can't study to that level through no fault of her own. AHs are a postcode lottery.

Original poster
WeAllHaveWings · 07/03/2022 15:44

Something to also think about is the subject as I think it would be different advice for different subject. I would, for example, advise ds against going into his engineering degree without doing any maths for over a year. MFL or sciences I think would be similar.

There will be enough other topics in 1st year to keep him engaged and challenged, or it might give him space to work PT or join societies.

Also agree with Aurea, speak to the Uni, we have always found them really helpful.

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SandyIrvine · 07/03/2022 17:37

DS2 who did 2 subjects at uni without AH (but no gap from Highers) would say don't make it harder for yourself. He asked the uni in advance they said it was doable but in reality it was bloody hard as the vast majority had AH/A Levels etc and the pace suited the majority.

Cismyfatarse · 07/03/2022 18:04

@TeenTraumaTrials

Just wondering if anyone can advise on what unis think about not taking an AH in the subject you want to study!

DD will be choosing subjects for S6 soon. She is predicted to do well enough in Highers this year to get an unconditional for her preferred subject.

She doesn't want to take it that subject at AH both because she is worried about being bored in 1st year if she has covered some of the material, but more importantly there is a column clash.

She wasn't able to take her very favourite subject at Higher as it wasn't offered by the school but she can do it in S6 remotely through other arrangements. She really wants to do it but the AH in her chosen subject is only available in that same column.

She is willing to take a different, unconnected AH in a subject she likes - so essentially she's going to have a timetable of 2 Highers (one of which is a bit relevant to her chosen subject), one Advanced Higher (totally unconnected but she will enjoy) and a Nat 5 she has no real interest in and is only taking to make up 4 columns. I think the school will want her to do 2AHs but she's not keen. And not sure how Unis will view only one AH, in unrelated subject. Anyone with any advice/experience??

What subject is it? Some schools don't offer all / many AHs so if it is, for example, Latin or Economics, she might get away with it.

But, if something they know the school offers, it does not really show a commitment to the subject. Also, it is not going to make her bored as they do 3 subjects per semester in Scotland and she can opt for new things alongside her core subject.

TeenTraumaTrials · 08/03/2022 16:20

Thanks for the advice. It's Business Management so not like Maths/Physics where you need to build on knowledge as much. I contacted Stirling yesterday and they say that for them AH only make a difference if you get a poor grade in the subject at Higher and they would recommend her taking an additional Higher instead.

WoodstockJ · 08/03/2022 16:23

Just wondering if anyone has a link to the SQA study guides that are being released this week. I have seen some criticism of them in the press but can’t seem to find them on the website. Thanks 😊

Mistressiggi · 08/03/2022 16:34

They should be on the individual subject's pages on the Sqa website @WoodstockJ
Here is the page you see the H English one on, for example
www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/47904.html

susiewong · 08/03/2022 16:58

www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/100366.html

List of each subject , then click of revision material , then once in that subject click on March 22 revision …

Original poster
WeAllHaveWings · 08/03/2022 17:08

Thanks for the reminder, forgot those were coming out this week. Just spoke to ds, S6, and he says each of his teachers have gone over with them for his subjects.

For him he says AH Maths is helpful as it lays out what is not included in the exam and he can drop those from his revision now. He says H Physics is useless, tells them nothing new, and H Geography has some really good tips such as "You should read the question". Don't think overall he was impressed 🤣 (physics/geography teachers weren't either!)

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WoodstockJ · 08/03/2022 17:21

Thank you, I have now had a wee look. I asked my S4 son about it when he came home and he immediately delivered a rant!
He is mostly annoyed because the info supplied for most of his subjects (sciences/geography/engineering) is very vague and nothing he hasn’t heard before from his teachers. For example the guide for higher & nat 5 physics are exactly the same. Some subjects (that he doesn’t take) have a list of what is on the exam but his seem to have a useless stuff like “read the question”.
I will be interested to hear how his teachers interpret the info because it it not at all clear and seems very open to interpretation.
What are teachers thinking about it?

Mistressiggi · 08/03/2022 18:07

💩

Original poster
WeAllHaveWings · 08/03/2022 18:22

Some subjects (that he doesn’t take) have a list of what is on the exam

ds said the same about English which he is not doing this year. It was a full on rant, arms swinging Kevin the teenager esk, it isn't "fair" they are giving them the Scottish text poem that is being covered when he had to study them ALL last year, why don't they just give them 100% now

Not his finest moment 🤣😂🤣😂🤣

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