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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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MathsNervous · 18/08/2023 20:41

TooOldForThisNonsense · 18/08/2023 20:36

My niece did Nat 5 history and I think she said people were crying after it. Apparently one of the questions was a higher and not Nat 5 one

Das said a question popped up in the paper they were told wouldn't be in it and lo and behold...it was.

MathsNervous · 18/08/2023 20:42

DS*

MathsNervous · 18/08/2023 20:45

VeeandBee · 18/08/2023 20:39

Yes it's a B band 4 @MathsNervous

From SQA
"How are National Courses graded?
National 2, National 3, and National 4 courses are not graded — the units that make up these course are assessed as pass or fail.
Courses at National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher are graded A-D.
Do grades A-D in National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses have bands?
Yes. Grades in National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses have the following bands:
â–ª upper A (band 1) or lower A (band 2)
â–ª upper B (band 3) or lower B (band 4)
â–ª upper C (band 5) or lower C (band 6)
â–ª Grade D (band 7)
However, this information is not included with your qualifications certificate."

Thank you for clarification 😊

Original poster
NicolaSturGONE · 18/08/2023 20:52

okay, so it seems DD got 2 A1s, 2 A2s, 1 B3 and not sure about the other As and Bs. I know she feels a bit better about the B3 as she got an A in the prelim and felt disappointed. It seems she was only 2 or 3 marks out.

OP posts:
MathsNervous · 18/08/2023 21:09

NicolaSturGONE · 18/08/2023 20:52

okay, so it seems DD got 2 A1s, 2 A2s, 1 B3 and not sure about the other As and Bs. I know she feels a bit better about the B3 as she got an A in the prelim and felt disappointed. It seems she was only 2 or 3 marks out.

Those are brilliant bands to be on. Well done to your DD🙌

MistressIggi · 18/08/2023 21:44

MathsNervous · 18/08/2023 20:33

No idea, I phoned DSs school and the teacher got back to me to explain why it may not be worth a remark. He said it was a 4B, meaning it's closer to a C than an A.

I would imagine that 1B or 2B would be closer to an A. Waiting on the more knowledgeable posters to pop up now if I have this wrong😬

Show quote history

I wouldn't use that phrasing (4B) but basically it's a lower B - a 1 or 2 is an A, 3 or 4 is a B, a 5 or 6 is a C, a 7 is a D.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 19/08/2023 00:00

NB you cannot have bands remarked only lettered grades

Thank goodness or my daft boy would be in there appealing his English!

Animallover2325 · 19/08/2023 00:50

Am I correct in thinking you still get a certificate to say you’ve completed a NQ course? Whether you passed or not? Also for any individual school units passed?

MathsNervous · 19/08/2023 06:39

MistressIggi · 18/08/2023 21:44

I wouldn't use that phrasing (4B) but basically it's a lower B - a 1 or 2 is an A, 3 or 4 is a B, a 5 or 6 is a C, a 7 is a D.

Show quote history

@MistressIggi thank you for clearing this up.

thatsnotmywean · 21/08/2023 07:48

NC for this - DD who enjoyed maths and got top marks all year for N5, got a B for her exam and is disappointed with this. She is now wanting to switch Higher Maths for another Higher, but still 5 Highers. These will be English, Chemistry, History, RMPS, D&M. In S6 she might do H Bus Mgt and H Geography.

I am worried as she wants to do primary teaching. Do any teachers know if she needs the Higher or just the Nat 5? She is doing her Higher English and knows she needs this.

DH is not happy she is dropping Maths and seems to think it is essential and she shouldn't pigeon hole herself into teaching. He is very science/engineering career himself. I think uni entry is more about the grades than the subject (except English).

DD has a real mix of interests but has no desire for an engineering or finance career. So who is right, is she making a mistake?

Rainbowshit · 21/08/2023 10:13

I would say not doing maths is a mistake. It may limit her in the future.

Is it not compulsory anyway? It is at my kids school.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 21/08/2023 10:15

I think she should do maths, maybe over s5 and s6 if the school would permit that. A B is OK, not sure why she’d think that would mean she couldn’t do the higher?

GottoHandit · 21/08/2023 11:14

Mine just got a C at Nat 5 and is planning on doing the Higher in S6. I would like them to do some Maths in S5 even if they don’t do an exam because they're obviously not as good at Maths as they thought. They assured us they were doing good and just made stupid mistakes in previous tests. However it seems they were lucky to get a pass. If yours has got a Grade B that’s great because, as I’ve just discovered, a lot of Uni courses require you to have a Grade B at Nat 5. And you definitely need it if you want to do teacher training. I just hope that my child manages to get at least a C at Higher when they come to do it in S6.

MathsNervous · 21/08/2023 11:32

TooOldForThisNonsense · 21/08/2023 10:15

I think she should do maths, maybe over s5 and s6 if the school would permit that. A B is OK, not sure why she’d think that would mean she couldn’t do the higher?

I have contacted my DSs school and have been told last week that you can't sit Higher Maths over two years, it has to be done over one year.

DS is not thrilled about this and would rather do it over two years. The school said that he could do a resit of Higher Maths in S6 if he wanted to.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 21/08/2023 11:59

MathsNervous · 21/08/2023 11:32

I have contacted my DSs school and have been told last week that you can't sit Higher Maths over two years, it has to be done over one year.

DS is not thrilled about this and would rather do it over two years. The school said that he could do a resit of Higher Maths in S6 if he wanted to.

Show quote history

Oh that seems a bit harsh :(

SandyIrving · 21/08/2023 12:28

My DDs school taught the whole H Maths syllabus each year but only entered those for the exam at the end of S5 if they had a chance of passing. Everyone else started again in S6 if they wanted to. Do you think that's what they mean by one year.

Worked well for friend of my DS1 who got an A in S6.

MathsNervous · 21/08/2023 12:39

SandyIrving · 21/08/2023 12:28

My DDs school taught the whole H Maths syllabus each year but only entered those for the exam at the end of S5 if they had a chance of passing. Everyone else started again in S6 if they wanted to. Do you think that's what they mean by one year.

Worked well for friend of my DS1 who got an A in S6.

That's possibly it @SandyIrving . I can email the school for clarification as well to see. It's still early days and given time he may be okay to sit the exam next spring. It's just a subject he loathes but got a B for Nat 5 so I don't think he's as bad at maths as he makes out!

MathsNervous · 21/08/2023 13:16

Are there schools in Scotland that do offer sitting Highers over two years?

Is it common?

dementedpixie · 21/08/2023 13:27

MathsNervous · 21/08/2023 13:16

Are there schools in Scotland that do offer sitting Highers over two years?

Is it common?

I've never heard of it before. Might a private school be more likely to allow it?

MathsNervous · 21/08/2023 13:29

dementedpixie · 21/08/2023 13:27

I've never heard of it before. Might a private school be more likely to allow it?

Show quote history

That's what I was thinking too.

Rae36 · 21/08/2023 13:55

Ds started Higher Maths in s5 then decided after prelims that it wasn't going to work. He was allowed to stay in the class but not sit the exam. He's trying again this year. He's doing the whole course again. There are quite a few kids doing the same. So I guess hes doing higher maths twice, is that the same as doing it over 2 years or subtly different? It's not publicised but definitely supported in his state school

MathsNervous · 21/08/2023 14:04

Rae36 · 21/08/2023 13:55

Ds started Higher Maths in s5 then decided after prelims that it wasn't going to work. He was allowed to stay in the class but not sit the exam. He's trying again this year. He's doing the whole course again. There are quite a few kids doing the same. So I guess hes doing higher maths twice, is that the same as doing it over 2 years or subtly different? It's not publicised but definitely supported in his state school

No, I wouldn't think it is the same thing. Good luck to your DS, I really hope he gets an A after committing to Higher Maths for two years. I can see my own DS also doing this too, tbh. He said he only wants to do S5 but it might be best to see S6 as a year to try again with Higher Maths.

thaegumathteth · 27/08/2023 21:39

Does anyone know the 'rules' for entry into s6 if a kid has failed s5 Highers?

Ds's friend has been told he's not welcome in s6 and should get a job. He really wants to resit. They are being very unhelpful and his dad was diagnosed with late stage cancer earlier this year so it's a lot.

Anyone any advice?

user143777534 · 27/08/2023 21:45

@thaegumathteth that’s bloody awful! As a minimum the child should be able to resist the exams. Poor wee soul.

thaegumathteth · 27/08/2023 21:46

Agree. I'm raging. His mum and dad understandably have a lot on their plate so I'm trying to find out the technicalities.

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