Scotsnet exams thread 2022

[WeAllHaveWings]

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.

🤣🤣 glad it wasn’t just my “Kevin” who went on a rant! They have all been completely screwed over in one way or another!
They were promised advanced notice of what will be in the exam, some subjects have delivered this and others haven’t. That hardly represents equity in what is already a horribly inequitable situation.
My son’s own position is good, he has a great set of prelim results and he hasn’t actually missed much school this year. And it’s only N5s which in the grand scheme aren’t really that important. I keep reminding him of this.
I really feel for those in 5/6th Year who need this to work out for them.

He had convienently forgotten last year he had help too, especially in English where they had two sets of assessments to choose the best piece of work from, whereas this year has just one exam to sit.

@susiewong looks like the Strathclyde Mechanical Engineering offers have started coming out now, heard of a couple of people getting responses earlier this week (offers and rejections), and ds got an unconditional offer last night 😃. Has your ds heard yet?

ds's original first choice was Strathclyde, although he is now undecided between Strathclyde and Glasgow now he has a choice. The combination of not getting an offer yet and me warning him it might be conditional had him picking up on his revision again over the last few weeks, but can see that being dropped like a stone now. Will need to work on a new tactic.

Hope everyone it getting on ok with their Uni offers, I know we did not enjoy not getting responses for what felt like an eternity.

His gf is still waiting, she has a Law offer for Aberdeen but wants a Glasgow based uni so that is now his current worry that she might move away if she doesn't get any Glasgow offers and he (thankfully) didn't apply for Aberdeen so can't go there.

He is all loved up 💑, even met her parents for dinner last week 🤣, and there is no point in telling him they are only 17/18, it is unlikely to last anyway and they shouldn't be making decisions based on what the other does!!!!

Yip offers coming in here too, booked Glasgow and Aberdeen offer holders days today as these are the o Ed he wants. He’s got prelims now too so hoping it’s a good dress rehearsal for the real exams

Wish ds would go to the offer holder days @HGC2, he has an invite for one at Glasgow and says he doesn't want/need to go.

Today, which is a shift change from yesterday, it now sounds like he is going to accept an offer for Strathclyde based on hearsay from friends that say it is better for engineering. Tried to explain to him that they are very similar ranking, two very different unis and going to the offer holder days will give him confidence he is making the right choice for him and also introduce him to the uni he will be spending years at, but he is not budging so far 🤦‍♀️. He can be soooo frustrating sometimes!

@WeAllHaveWings that is frustrating, not sure if mine sees it as days off school rather than anything else!

@WeAllHaveWings thanks for checking in - yes offer in yesterday for DS. What a relief - an unconditional 🎉🎉. As you say will be a challenge to get him to continue to study now 🤷‍♀️ Although I can sort of see his point (ssshhh!).
No dates for Strathclyde offer holders day yet … I’m hoping to go too.

@WeAllHaveWings maybe another way of looking at the offer holder days (for your DS) is to check out the unions and social side of things 😉🍻. Strathclyde is DS first choice and quicker / easier to get to for him so think he’s pretty much decided now

[quote susiewong]@WeAllHaveWings thanks for checking in - yes offer in yesterday for DS. What a relief - an unconditional 🎉🎉. As you say will be a challenge to get him to continue to study now 🤷‍♀️ Although I can sort of see his point (ssshhh!).
No dates for Strathclyde offer holders day yet … I’m hoping to go too.[/quote]
Excellent news!

I think even if I managed to convince him to go to an offer holder day he is unlikely to let me to come with him!!!!!!

Never know, maybe they will meet one day on the course. Tell him to look out for a 6ft3in lad from Killie!

Can anyone advise if you think an Advanced Higher in a subject you've studied for National 5 and Higher (Geography) is easier to manage than a crash Higher (Psychology). My DC will also be doing two other AHs in subjects they studied for Nat 5 and Higher. It is school requirement that they do either 3 AHs or 2 AHs and a Higher.

I don't think there is an easy answer to that it depends on so many factors, the subject, your dcs strengths etc. ds is studying 2AH and 2H this year as his school insist on min of 4 subjects (5 if no AH).

AH Physics he is finding ok and enjoying, but the reduced course this year means he doesn't have to do a project. AH Maths he is finding harder even with the reduced content, mostly because he has turned full teenager let loose after covid restrictions, hasn't been applying himself as much and has got a bit behind, also his school only gives them 3hrs of lessons a week.

Crash H Geography he feels is easier in comparison to his AHs. I heard H Geography is generally considered one of the easier Highers but is very different at AH with 2/3rds of the marks from the project work and self led research.

Nooooo! Ds3 has the practical part of his music prelim tomorrow and he has tested +ve for Covid this morning. He had a headache and dizziness on Friday evening but tested -ve then and on Saturday morning. He had a sore throat today and said he was only going in for the exam and coming home tomorrow. I don’t know what happens now!

Oh no @Threeboysandadog 😱. That is what we are dreading over the next few weeks until the exams are over.

Hopefully as it is a practical exam they can be a bit more flexible when it is taken and he recovers quickly to perform at his best.

Thank you. Hopefully he will be able to get in touch with his teacher tomorrow and sort something out. We’ve squeezed his brothers electric piano into his room (as the 3rd child he qualifies for the smallest room) and he has his guitars so can keep practicing.

I can’t believe we’ve dodged Covid for two years and he’s got it now!

Can anyone shed any light on appeals this year? My son is about to sit his highers/advanced highers.

Am I right in thinking teachers provide grade estimates based on controlled assessments during the year and if a pupil is disappointed with their final exam result can appeal the decision direct to SQA who will also look at teacher evidence?

My DS has just said his teachers are going to give him grade estimates next week. Also, he believes he will be awarded the better of the two grades (teacher assessment or exam).

Is this correct or too good to be true?

Some information on appeals in 2022 here www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/79049.html which doesn't mention exceptional circumstances so is roughly what your ds has said.

Talk of exams being cancelled this year again. There’s an article on apple news, unfortunately behind a paywall, so I can’t read it. I can’t find anything anywhere else at the moment. Does anyone know anything?

Ds3 is just recovering from Covid and was off school all last week. He will only have two and a half days back, then the Easter Holidays and they are almost into exams. I honestly don’t know whether exams or teacher assessment + prelims would be better for him.

@Threeboysandadog I've just checked and that seems to be a link to an article in the Times which I've read, it was more about possible future reform, an end to high stakes exams being discussed that type of thing.
Does your son have decent grades from prelims? Remember he can appeal if he thinks he underperforms when results come in.

Thanks Wings

I don't know how the appeal service info escaped me.

@Mistressiggi yes, he did well in his prelims 6 A’s and 2 B’s (English 67% and Gaelic 69%) Considering everything that has been going on for him (awaiting results of ADHD/ASD assessment and already given a diagnosis of DCD/school refusal etc) I would be more than happy to settle with that and he’d be fine with his choices for next year. However he’s thinking he can get 8 A’s and he might be right. I’m just not holding my breath!

Hi I’ve just found this thread. DS also doing 3 AHs and suffering from unconditionalitus!! He failed all his prelims and just doesn’t seem that bothered. He got 3As and 2Bs in his Highers so doesn’t think he needs to bother now, it’s so frustrating. He still has t heard back from Glasgow and another Uni (I forget which), but has 3 unconditional offers. I just think the last couple of years hasn’t prepared them for proper exams, he just doesn’t get it!

Only 4 weeks to go until the 2022 exams now!

The unconditionalitus is now severe here and ds has deteriorated into give-up-itis, especially for AH Maths. We had another argument discussion about it last night, he is currently on track for going from a A1 in Higher Maths to fail in AH Maths, just because he hasn't put the time and effort in and is now overwhelmed 🤦‍♀️

He thinks AH Physics and crash H Geography should be ok "for a pass". Where has my ds who was determined and pushing himself for 5 As at higher gone!!

Sorry to hear that WINGS.

I don't have any advice to give but just wanted to say that I really feel for you (and him). It must be very frustrating. I guess this will not be uncommon so perhaps the grade boundaries will be adjusted down?

Part of the problem is in his "low progression" school every single pupil, bar one, is targetted for a fail at AH Maths. The one not targetted for a fail has a low C! So he thinks he is going to fail anyway so why bother trying especially when he (thankfully) has 3 unconditional MEng mechanical engineering offers.

I guess it doesnt really matter now for uni, what I am trying to get over to him is his "no point in even trying" attitude change and reaction when things get tough wont do him any favours going into uni and is not a mindset compatible with being an engineer. Also, the potential impact of a fail when he is competing for engineering experience jobs during his uni years. He is 18 now, time to make his own decisions on how he wants to approach things. But difficult to leave him to it too!!!

Wings - it sounds like my son and your son are very alike! I can empathise with your frustration. I am biting my tongue constantly because I know if I push too hard he will dig his heels in even more. I keep telling myself maybe its me thats wrong, maybe it is ok to have a 'doss' year if he already has the grades to get into his chosen course at Uni. I did my exams in England so I don't really understand the Scottish 6th form. Fingers crossed they both end up doing better than we fear