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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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7
TooOldForThisNonsense · 09/08/2023 11:22

My sister’s 2 nieces met the grades for pharmacy at Strathclyde but didn’t want to go there and chose RG instead and have both done brilliantly and have fantastic careers.

neveradullmoment99 · 09/08/2023 12:13

TooOldForThisNonsense · 09/08/2023 11:22

My sister’s 2 nieces met the grades for pharmacy at Strathclyde but didn’t want to go there and chose RG instead and have both done brilliantly and have fantastic careers.

Edinburgh Uni is fab. She just doesn't want to leave home 😄

MistressIggi · 09/08/2023 12:34

Rae36 · 09/08/2023 10:23

My nat5 ds finally arrived home at 9.45am and got 2 Bs and 5 Cs at Nat5. I'm disappointed with him, he's disappointed with himself. He could have done better than that. (I haven't said I'm disappointed obviously)
Off to school tomorrow for a meeting with guidance staff to see if he'll be allowed on the Higher courses he wants with just Cs.

Unless you're at a private school, or the subject is massively oversubscribed, they don't really have much choice!

Rae36 · 09/08/2023 12:49

MistressIggi · 09/08/2023 12:34

Unless you're at a private school, or the subject is massively oversubscribed, they don't really have much choice!

Show quote history

What do you mean? The school don't have a choice and have to let him do it if he wants? Or he doesn't have any choice?

I guess I don't want to be setting him up to fail a Higher if he didn't really get the Nat5. Or maybe (most likely) he just didn't work hard enough

MathsNervous · 09/08/2023 13:08

Rae36 · 09/08/2023 10:23

My nat5 ds finally arrived home at 9.45am and got 2 Bs and 5 Cs at Nat5. I'm disappointed with him, he's disappointed with himself. He could have done better than that. (I haven't said I'm disappointed obviously)
Off to school tomorrow for a meeting with guidance staff to see if he'll be allowed on the Higher courses he wants with just Cs.

Your DS has done brilliantly in his exams, these are all passes and he could end up with straight As in his Highers. DS has friends who only passed two out of eight NAT5s. It could honestly be a lot worse.

DS got to pick a celebratory dinner last night. Bang goes the diet 🙄😂

MathsNervous · 09/08/2023 13:10

MistressIggi · 09/08/2023 12:34

Unless you're at a private school, or the subject is massively oversubscribed, they don't really have much choice!

Show quote history

@Rae36 of course your DS will be allowed to take Highers with Nat 5 grades he has achieved. Cs are passes. Honestly, he will be fine.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 09/08/2023 13:37

Our school told us they only wanted pupils to do higher if they’d got at least a B at Nat 5. Not sure how strictly they enforce that though.

Rae36 · 09/08/2023 13:52

TooOldForThisNonsense · 09/08/2023 13:37

Our school told us they only wanted pupils to do higher if they’d got at least a B at Nat 5. Not sure how strictly they enforce that though.

That's what we were told too, they made quite a big fuss about it. Sounds like they can't enforce it though if the kids are determined to go ahead.

I'm pretty sure his C was down to laziness and not lack of ability if that makes a difference.

Hopefully this mediocre set of results will give him a kick up the bum for next year. Or it might reinforce his belief that he can just bumble along doing the bare minimum and it will all be fine.

MistressIggi · 09/08/2023 14:01

I can only see your ds not getting to take the subject if it's oversubscribed and they don't have room in the class for everyone who wants to do it - then they'd likely pick people with As and Bs. I've had pupils who got a D at N5 sitting in Higher. Generally that would be an uphill struggle for them to pass! By the sound of it your ds will do just fine next year.

GottoHandit · 09/08/2023 14:27

Am wondering whether it would be more realistic for my DD to resit Nat 5 Maths this year to try and get a Grade B OR have her do Higher Maths in S6 which is what she intended to do. I’m worried she’ll a) struggle to do well in Higher Maths in S6 after leaving the subject for a year and only getting a C in Nat 5 b) the universities who require a B in Nat 5 Maths (teaching and some Bio/Chemistry degrees at a quick glance) will just see her C Grade in S4 and be dubious about her attaining her Higher Maths in S6.

I think I might have to break it to her that she either needs to resit her Nat 5 Maths this year or perhaps start studying for her Maths Higher this year - but not take the exam till S6 to give her 2 years of teaching and a better chance of getting a good pass.

We discussed having her Maths result appealed in case she might be a borderline B but she said she feels if they looked at it again they might give her a D!

Rae36 it sounds like you’d benefit from a talk with your DS’s teachers. Do they think he’s capable of doing better than he’s done and just needs to knuckle down? Does your DS know in his heart-of-hearts that he’s capable of doing better? I’ve definitely heard of kids who’ve gone on to do really well in their Highers after getting Cs in their Nat 5s.

thaegumathteth · 09/08/2023 20:26

Rae36 · 09/08/2023 10:23

My nat5 ds finally arrived home at 9.45am and got 2 Bs and 5 Cs at Nat5. I'm disappointed with him, he's disappointed with himself. He could have done better than that. (I haven't said I'm disappointed obviously)
Off to school tomorrow for a meeting with guidance staff to see if he'll be allowed on the Higher courses he wants with just Cs.

Fwiw ds got worse than that last year (4 n5 too) and just for 4 As at higher

Threeboysadogandacat · 10/08/2023 00:04

@Rae36 My nephew got a C for nat 5 history, a B for higher and an A in his advanced higher so all is not lost.

Ds1 (although academically bright) didn’t do well in his school exams at all. He now has his degree and a good job. There is no right path. They will be fine.

Rainbowshit · 10/08/2023 09:47

Rae36 · 09/08/2023 10:23

My nat5 ds finally arrived home at 9.45am and got 2 Bs and 5 Cs at Nat5. I'm disappointed with him, he's disappointed with himself. He could have done better than that. (I haven't said I'm disappointed obviously)
Off to school tomorrow for a meeting with guidance staff to see if he'll be allowed on the Higher courses he wants with just Cs.

Sorry to hear that. Perhaps it might give him a bit of a kick up the bum. Certainly for me it was only when I failed some exams that I realised that I had to up my game for my own future, that no one else could do it for me.

tigger1001 · 10/08/2023 11:59

TooOldForThisNonsense · 09/08/2023 13:37

Our school told us they only wanted pupils to do higher if they’d got at least a B at Nat 5. Not sure how strictly they enforce that though.

Yep that's what our schools policy is too. And they do seem to enforce it.

Our school also won't let students do an advanced higher in a subject if they haven't got higher english. They however forgot that rather important nugget of information last year when he could have made different choices even though they knew and had discussed his potential path for s6.

Original poster
NicolaSturGONE · 10/08/2023 20:59

See everyone again when its time for the prelims!

OP posts:
8misskitty8 · 10/08/2023 21:04

tigger1001 · 10/08/2023 11:59

Yep that's what our schools policy is too. And they do seem to enforce it.

Our school also won't let students do an advanced higher in a subject if they haven't got higher english. They however forgot that rather important nugget of information last year when he could have made different choices even though they knew and had discussed his potential path for s6.

Show quote history

they need higher English to do Any subject at advanced higher ? That’s just ludicrous.

HGC2 · 10/08/2023 21:05

NicolaSturGONE · 10/08/2023 20:59

See everyone again when its time for the prelims!

Oh man!

TooOldForThisNonsense · 10/08/2023 22:43

NicolaSturGONE · 10/08/2023 20:59

See everyone again when its time for the prelims!

Argh! At least with 5 As at higher in his back pocket the pressure should be off my eldest but I have an s4 now too! He’s autistic and finds school a challenge so hoping for 4/5 Nat 5s for him.

trmacc · 17/08/2023 09:28

At a bit of a loss. 17y/o done less good than hoped at Highers, (2As, 1B and 2Cs), still good results I know, but she is gutted as had wanted to do Economics at Uni and most courses want 5As. Teachers have basically been telling her for past year that Advanced Highers are pointless (?!) so now really struggling to convince her to continue school. I think that she should do the Adv Highers, get a good grade and that will make a difference for Uni applications, but she is convinced that only first attempt Higher results matter for applications. School currently dealing with priority cases (ie those wanting to go to uni this year) so can't speak to them yet.

readsalotgirl63 · 17/08/2023 09:39

It is true that lots of courses want 5 good highers at first sitting and your dd will be competing against those who do have this. However I agree with you that going back to school and either re-sitting highers or doing the AH will be worthwhile. Its entirely likely that she would get a conditional offer based on AH results but she might need to be quite clever with regard to where she applies.

For what its worth my dd got 5 good higher in one sitting but a couple of her offers were conditional on her AH - but she did have an unconditional offer from a less popular university.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 17/08/2023 11:18

I think for some more popular/high demand courses they might require all highers at the first attempt but it certainly doesn’t seem to be all Unis and all course. Those are decent grades and if she can get a couple of advanced highers under her belt then should improve her chances. Do school league tables take into account AH results, if not that’s maybe why the school would prefer more highers

SandyIrving · 17/08/2023 12:26

Worth looking at Strathclyde, Heriot Watt, Aberdeen for Economics as StA, Edinburgh and Glasgow entrance requirements are very high if not contextual. She could always take a punt at one of these providing she meets the minimum particularly if there is something interesting about her (DD knows someone at Edinburgh who is quite active politically whose grades are not dissimilar to your DDs).

My youngest applied for Economics 3+ years ago and we did the Open Days for the Strathy and Heriot Watt I was impressed with the courses and student outcomes job wise.

Asked DD about AHs and she said AH maths really useful for economics plus AH in an essay subject helped too. She did OU YASS in Economics but watch as I don't think all unis count this (Edinburgh does).

Plus tell her to watch how unis count AHs as in some cases where they don't double count but ask for >5 subjects from 6th year it might make sense to have a new higher or two.

What were her Cs in?

trmacc · 17/08/2023 12:48

SandyIrving · 17/08/2023 12:26

Worth looking at Strathclyde, Heriot Watt, Aberdeen for Economics as StA, Edinburgh and Glasgow entrance requirements are very high if not contextual. She could always take a punt at one of these providing she meets the minimum particularly if there is something interesting about her (DD knows someone at Edinburgh who is quite active politically whose grades are not dissimilar to your DDs).

My youngest applied for Economics 3+ years ago and we did the Open Days for the Strathy and Heriot Watt I was impressed with the courses and student outcomes job wise.

Asked DD about AHs and she said AH maths really useful for economics plus AH in an essay subject helped too. She did OU YASS in Economics but watch as I don't think all unis count this (Edinburgh does).

Plus tell her to watch how unis count AHs as in some cases where they don't double count but ask for >5 subjects from 6th year it might make sense to have a new higher or two.

What were her Cs in?

Yes, I am trying to widen the net to other Unis. C's were in Chemistry (predicated a B) and Maths (predicated an A) so she was quite gutted. She is scheduled to do AH Maths and we hope if she can get a high grade in that it will offset the poorer Higher result.

trmacc · 17/08/2023 12:53

Also not sure if her extra curricula activities make any difference? She's had various jobs since she was 14 and is a qualified life guard and swimming teacher and has also run a small enterprise from home(making and selling jewellery) which was modestly profitable. I am biased of course, but think the fact she has quite a few strings to her bow make her a good candidate but not sure if Unis consider this sort of thing?

SandyIrving · 17/08/2023 13:43

Check what school think about AH Maths with a C in H as progression is usually quite low (less than a third pass AH according to my family member who teaches) but there are exceptions.

Relating your DDs business to what she wants to study/career aspiration might get her personal statement noticed (for those unis who read these) particularly in those unis where economics is part of business school. There is a bit where you can add work info and she could also refer to it in personal statement (eg to explain how it has given her skills to cope with uni, explain lower than expected results or that that she is well rounded who would really join in with uni life etc etc)