sqa exams 2023

[NicolaSturGONE]

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.

I think DD is worried about her Highers, she found the start of it quite hard and dislikes most of her teachers. She was told to read the Great Gatsby over summer - she hasn't - she was told to start her English essay for the folio - she hasn't. She was told to think about her History essay - she hasn't. She's just leaving everything til she gets back but Highers do seem like more work! She's also thinking ahead to S6 but not sure what she'd pick as none of the other Highers interest her and the AdvH options are limited.

Mine isn’t bothering his ass. Too busy hanging out with friends and working and now we are away. He’s in a bit of turmoil now though as he’s seen a graduate apprenticeship he fancies and torn about whether to apply or just settle in for s6 and enjoy that

Interesting that this was posted on the TES Scotland website but has now been taken down. Can't read the whole thing but only a bit of it which is still accessible via a cache search. My friend spotted it (she has an SQA google alert thing). Anyway I've copied and pasted all that is viewable:

"Covid impact still apparent in exam performance, says SQA.
Students are still not where exam markers would expect them to be – but there are ‘signs of recovery’, says SQA director ahead of results day"

And that's all that comes up, and I can't seem to find any other articles.

I'm not at all surprised there is still an impact. People talk about covid and lockdowns being a national trauma. Kids aren't going to escape that.

I think I'm more worried for the results than my DC is. Just keeping my fingers crossed there are passes in everything.

Hmm, will it lead to looser grade boundaries though?

That's what I'm wondering too and I'm also more worried than my DD is. Her BF is especially worried due to his dyslexia, bless him, so I also hope he'll be okay.

i am surprised that they are surprised.

Upthread I was astounded to find out that they can’t fall back on their prelim marks. It’s like the rug has been pulled out from under them.

Of course they are still affected, not just from the obvious things such as lost learning in 2nd and 3rd year, which would have been the foundations of the subjects they are now being examined on, but also indirectly through having to constantly readapt to different learning styles, impact of loss of teachers who have left the profession post covid, increased social anxiety making it harder for them to engage in class and ask questions …

. related article here

”Mr Hunter added: “The SQA’s own participation survey reported: that learners who are now sitting national courses do not have the same foundation of skills and knowledge or exam competence that would have been anticipated before the pandemic, and that some learners are less resilient and less able to deal with stress. Nothing has changed since 2022.””

Poor DS got a fright this morning when the SQA envelope came through the door!

It was just the “how to appeal” booklet 😅

Although now he has convinced himself that they only send that out to people who have failed.

I’ve just come on here in the hope that someone would know what this was! DS is still asleep and I was unsure whether to wake him if it was some kind of early results info…

Here’s hoping your DS’s theory is wrong about it only coming to people who’ve failed 🤞

The booklet is sent to everyone.

Thanks guys, was about to ask what the booklet was about. DS is away out with a few friends so he has just missed the post.

Yes, the booklet is definitely sent to everyone. I tried to remind him that he got one last year and got all As, but he won’t be deterred from worrying.

The appeals process is shit this year. they dont even look at what you've done all year, just the exam itself.

I completely agree @NicolaSturGONE

It really winds me up. When even the SQA acknowledge that this is a contingent of kids who are not used to exams, and are more stressed and anxious than pre-covid groups, surely the most basic mitigation would be to take into account other work from through the year.

The how to appeal document is sent to everyone, worry not.

Just over a week to go! Universities for those who have applied there will know already or very soon and the schools probably Friday or Monday.

My son still seems quite chill but I know I probably won’t sleep again next Monday night. You just want their hard work to pay off don’t you.

DD too young for university as just startng S5, but I didn't know universities found out that early. I thought it was maybe the day before, same with teachers. Can any actual teachers confirm when schools find out?

Also, and I've probably mentioned this already, I know some schools do the 'picture in the paper' thing or 'bbc news story' show of kids opening their results. They wouldn't invite the kids with shit results to be embarrassed on national tv woudl they? So they probably invite the kids they know got good results.

Kind of hoping DD gets a request from the school now 😄

I've seen kids on TV loads of times open results and have failed

I don’t know for sure re Uni but I know their embargo period started on Monday so I would expect from then?

Re photos etc, I got myself up to high doe last year as our school was the one being highlighted by the council last year and there were kids phoned and asked to go in on results day in their blazers and mine wasn’t that it meant they’d all got 7 As and mine hadn’t. He had though😊

Headteachers get the results a day or two before so they can start their analysis and get them all printed out by subject. The rest of the teachers get them the day the kids get them.

ha @TooOldForThisNonsense that's exactly what I would be like!

Class teachers don't necessarily see the results for another week - they would need to contact their work to get them (and might be somewhere warm on holiday, and not in the never ending rain here)
Hope it's good news for everyone

Asking for advice. My teen has 2 conditional place for uni - firm is a very firm favourite. If they don't meet conditions they will be offered insurance. Is there any point ringing firm choice on Tuesday to beg if they just missed the grades or is it a waste of time?

I suppose there's no way to know how many people they have offers to actually got the grades - worth a try? Should be your ds calling though

He can always give it a go. Is it a very popular/generally oversubscribed course?
I had a dream last night that I failed my Higher biology. I'm obviously anxious on DS1's behalf