Exam results 2024

[motheronthedancefloor]

Thought I'd get started on the exam results thread as we have a month to go!
I think, as a parent, I'm more nervous about this year (Highers) than last year (N5) as the Higher results will influence university applications.
DD tells me she's not thinking about her exams, but then she throws into conversation how 'super smart' her friends are and how they will probably get As, and also has asked me if our postcode is eligible for widening access (it isn't) so it appears to me that she IS thinking / worrying about her results.
We do have a holiday coming up which will hopefully help us all relax.
How are other kids doing?

Just done the online appeals process for 2 Nat5s. It was very easy.

He got Cs for both but his prelims were an A and B.

Don't think we've anything to lose by appealing.

@OlympicsFanGirl do you need your DCs SQA log in or can you do it as a parent with your own log in?

I agree. It's very unfair compared to the appeal system of the past. As @motheronthedancefloor says there's nothing to lose by trying to appeal if only 5 candidates got marked down.

You can do it as a parent.

It was really easy. Took less than 5 minutes.

And no you don't need their log in.

great, I'll get DD to speak to her school first to find out actual percentages and decide once we know. Teachers not in til Tuesday next week I think. Apparently the appeal results go to the school not the pupil though.

My son got an upgrade in AH mods a little while ago. He was only 1 mark out of 140 off the grade boundary so we thought it was definitely worth the risk.

Good luck!

My daughter was similar, always a clear a student for English and got an A in the prelim but has been awarded a D for advanced higher.
She feels the exam was ok and is a bit mystified.

@Pippippipi sorry to hear but also good to hear if you see what I mean! DD has disappeared off this morning before we were up so our chat will need to wait.

We might as well appeal as - she can't get any worse than a fail!

Yes I know what you mean, I think there was someone further back this thread whose child had a surprise D when expecting an A for English.
She’ll put in an appeal but it doesn’t affect her place at uni thank goodness. Hope you’re in the same position 🤞

@Pippippipi yes, she has an unconditional already so either way she's on her path.

I'm exceptionally proud of her. 7 highers and one AH (over and above this failed one) is not something to be sniffed and we just keep reminding her how well she's done and what a privilege it is to be in this position.

We've been through it all before with her elder sibling and have one more to go before this is all done lol

AH English shock here too: a very unexpected D..

Not affecting uni but want to find out more too

My DD did AH English and the complete shocker here is she got an A. She puts herself down a lot and told us she didn’t understand anything, her writing was rubbish, everything was late and last minute etc. she was predicted a B. She didn’t need it for uni either but it’s really weird how off predictions / child’s own expectations can be….

@Hapagirl48 that's great news - well done !

I've emailed the school, no harm in asking.

@ChocoChocoLatte Thanks! And yes, no harm in asking. It’s something the school should look at if predictions are so far off. In terms of appeals, I think I will appeal my DD2’s C in nat 5 art and design. She got 7 As and the C in art, she was predicted a B and art is so subjective I think it’s worth it. She’s annoyed she spent so much time on it. I’ll talk to her school about it when they’re back, it’s not the end of the world but it bothers me.

I don’t think they should call it an appeal process - a ‘marking check’ would be a better name but then they would have to admit you can’t really appeal.

@KielderWater agree completely because they're not even looking at the year round assessments / predicted marks since the Covid debacle.

And I speak of someone who's oldest child was part of that shit show and is in Uni having only sat Nat 5s 

@Hapagirl48 email sent and naturally and out of office received by return....

Anyone who is appealing after leaving school - the appeal results go to school so make sure they know you have appealed and have contact details - these will need to be your DC contact details not yours are they will only be able to share their result with them.

I have decided to go ahead (after seeking DS's permission first) and submitted an appeal on his behalf too.

Going to be interesting coming back to this thread later this year to see how many of our DC were successful!

Also if they change their minds about the appeal there's plenty time to withdraw. No harm in doing something just now as schools are not back yet where I am. Still going to speak to his teacher either way out of curiosity. Good luck to others in the same boat.

If the appeal is upheld they will eventually get a new certificate from the SQA - November; the website said.

So in the past if you had been an A all year and got a B in the exam, you’d usually appeal and get an A. Is that the situation pre covid?

Because removing the ability to make a meaningful appeal of a result is a major change. Surely this is massively affecting the final results awarded? When they compare results year by year, do they look at the before appeals procedure or after?

Just taken a look at the stats. About 10 years ago over 40% of appeals weee successful. Now it’s down to 10%.

I know this may be unpopular but I think the old appeals system wasn't very fair. Someone getting an A in the prelim was probably not sitting a full paper (due to when they are) and it will therefore have been easier to get an A. Their teachers are experts at teaching but unless they are also markers they are not expert at that. The SQA standardise marking each year so it's a lot more consistent.

You are not comparing like with like in terms of appellants though - you used to have to do it through school, have evidence of working at a higher level and pay £40. Could only find details of the 2019 system on a school website:

”There is no longer an appeals process for pupils who have failed or not performed as well as they did in their estimate exams. This process was removed by the SQA when the new National Qualifications were introduced in session 2013/2014. The SQA’s Exceptional Circumstances Consideration procedures can be followed during the actual exam diet if a pupil has been unwell in the exam itself or if there were other ‘exceptional circumstances’, perhaps due to family bereavement. Such appeals can only be made within 10 days of the exam being taken and are made at the discretion of the Head of Centre.
Once the results have been released, if there is clear and compelling evidence that a pupil has been consistently performing at a considerably higher level than that of their final exam result throughout the entire year, and not just in their estimate exam, the Head of Centre may feel that the exam paper should be considered for a marking review, for which there is a charge of up to £40. A difference of one grade between the estimate and final exam is not normally sufficient for a review and there must be a range of robust evidence for the entire course throughout the year to prove that the pupil has been performing at a much higher level than the final award. A prelim exam paper from February alone is not enough evidence for a marking review. There are very few requests for clerical or marking reviews. Furthermore, not all exams are eligible for a clerical check; this can depend on whether or not they were electronically marked.”