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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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TooOldForThisNonsense · 04/05/2023 09:10

Higher maths here too for my boy. Glad to have them underway. Good luck everyone

TooOldForThisNonsense · 04/05/2023 13:46

There seems to be quite a lot on Twitter that higher maths was awful but my son said it was fine and seems quite happy with how it went. He said paper 1 was Ok but paper 2 was tough, but that’s what he was expecting. He answered it all. That’s one down anyway. Higher English on Tuesday next. Hope everyone else’s kids got on OK today

dementedpixie · 04/05/2023 13:55

Ds says it wasnt hardest or the easiest but answered everything. Says a few folk missed out questions. Also has higher english next Tuesday

Shelefttheweb · 04/05/2023 13:55

I wouldn’t put too much store by Twitter chatter; it is the same every year talking about how terrible and unfair each paper was. Just teens venting.

thaegumathteth · 04/05/2023 16:18

NicolaSturGONE · 04/05/2023 06:02

DDs teacher sent them the Maths exam papers with solutions last night, if anyone wants a copy, PM me, if it would help reassure their kids in any way.
DD has spotted two questions she got wrong, but thinks / hopes, she'll still get some marks for the working. She is confident of a pass. Fingers crossed.

Fair play to your daughter for checking but omg I can't think of anything worse!

Original poster
NicolaSturGONE · 04/05/2023 17:36

ha ha, seems she's my daughter after all as I'd definitely want to know if it was me. F*ck waiting til August. That was the great thing about uni, I got my exam and test results the same week or month!

OP posts:
TooOldForThisNonsense · 04/05/2023 19:46

My son found higher answers online and is hopeful he has done enough for an A. Fingers crossed

Threeboysadogandacat · 04/05/2023 22:51

That’s ds3 just home from his higher maths exam. He thinks it went well but said there was one very difficult question with a box! He’s happy anyway. He has higher music tomorrow, then English next Tuesday.

TalkedTooMuchStayedTooLong · 05/05/2023 10:14

DD1 had a nightmare for Nat5 maths... not the question paper, which she found ok, but the school ballsed up her access arrangements due to her autism ( and likely adhd) and anxiety which through her completely right before her most dreaded exam 🤬

Was straight on to school to ensure the proper arrangements would be honoured for the rest of the exams and they have reassured me they will for all except Business Management ! I have made it plain this is unacceptable and that they'd better come up with a solution for that exam too...

So frustrated, poor child has been seeing a psychiatrist to work through anxiety, she's medicated and been really even keeled, working hard, coping with socialising, getting great results in past papiers and we worked with school and psychiatrist to set up exam access arrangements to suit her and then they throw a spanner in the works...

TalkedTooMuchStayedTooLong · 05/05/2023 10:14

Through= threw

thaegumathteth · 05/05/2023 12:19

@TalkedTooMuchStayedTooLong poor Dd. Have school said they'll let SQA know about yesterdays upheaval? I'd email them requesting that so you have a paper trail.

We had kind of similar last year - ds uses a computer in exams and the one they gave him kept turning off and on the whole way through the exam - the invigilator just shrugged their shoulders.

TalkedTooMuchStayedTooLong · 05/05/2023 13:20

Thanks @thaegumathteth that's a good idea... that must've been awful for your DS! My other DD is dyslexic and uses a laptop for many of her exams so that is a worry of mine...

Shelefttheweb · 05/05/2023 13:36

SQA Exam Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service

”* Examination arrangement related exceptional circumstances include situations where the centre fails to correctly implement a pre-agreed assessment arrangement.”

https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/79042.html

SQA

SQA - Scottish Qualifications Authority

https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/79042.html

Threeboysadogandacat · 05/05/2023 14:42

@TalkedTooMuchStayedTooLong Your poor dd, that’s completely unacceptable. If she’s anything like ds3 she will now be worried before every exam that they will get it wrong again.

It happened to ds in the prelims. He wasn’t given his extra time and therefore was in the main hall instead of being in a side room on his own or with a few other pupils. Fortunately it was only the prelims but will affect him if he needs to appeal. He spoke to the teachers concerned who told him he wasn’t due extra time for the Highers. I emailed the guidance teacher and head of year and it’s sorted.

According to ds, the higher music paper was fairly straightforward however music is his passion so was always going to be his easiest subject. Higher English on Tuesday is his least favourite.

TalkedTooMuchStayedTooLong · 05/05/2023 15:28

Thanks all... school have assured me the expected arrangements are in place for the remainder of her exams but that will not stop her worrying, yet masking it all and seeming fine (as is the usual pattern until she is completely overwhelmed and ends up self harming).

Re the exceptional circumstances, does anybody know if they mark your actual paper from the exam day too, or if they would just go with "evidence" I.e. prelim result for the grade?

thaegumathteth · 05/05/2023 15:39

TalkedTooMuchStayedTooLong · 05/05/2023 15:28

Thanks all... school have assured me the expected arrangements are in place for the remainder of her exams but that will not stop her worrying, yet masking it all and seeming fine (as is the usual pattern until she is completely overwhelmed and ends up self harming).

Re the exceptional circumstances, does anybody know if they mark your actual paper from the exam day too, or if they would just go with "evidence" I.e. prelim result for the grade?

With ds they marked the paper

Original poster
NicolaSturGONE · 05/05/2023 16:01

My DD's BF is worried as apparently with appeals, its now only a remark of the paper, they don't consider your work throughout the year as part of that appeal. They seem to have changed it. He has dyslexia and is worried about some of his exam results.

OP posts:
Survey99 · 05/05/2023 17:33

TalkedTooMuchStayedTooLong · 05/05/2023 15:28

Thanks all... school have assured me the expected arrangements are in place for the remainder of her exams but that will not stop her worrying, yet masking it all and seeming fine (as is the usual pattern until she is completely overwhelmed and ends up self harming).

Re the exceptional circumstances, does anybody know if they mark your actual paper from the exam day too, or if they would just go with "evidence" I.e. prelim result for the grade?

Some info here. It will depend on what evidence your school has available to send to the SQA and the quality of it.

https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/79042.html

user143777534 · 05/05/2023 18:04

NicolaSturGONE · 05/05/2023 16:01

My DD's BF is worried as apparently with appeals, its now only a remark of the paper, they don't consider your work throughout the year as part of that appeal. They seem to have changed it. He has dyslexia and is worried about some of his exam results.

God, I didn’t realise that! I thought they could still fall back on the prelim, and have been reassuring DS of that.

Are there no remaining post-Covid provisions then? So these kids who effectively missed 2nd and most of 3rd year just have to crack on now.

Original poster
NicolaSturGONE · 05/05/2023 18:12

I seem to recall reading something about it so when her BF told me it rang a bell but don't ask me to remember the link! I think you can also appeal without going through the school now too, but again it might only be a remark.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 05/05/2023 18:14

This year its just a remark of the paper. The evidence would only be used if they missed the exam for an extenuating circumstance

dementedpixie · 05/05/2023 18:17

https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/79049.html

Apparently it's not even a remark. It's checking that it's been added up correctly

SQA

SQA - Scottish Qualifications Authority

https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/79049.html

Shelefttheweb · 05/05/2023 20:22

dementedpixie · 05/05/2023 18:17

https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/79049.html

Apparently it's not even a remark. It's checking that it's been added up correctly

What happened pre-covid?

dementedpixie · 05/05/2023 20:54

Think that is what happened pre covid and its gone back to normal now.

gawditswindy · 05/05/2023 21:02

TalkedTooMuchStayedTooLong · 05/05/2023 15:28

Thanks all... school have assured me the expected arrangements are in place for the remainder of her exams but that will not stop her worrying, yet masking it all and seeming fine (as is the usual pattern until she is completely overwhelmed and ends up self harming).

Re the exceptional circumstances, does anybody know if they mark your actual paper from the exam day too, or if they would just go with "evidence" I.e. prelim result for the grade?

They mark the paper. I had to submit an exceptional circs last year due to an ICT glitch - his evidence was a C but he got an A so must have been his actual grade.