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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:
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Aurea · 08/08/2023 15:48

I'm not sure whether unis do see bands.

My DS applied to Cambridge last year (rejected after interview) and had to state his bands on a supplementary form.

Survey99 · 08/08/2023 15:48

ime most unis don't care about NAT5s unless you completely flunk them.

All NAT5s do is get you to the next step which is Highers. Those are the ones that are important.

Getting an A1 is a great result and shows he has all the foundations in place to do well in his highers.

Survey99 · 08/08/2023 15:51

Aurea · 08/08/2023 15:48

I'm not sure whether unis do see bands.

My DS applied to Cambridge last year (rejected after interview) and had to state his bands on a supplementary form.

Hmmm...When ds had his open days with Glasgow he asked a question related to this and they said they could see them directly in the SQA system but didn't use them. Maybe it is only Scottish unis that have direct access??

KnittingNeedles · 08/08/2023 16:02

ime most unis don't care about NAT5s unless you completely flunk them.

Agree in most cases, but will depend on the degree. DD is doing primary teaching, the General Teaching Council require at least a B in Nat 5 maths and a pass in Higher English. This is the case whether you're doing the 4 year teacher training degree, or a 1 year postgrad conversion. She has been asked to scan her Nat 5 certificate and send to Uni (she didn't do H Maths).

RhymesWithTangerine · 08/08/2023 16:07

Aurea · 08/08/2023 15:48

I'm not sure whether unis do see bands.

My DS applied to Cambridge last year (rejected after interview) and had to state his bands on a supplementary form.

@Aurea Well done to your DS for getting to the interview. Did he have all A1s at Nat5?

Aurea · 08/08/2023 16:15

@RhymesWithTangerine

Yes, he's only ever received A1s in all his exams. 😀

In S4 he only did five Nat 5s, cos he also took two highers early (maths and music).

Last year (S5), he was awarded four highers and one advanced higher early (maths), again all A1s.

This year he was awarded four advanced highers at grade A (don't know bands yet) and he's off to Edinburgh Uni. He's not bothered about the Cambridge rejection anymore......it's their loss!!!😜

gawditswindy · 08/08/2023 16:19

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…

It may be more that the schools won't give out the bands yet. It takes a while to wade through all the data so if all the pupils a teacher had previously taught came asking for their bands on day 1 it would take quite a bit of time. And then there are the component marks... <sigh>

GottoHandit · 08/08/2023 16:31

KnittingNeedles · 08/08/2023 16:02

ime most unis don't care about NAT5s unless you completely flunk them.

Agree in most cases, but will depend on the degree. DD is doing primary teaching, the General Teaching Council require at least a B in Nat 5 maths and a pass in Higher English. This is the case whether you're doing the 4 year teacher training degree, or a 1 year postgrad conversion. She has been asked to scan her Nat 5 certificate and send to Uni (she didn't do H Maths).

What?! So my DD would not get on a teaching course without having to resit her Nat 5 Maths to get a B? (She got a C) She got 5 Grade As, a B in Chemistry and a C in Maths. She’s planning on taking Higher Maths in S6 but I’m a little concerned that she would struggle after getting a C at Nat 5 and not having done Maths for a year. She’s not mentioned teaching as a career choice recently but it’s good to have the option up her sleeve whatever she decides to do for a Degree. Would she still need a Grade B at Nat 5 even if she had 5 Highers and a Degree (but not Maths at anything higher than Nat 5?)

Anyway am not going to think about this now - concentrate on celebrating today!

RhymesWithTangerine · 08/08/2023 16:39

Aurea · 08/08/2023 16:15

@RhymesWithTangerine

Yes, he's only ever received A1s in all his exams. 😀

In S4 he only did five Nat 5s, cos he also took two highers early (maths and music).

Last year (S5), he was awarded four highers and one advanced higher early (maths), again all A1s.

This year he was awarded four advanced highers at grade A (don't know bands yet) and he's off to Edinburgh Uni. He's not bothered about the Cambridge rejection anymore......it's their loss!!!😜

Thanks. That’s very impressive and Edinburgh is great.

I’m not sure DS will make the cut based on what you have here. He has 3xA1s and 3xA2s at Nat5. The school didn’t offer Highers early. However, I guess Highers next, we will see how he goes.

Aurea · 08/08/2023 16:43

Thanks!

He was actually the first in his school to take maths early. He kind of taught himself in the back of a Nat 5 maths class. He just goes to a regular state school but they accommodated his requests.

Best wishes to your DS.

margotsdevil · 08/08/2023 16:44

@GottoHandit sorry but that's correct. A N5 C for Maths is the minimum requirement for a teaching qualification in Scotland. Would she consider doing Apps of Maths? That's also accepted at Nat 5 C.

margotsdevil · 08/08/2023 16:47

SORRY numpty moment. I obviously meant Maths at B! A friend's husband sat his PGDE just 3 years ago and had to do Maths as a condition of entry to upgrade his old Standard Grade.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 08/08/2023 16:47

Mine got the N5 bands when he went back to school. He had 4 A1 and 3 A2. He wants to find out the ones this year just out of curiosity

thaegumathteth · 08/08/2023 16:50

Yeah @GottoHandit I have a 2:1 degree but to do a postgrad teaching I needed a B rather than the C I had

MistressIggi · 08/08/2023 16:56

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.

To answer that, you're going to need their class teacher to talk to the department head and then they could advise you - they are all still on holiday and even when back next week (depending on what area) they will have to prioritise anyone who needs the appeal for a uni or course offer. No one in the school office would be able to give you anything but generic advice I'm afraid.

Bonelly · 08/08/2023 17:20

Thank you Mistress.

MistressIggi · 08/08/2023 17:28

(Not trying to put you off appealing, by the way, but better to know nothing happens too soon!)

MathsNervous · 08/08/2023 17:30

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.

I have emailed school to ask for DS to have a chat to his history teacher. Won't get a response until tomorrow at least.

MathsNervous · 08/08/2023 17:38

No, not expecting to speak to a teacher until next week. Just trying to organise him getting a chat with his old history teacher as he's attending a new school for sitting his Highers. What a manic day this has been 😂

weebarra · 08/08/2023 18:32

DS1's eventually arrived by post. 2Bs (maths and English, which he failed in the prelims) and 4 Cs. I'm incredibly proud of him.
His spelling is that of a p4 and his information retention is terrible. When he first started high school I didn't even know if he'd get past Nat 4.

Rae36 · 08/08/2023 18:52

Aww that's great @weebarra

I hope he's happy

user143777534 · 08/08/2023 18:54

MathsNervous · 08/08/2023 14:13

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.

Show quote history

Sounds like my DS, but he’s been told he got 49 marks, which is only just a B (grade boundary 47 marks) so not worth the risk. He’s never got less than 90% before. All down to a panic attack on the day ☹️

user143777534 · 08/08/2023 18:56

weebarra · 08/08/2023 18:32

DS1's eventually arrived by post. 2Bs (maths and English, which he failed in the prelims) and 4 Cs. I'm incredibly proud of him.
His spelling is that of a p4 and his information retention is terrible. When he first started high school I didn't even know if he'd get past Nat 4.

Well done him 🏆

I hope everyone (and the kids) get a good night sleep tonight now the anxiety is over!

Rainbowshit · 08/08/2023 19:08

I have a tear in my eye hearing about how well those with challenges have done. Well done to them all. 🎉

DS's results arrived at 12.30. He got 8 As for his nat 5s. Super proud of him.

Particularly for music as he dropped his instrument a few days before the exam and was struggling to get to grips with the loan one in time for the exam. 🙈

cantmovewont · 08/08/2023 20:33

Hi. We were expecting mostly As at Higher. Predicted. Straight As though out the year. BBBBB. She won't be able to study pharmacy as she needs AAABB and 2 AH BB. She's devastated. Straight As at National 5. Just can't understand where' she's gone wrong. She has no life. All she does is study.
Not sure of next course of action. Anyone with any advice about any other pathways without having to repeat a year at school?

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