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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
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RollOnJune23 · 08/08/2023 13:33

There's something left out on his certificate but school will only be dealing with uni related problems I would think so I will contact them when the schools return

sassanach · 08/08/2023 13:40

If you have any questions about your certificate, the SQA Candidate Advice Line can help. You can speak to an adviser from 8am on results day on 0345 279 1000.
(this is not the same as the exam results helpline)

Original poster
NicolaSturGONE · 08/08/2023 13:50

grade boundaries are out! https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/105159.html

OP posts:
theferry · 08/08/2023 13:54

Still waiting. DH has driven around the estate and there’s no sign of a postie. It wouldn’t surprise me if it doesn’t turn up today. So frustrated that DD didn’t sign up for texts.

RollOnJune23 · 08/08/2023 13:58

Thanks @sassanach I think it's more of a school issue but it might be worth a call (can parents phone I wonder? Ds won't)

sassanach · 08/08/2023 14:02

No harm in calling and finding out.

@theferry the sqa helpline might tell your DC or you over the phone if they say no certificate arrived?

MathsNervous · 08/08/2023 14:10

As usual our postie didn't arrive until 1.30pm so it was wise of DS to sign up for the text service. Hope others have got their certificates by now.

MathsNervous · 08/08/2023 14:13

NicolaSturGONE · 08/08/2023 13:50

grade boundaries are out! https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/105159.html

Means nothing until they speak to a teacher who can decipher the results. Is it done by percentage?

DS is considering appealing NAT 5 history but I don't think it's worth it. Up to him ultimately. B is still a great grade. He said he was getting 90%+ on his assessments. Depends how close/far away from the A he was.

Original poster
NicolaSturGONE · 08/08/2023 14:16

I think its interesting what the pass mark was for a C as so many kids found that a hard exam.

OP posts:
itsalwayscycling · 08/08/2023 14:55

NicolaSturGONE · 08/08/2023 13:50

grade boundaries are out! https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/105159.html

Interesting that maths hasn’t really shifted given the perceived difficulty of the paper.

54isanopendoor · 08/08/2023 15:10

A reply from DD's tutor: 'tell her well done! & she can re-sit'
So I replied: 'can you advise if others have performed worse than expected pls (I know lots have said it was a hard exam & there was a 'clock' question that threw many kids& how do we re-sit please?' (tutor has licence to run exams)
Got reply: 'results seem quite fair tbh. C was just over 40%. Ask school re re-sits. They probably won't want her to carry on with Higher with that mark. Pls let me know re future tutoring sessions as I need to plan'. Hmmm.
I think Dd didn't attempt the last 3 Qu's due to anxiety / exhaustion so that would have thrown her mark badly of course. Not Tutors / Schools 'fault'.
But very sad for her if she now has to drop Higher.

54isanopendoor · 08/08/2023 15:12

(I'd contacted Tutor with results Tutors request)

GottoHandit · 08/08/2023 15:13

Those grade boundaries just seem very similar for all subjects and it’s a bit meaningless when a school won’t give out the bands. Getting 92% in Biology for an A1 is significantly different to getting 77% for an A2 - I’m not hung up on getting the breakdown of the bands but I am quite curious to know…

Survey99 · 08/08/2023 15:20

itsalwayscycling · 08/08/2023 14:55

Interesting that maths hasn’t really shifted given the perceived difficulty of the paper.

Show quote history

The provisional attainment stats are showing for higher maths that the % gaining an A has dropped back to 38% which is more aligned with 2019-2020 (32%-40%) instead of the over inflated 2021-2022 (47%-45%). 38% sounds like a more realistic figure to give value to achieving an A grade.

https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/105123.html

SQA

SQA - Scottish Qualifications Authority

https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/105123.html

itsalwayscycling · 08/08/2023 15:27

I was looking at Nat5- mine came out of the exams feelIng most were in line with past papers / prelims except biology (much easier) and maths (much harder). The A boundaries for biology have indeed gone up quite a bit but maths has stayed the same- and he def wasn’t unusual in finding the maths paper hard.

FuckingHateRats · 08/08/2023 15:28

Ours were a bit topsy turvy. Subjects he was less sure about, he got As. Those he was predicted a strong A, he got some Bs.

He sat six N5s and got:
English: A
History: A
Computing: A
Maths: B
Chemistry: B
Physics: B

He was diagnosed with T1 diabetes half way through the year and has had a real rollercoaster, so we're delighted with what he's achieved.

GottoHandit · 08/08/2023 15:30

Funny you should mention that clock question 54isanopendoor my DD showed me that question this morning and I was mystified - then again I was shite at Maths! She’s not taking Maths at Higher in S5 but I’ve told her to work through the paper once the answers are out - that, as you can imagine, went down like a lead balloon.

I would have found your tutor’s response a bit frustrating. I didn’t get a tutor for my DD for Maths as I hadn’t realised she was struggling - but she’s passed and I’m happy with that as is she.

Good luck with talking to the school about her future Higher plans and I hope she gets to feel justifiably proud of her achievements in English and Engineering.

RhymesWithTangerine · 08/08/2023 15:33

Thanks for the link to the grade boundaries.

I am still confused about the banding. Here there is an ‘Upper A’ - I guess A1?

My main confusion is over what that means in practice. Do both Upper/Lower grades have the same status for higher education etc? I can’t see how they could?

Bonelly · 08/08/2023 15:37

If your child is appealing, is there someone at the school answering calls to tell them if it's worth it or not? Our school has no one in to speak to.

theferry · 08/08/2023 15:37

3 x A (accounting, business, history)
3 x B (English, drama, biology)
and D for maths.

So chuffed for her. She’s dyslexic and struggles with it. Only issue is the Maths. Think she’ll have to retake it in order to get on the uni course that she wants to do.

Survey99 · 08/08/2023 15:39

RhymesWithTangerine · 08/08/2023 15:33

Thanks for the link to the grade boundaries.

I am still confused about the banding. Here there is an ‘Upper A’ - I guess A1?

My main confusion is over what that means in practice. Do both Upper/Lower grades have the same status for higher education etc? I can’t see how they could?

Grade bandings (A1, A2 etc) I think are primarily used for the schools internal stats. There are I think some elite English unis (such as Cambridge) that will give offers asking for A1 grades.

Most students don't know if they got A1 or A2 as it doesn't show on certificates, the unis can see them though.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 08/08/2023 15:39

RhymesWithTangerine · 08/08/2023 15:33

Thanks for the link to the grade boundaries.

I am still confused about the banding. Here there is an ‘Upper A’ - I guess A1?

My main confusion is over what that means in practice. Do both Upper/Lower grades have the same status for higher education etc? I can’t see how they could?

The difference between upper and lower A mainly applies if applying for eg Oxbridge and they are doing advanced highers as A1 is treated like A* but an A2 more like a B

TooOldForThisNonsense · 08/08/2023 15:39

Sorry re the above I should say that’s as I understand it, not a definite

TooOldForThisNonsense · 08/08/2023 15:40

And A2 is more like an A at A level I meant

RhymesWithTangerine · 08/08/2023 15:44

That’s helpful about the Unis being able to see them. DS is thinking of applying to some of the top places in time so I guess they will note the Nat 5 A2s and that might count against him.