Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Scotsnet

Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

sqa exams 2023

811 replies

NicolaSturGONE · 05/03/2023 15:50

So only about 2 months til the final exams so starting a thread to discuss revision, exams etc.

Have any schools released details of easter revision classes yet? I've heard nothing from our school and don't know if they are doing any. If they aren't, I might look at what else is on offer over easter.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
TooOldForThisNonsense · 05/05/2023 22:07

user143777534 · 05/05/2023 18:04

God, I didn’t realise that! I thought they could still fall back on the prelim, and have been reassuring DS of that.

Are there no remaining post-Covid provisions then? So these kids who effectively missed 2nd and most of 3rd year just have to crack on now.

Show quote history

I think it’s from next session the exams are fully back to normal. Last year’s were apparently marked more generously but I don’t know if that will happen again this year. There has still been quite a lot of disruption this year due to the strikes.

margotsdevil · 05/05/2023 23:26

If a candidate has exceptional circumstances on the day (absent due to medical, bereavement, issues with exam conditions etc) the school submits evidence which will be reviewed by the most senior markers in the subject, and from there a grade will be awarded. Generally it's expected/hoped that this will be at least the estimate provided by the school, but that is dependent on the evidence meeting that standard.

Appeals this year are open to all but based solely on the actual exam evidence - so the papers they are sitting now and any coursework submitted. Again the most senior markers for the level/subject will check the addition/ensure that all questions have been fully marked (so making sure a half answered question on a random page with another half elsewhere has been joined up and marked appropriately for example). They will also review the original marking - this is not the same as remarking and rarely leads to changes as there have already been several layer of checks at this point!

Hope that helps anyone unsure. I'm a senior marker for my subject and a head of department in a large state secondary.

user143777534 · 06/05/2023 08:58

Thanks @margotsdevil that’s really helpful. I’m worried because DS had a bad panic attack during exam earlier in the week. School fully aware and dealt with it at the time. It’s also on his medical records that he suffers with anxiety and panic attacks.

He thinks he might have been OK with the paper in the end, but I have been reassuring him that he has his prelim and predicted grade to fall back on. Not sure that’s the case now.

margotsdevil · 06/05/2023 09:46

You're welcome, I very rarely comment on these threads but felt it might help to clear that up.

Schools have a week or so to submit an exceptional circumstances request - might be worth having a chat with them on Tuesday to see if there's anything they can do.

user143777534 · 06/05/2023 11:27

Thanks 🙂 I’ll do that.

RollOnJune23 · 06/05/2023 19:18

3 days till National 5 English - what on earth can we do in 3 days I wonder to get him over the finish line? Really need to pass this one.

Original poster
NicolaSturGONE · 06/05/2023 19:26

I was just looking at Nat 5 English resources on bitesize

you can find it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/levels/z6gw2hv

DD has also looked at these YouTube channels for History:

https://www.youtube.com/@eyhsenglishdepartment9675/videos

https://www.youtube.com/@englishwithmissmccombie/videos

DD has an English tutor too because although she's smart she lacks confidence with the subject and the tutor has been amazing. She has sessions with the tutor on Monday to prep for the exam.

OP posts:
Original poster
NicolaSturGONE · 06/05/2023 19:27

those links are for ENGLISH, not History, sorry!

OP posts:
TooOldForThisNonsense · 06/05/2023 19:30

son’s higher English revision seems to have gone by the wayside. I hope he’s not too complacent. He’s really good at English mind you. He seems quite confident for chemistry now as well, we’ll see

RollOnJune23 · 06/05/2023 20:16

Thank you for the links!

mummywithtwokidsplusdog · 08/05/2023 07:21

My DC is feeling very flat re higher English tomorrow. Has done two so far which went ok… but struggles with English and ‘doesn’t understand’ slab boys which is the Scottish text. No point to this post other than to offload- sorry!

Flloydy · 08/05/2023 10:28

We've been doing past papers and BBC Bitesize is really good. I can manage to get my DS to focus for short periods of time (ADHD) the most interesting thing has been just how little he cares and doesn't seem to be at all nervous. His prelim results weren't good, we shall see. His last exam is on Weds.

user143777534 · 08/05/2023 13:53

DS seems despondent today. TBH having Higher English the day after a back holiday sucks really. He feels like everyone else is having fun but he has to study.

Even though he’s only doing about 3 hours a day, it seems to mentally take up his whole day. He plans when he’s going to do it, waits around moping until that time (usually mid afternoon) and then moans about it and “recovers” afterwards.

I keep telling he that he might feel better if he plans some other things around it - a walk, see friends, whatever.

RollOnJune23 · 08/05/2023 13:57

@Flloydy mine has ADHD too. Getting him to study is one of the hardest things I've ever done

Shelefttheweb · 08/05/2023 14:15

user143777534 · 08/05/2023 13:53

DS seems despondent today. TBH having Higher English the day after a back holiday sucks really. He feels like everyone else is having fun but he has to study.

Even though he’s only doing about 3 hours a day, it seems to mentally take up his whole day. He plans when he’s going to do it, waits around moping until that time (usually mid afternoon) and then moans about it and “recovers” afterwards.

I keep telling he that he might feel better if he plans some other things around it - a walk, see friends, whatever.

I’m not even taking exams but it is mentally taking up my whole day too!

thaegumathteth · 08/05/2023 17:51

mummywithtwokidsplusdog · 08/05/2023 07:21

My DC is feeling very flat re higher English tomorrow. Has done two so far which went ok… but struggles with English and ‘doesn’t understand’ slab boys which is the Scottish text. No point to this post other than to offload- sorry!

My son is feeling the same about tomorrow. My degree is in English so I've been trying to help him but it's a hard subject to help with if that makes sense?

mummywithtwokidsplusdog · 08/05/2023 20:10

thaegumathteth · 08/05/2023 17:51

My son is feeling the same about tomorrow. My degree is in English so I've been trying to help him but it's a hard subject to help with if that makes sense?

Show quote history

Nice to know we aren’t alone- thank you. Agree re it being hard to help. It’s so prescriptive and I’m a bit scared of being confusing rather than helpful. At least it will be over by lunch time tomorrow!

Shelefttheweb · 08/05/2023 20:13

It’s so prescriptive
This! These exams are too much about meeting the very narrowly defined marking scheme rather than knowing the subject.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 08/05/2023 20:16

user143777534 · 08/05/2023 13:53

DS seems despondent today. TBH having Higher English the day after a back holiday sucks really. He feels like everyone else is having fun but he has to study.

Even though he’s only doing about 3 hours a day, it seems to mentally take up his whole day. He plans when he’s going to do it, waits around moping until that time (usually mid afternoon) and then moans about it and “recovers” afterwards.

I keep telling he that he might feel better if he plans some other things around it - a walk, see friends, whatever.

It’s a hard one to study for isn’t it. Mine has been going over quotes etc but he’s been doing chemistry as well. He’s good at English so fingers crossed for him - and your son too

Original poster
NicolaSturGONE · 08/05/2023 20:28

urgh I agree with the PP about it being all about the marking. its always been like that though. I remember loving English, then I did my CSYS (showing my age) and it was so fast paced, I wasn't getting to properly enjoy the subject or texts and I dropped out. I can't say I've ever gotten over the feeling of failure but I was about to have a breakdown. I was sobbing in my guidance teacher's office. It isn't fair on kids to cram so much into a single year and making it all about what you remember / memorise than actually enjoying the subject. That's why I loved university - I had more control over my studying, what and how I learned.

OP posts:
user143777534 · 09/05/2023 12:44

I completely agree that it’s too much pressure for one year.

DS has just come out of Higher English. Said he thinks he did fine but the second paper was really hard with strangely worded questions. More effort to answer than the past papers.

TalkedTooMuchStayedTooLong · 09/05/2023 12:53

Thanks to all who offered advice re DDs maths Nat5... we've asked the school to put in an exceptional circumstances request and have triple checked arrangements for rest of exams.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 09/05/2023 13:12

user143777534 · 09/05/2023 12:44

I completely agree that it’s too much pressure for one year.

DS has just come out of Higher English. Said he thinks he did fine but the second paper was really hard with strangely worded questions. More effort to answer than the past papers.

My son said similar, he said the RUAE was OK but that paper 2 was hard

dementedpixie · 09/05/2023 13:25

I haven't heard about the higher English paper yet as ds has gone out with a few friends for lunch straight afterwards

mummywithtwokidsplusdog · 09/05/2023 15:28

My DC thought paper two of higher English had oddly worded questions… glad it’s over… on to the next subject! Hope everyone’s DC are feeling ok x