Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Scotsnet

Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

2024 exam thread

410 replies

motheronthedancefloor · 19/04/2024 19:24

Hows everyone's kids getting on with their exams / studying?

DDs first Higher exam is D&M I think. She's been busy working on past papers but feels fairly confident. She is least confident about Chemistry.

OP posts:
Igneococcus · 16/05/2024 11:52

ds did Higher Graph Comm today, not heard anything yet. He was very relaxed in the morning when I dropped him off.

Igneococcus · 16/05/2024 12:41

It went pretty well, he says. Just computing to go now.

8misskitty8 · 16/05/2024 16:11

Dd said graphics was ok.

Just higher computing and national 5 art and design to go.

Einwegflasche · 16/05/2024 16:48

8misskitty8 · 16/05/2024 16:11

Dd said graphics was ok.

Just higher computing and national 5 art and design to go.

Just H Art for us now...quite a long wait!
It was the same with Nat 5 Art last year.....

Vettrianofan · 16/05/2024 19:24

Anyone else having problems registering for text message service for Exam results day 6th August?🤔

Vettrianofan · 17/05/2024 08:39

I see it's resolved this morning 🥳

Original poster
motheronthedancefloor · 19/05/2024 08:10

DD is stressing this morning. Firstly about her exams in History and Chem this week and secondly about her S6 subjects. She's worried about doing H Psychology and AH History next year and wondering if she should get tutors but a quick google search and there don't seem to be any tutors out there for Psychology and History tutors don't seem to go up to AH level. I'm trying to tell her she's not even started yet and it might go perfectly fine without tutors but she does seem to be having a confidence crisis this morning :(

OP posts:
Einwegflasche · 19/05/2024 08:46

motheronthedancefloor · 19/05/2024 08:10

DD is stressing this morning. Firstly about her exams in History and Chem this week and secondly about her S6 subjects. She's worried about doing H Psychology and AH History next year and wondering if she should get tutors but a quick google search and there don't seem to be any tutors out there for Psychology and History tutors don't seem to go up to AH level. I'm trying to tell her she's not even started yet and it might go perfectly fine without tutors but she does seem to be having a confidence crisis this morning :(

Aw poor DD, I'd be inclined to encourage her to focus on what is next - History and Chemistry, remind her of how much preparation she has done and how she just needs to now do her best on the days. As for S6, DS just found out he is getting his subjects and is mostly looking forward to them (1 AH, 2 H and 1 Nat5 that the school is introducing and which is a good option for him based on success in another subject). I would suggest though that the June lessons will be a good introduction as to whether she is even going to need a tutor. Good luck for the exams, I sat H Chemistry and H History and did decently in both, but DS had no desire to do either!

Misthios · 19/05/2024 09:02

What are her plans for after school @motheronthedancefloor ? Both my older two did well enough in S5 to get unconditionals to uni so advanced highers didn't matter.

Einwegflasche · 19/05/2024 09:24

Misthios · 19/05/2024 09:02

What are her plans for after school @motheronthedancefloor ? Both my older two did well enough in S5 to get unconditionals to uni so advanced highers didn't matter.

While AH might 'not matter' for securing a place, they can matter in terms of being ready for the course - obviously this is dependent on the actual AH and actual course. The one AH DS is doing will definitely help him in the career he wants to initially follow.

Misthios · 19/05/2024 09:50

No I agree - it's great prep and definitely eases the transition. But if school think a student is up to Adv H, and they secure an unconditional, then tutoring probably isn't necessary.

Original poster
motheronthedancefloor · 19/05/2024 14:38

primary teaching. She's hoping to get into the undergraduate, but I'd personaly prefer her to do the postgraduate route to keep her options open. I agree the AH can help her prepare for uni study.
She's watching Miss Adams Chemistry on YouTube. Bit concerned she's not studying as much for her H History so told her to look at Mr Marr History too.

OP posts:
BrokenWing · 19/05/2024 14:55

motheronthedancefloor · 19/05/2024 14:38

primary teaching. She's hoping to get into the undergraduate, but I'd personaly prefer her to do the postgraduate route to keep her options open. I agree the AH can help her prepare for uni study.
She's watching Miss Adams Chemistry on YouTube. Bit concerned she's not studying as much for her H History so told her to look at Mr Marr History too.

Edited

Agree with keeping options open to fall back on. I know a couple of people who did primary school teaching degrees and neither have a permanent post, I hear through them many of their uni friends are in the same position. One has recently given up after 10 years of temp contracts and moved into uni admin instead.

Misthios · 19/05/2024 15:15

DD is doing Primary teaching. She had AAAAB in her Highers and had unconditionals for 5 courses, including Glasgow (after interview) and Stirling. We also had the discussion about doing a more general degree then the one year postgrad, she felt that she'd prefer doing the full BEd to get more practical time in the classroom. The only must haves for Primary Teaching are maths Nat 5 at least B grade, and H English (not sure if there was a grade requirement) this is a teaching council requirement for all Scottish teachers and will apply even if she does Postgrad - DD's guidance teacher at secondary had done a degree in Art and then a PGCE and had to resit her Nat 5 maths in her PG year.

Original poster
motheronthedancefloor · 19/05/2024 16:15

Misthios · 19/05/2024 15:15

DD is doing Primary teaching. She had AAAAB in her Highers and had unconditionals for 5 courses, including Glasgow (after interview) and Stirling. We also had the discussion about doing a more general degree then the one year postgrad, she felt that she'd prefer doing the full BEd to get more practical time in the classroom. The only must haves for Primary Teaching are maths Nat 5 at least B grade, and H English (not sure if there was a grade requirement) this is a teaching council requirement for all Scottish teachers and will apply even if she does Postgrad - DD's guidance teacher at secondary had done a degree in Art and then a PGCE and had to resit her Nat 5 maths in her PG year.

Yes we know the subject and grade requirements. It used to be literally my job to know this stuff (worked in a uni).
She has the N5 Maths and is doing the H English along with 4 other Highers.
DD is just having a day of feeling nervous but she's off to the BF so must be feeling better now.

OP posts:
Igneococcus · 20/05/2024 13:13

Ds' last Highers, computing, just started. It's a subject he is doing very well in but I'm strangely nervous.

theferry · 20/05/2024 13:59

Eek, history tomorrow. There’s so much stuff to cover.

I’ve seen that pre-covid, there was the option of 3 essay questions. The last two years , it’s been a choice of 4 questions. I don’t know what it will be tomorrow. Some random online said they may go back to a choice of 3. That could make quite a difference in terms of having a question that they can answer well.

dementedpixie · 20/05/2024 14:07

Ds is in for his AH Computing just now. Part of his mark is his project so he has a bit of leeway.

Last exam is Thursday which is AH Chemistry. Again he has a project that helps towards his marks

weebarra · 20/05/2024 14:30

Yes, H History here tomorrow. Last one. DS1 was talking about the format and trying to second guess what will be asked for. Always a risky strategy!

theferry · 20/05/2024 15:38

DDs teachers have only taught them 4 of the 6 issues. That means DD has to be able to answer any type of question. If it’s gone back down to a choice of 3 questions, it may be that she will only know stuff for one of those questions. Do other schools do this for higher history?

LoopyGremlin · 20/05/2024 16:23

theferry · 20/05/2024 13:59

Eek, history tomorrow. There’s so much stuff to cover.

I’ve seen that pre-covid, there was the option of 3 essay questions. The last two years , it’s been a choice of 4 questions. I don’t know what it will be tomorrow. Some random online said they may go back to a choice of 3. That could make quite a difference in terms of having a question that they can answer well.

It has gone back to pre-covid assessment of a choice of 3 essays per topic. Most schools only teach 4/6 so worst case scenario is that they have no choice but they could feasibly have a choice of 3- just depends!

Original poster
motheronthedancefloor · 20/05/2024 16:25

DD asked today and H History has three questions this year.
She's been doing some practice essays and got her teacher to check them over today (day before revision lessons in school) and apparently she got 'top marks' so she feels a bit better now. She's doing the AH net year.

OP posts:
theferry · 20/05/2024 16:44

I’ve said this before, the SQA needs to cut the history curriculum. I teach history at university and they’re expected to cover more material than university students. This hasn’t been helped by the teacher only marking a portion of their prelim exams so kids don’t know where they stand with one of the topics.

Threeboysadogacatandakitten · 20/05/2024 16:49

Ds3 sat computing science AH today. I haven’t heard how it went as he’s gone straight to work. That’s him finish with exams and school now. I can’t really believe it.

LoopyGremlin · 20/05/2024 18:27

theferry · 20/05/2024 16:44

I’ve said this before, the SQA needs to cut the history curriculum. I teach history at university and they’re expected to cover more material than university students. This hasn’t been helped by the teacher only marking a portion of their prelim exams so kids don’t know where they stand with one of the topics.

Absolutely. There's far too much content which leaves zero time for skills practice. That's for both Higher and N5. AH is actually not too bad. 😡