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Original poster

Exam results 2024

478 replies

motheronthedancefloor · 07/07/2024 15:44

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?

OP posts:
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6
bluebellsandspring · 14/08/2024 11:46

Yes, if there has been an error in transcribing marks then I would agree that this could result in a larger difference. I hope that errors of this type would be rare.

Vettrianofan · 14/08/2024 11:48

motheronthedancefloor · 14/08/2024 11:13

So it seems you can't appeal if you are 4 or more marks from a boundary.
DD one mark away from B for History and 2 marks from an A for English so mighit appeal them.
Seems she's not close enough for the other subjects (4/5 marks away)

Yep, just found this out. DS was five marks off a C, 13 from a Fail. Teacher says no point appealing. It's a resit or move on. Unfortunately, the two columns he could use are taken up with the two subjects he is not willing to drop in order to resit his Higher 🤷‍♀️

Vettrianofan · 14/08/2024 11:52

He is just moving on. As someone else upthread has already said, you still get 15 UCAS tariff points so it counts for something.

Vettrianofan · 14/08/2024 12:29

Are Nat5 passes counted when you go to uni or do the Highers supercede these?

Vettrianofan · 14/08/2024 12:32

KielderWater · 14/08/2024 11:21

Who says that?

Show quote history

Well, DS's teacher said due to being five marks short it's not worth appealing.

I appealed as a parent last week anyway. He has nothing to lose as he's closer to a C than a F.

Werweisswohin · 14/08/2024 12:32

Vettrianofan · 14/08/2024 12:29

Are Nat5 passes counted when you go to uni or do the Highers supercede these?

For most courses at most Universities they will look at the highest level a subject is studied at, so Adv Higher over Higher, Higher over Nat5 etc. Some Universities/courses will have specific requirements and some might look over all subjects but it's normally the very hard to get into ones!

Vettrianofan · 14/08/2024 12:36

bluebellsandspring · 14/08/2024 11:37

I am sorry @motheronthedancefloor but I think you may have been given incorrect information. It may be school policy not to submit an appeal if the pupil is more than four marks from a boundary, but as far as I am aware there is no such ban on a private appeal. Whether or not it is likely to be successful is entirely another matter.

I agree, if the pupil or parent wants to put in an appeal, it's their choice ultimately. There's nothing lost from trying even if it's very unlikely to be successful. It doesn't cost anything.

Original poster
motheronthedancefloor · 14/08/2024 12:45

DD says she was shown the SQA website by a teacher and it apparently doesn't let you appeal if you are 4/5 marks off.

I have told DD to do her appeal at home, with us, not via school, so I can check myself what the wording is as it may be just 'advice' as opposed to a 'no you can't' which is what she seems to think.

I'd probably just get her to do the closest ones anyway.

OP posts:
Vettrianofan · 14/08/2024 13:29

There's nothing to say that you can't appeal online. Pupils or parents can press appeal next to their subject on their account. Obviously those with As won't get very far! But everyone else can if they like since the certificate only shows the grade and no other information.

I can see how teachers have insider knowledge to dispute if it's worth trying though.

8misskitty8 · 14/08/2024 16:20

Dd upset again. She was going to college 2 afternoons a week to do a level 6 computing course which is the alternative qualification needed if she doesn’t have 4 highers C or above to get onto the hnc computing science course.
Edinburgh college have cancelled the course as not enough numbers doing it as people have dropped out !

So she’s going to have to speak to the school and see what subjects are available to her to do in that time.

MusicCrayon · 14/08/2024 16:37

theferry · 13/08/2024 23:03

Yes, DD was back today. She’s spoken to the teachers in person and was told they’re not giving out marks, with the exception of one teacher who told DD to not tell anyone that she had shared this information with her.

I really don't understand why they don't do this. I know it's not the same but my child is at an independent school and they had their marks sent by email by lunchtime on results day. I know other schools may not have the same resources but I don't understand why they wouldn't tell the children or why they wouldn't be entitled to know when they ask? Seems crazy as it's their mark!

Original poster
motheronthedancefloor · 14/08/2024 17:04

DD now home. alleges none of her teachers are happy with this years results and are complaining either directly or through their unions to the SQA.

Will it work though?

OP posts:
cushionfiend · 14/08/2024 17:29

Turns out my DD was ONE mark off a A for English so we'll appeal - fingers firmly crossed.

8misskitty8 · 14/08/2024 17:31

motheronthedancefloor · 14/08/2024 17:04

DD now home. alleges none of her teachers are happy with this years results and are complaining either directly or through their unions to the SQA.

Will it work though?

The only time I’ve heard that making a difference was In 2020 when the sqa Downgrading teacher estimated grade after the certificates came out in august.
It was all over the media and the sqa then sent all new certificates with the teacher estimated grades on them.

Dd was one mark of getting a C in higher English so we’re going to appeal that.

Hapagirl48 · 14/08/2024 17:37

My DD is 1 mark (out of 250) off a B in Nat 5 Art so will definitely be appealing that. Our school has said to appeal through the school so she is going to see head of year tomorrow.

Original poster
motheronthedancefloor · 14/08/2024 17:50

hugs to all those with kids close to a boundary - definitely appeal!

OP posts:
Hapagirl48 · 14/08/2024 18:05

Also DD’s school is giving everyone who asks their grades. Even if you don’t want / need to appeal, it’s good to know your actual marks, to know if you are band 1 or 2 etc.

Sturmundcalm · 14/08/2024 20:24

DS got his marks by email because he's now left school. Think we're just going to appeal his fail (nothing to lose!) but the other two we might have done are mid-boundary so just going to leave.

Vettrianofan · 14/08/2024 21:32

Hopefully the appeal system changes by the time my next DC sits national exams🫰

KielderWater · 15/08/2024 09:56

Sturmundcalm · 14/08/2024 20:24

DS got his marks by email because he's now left school. Think we're just going to appeal his fail (nothing to lose!) but the other two we might have done are mid-boundary so just going to leave.

The appeal result will go back to the school so make sure they know and have his contact details (I presume they do as he got an email)

KielderWater · 15/08/2024 10:00

Teachers have their own interest in getting good results too - there will be questions asked of them if they get poor results/too many fails, plus professional pride. Which was part of the problem in 2020; they had a conflict of interest in marking. But the way the SQA did things then just undermined the system for everyone.

Vettrianofan · 15/08/2024 12:08

KielderWater · 15/08/2024 10:00

Teachers have their own interest in getting good results too - there will be questions asked of them if they get poor results/too many fails, plus professional pride. Which was part of the problem in 2020; they had a conflict of interest in marking. But the way the SQA did things then just undermined the system for everyone.

Yes it speaks volumes that some teachers really are very enthusiastic about their subject- DS noticed this about his crash Higher subject. The teacher was really striving for him and others to do well. Unfortunately it wasn't like this for one of his other teachers, and he got a D. The teacher just didn't seem bothered. He just really struggled by the end of the course because of how it was taught. DS has to take some personal responsibility for this too. But if you cannot gel with the teacher, it makes it difficult to be enthusiastic about the materials being taught. I remember this years ago with one of my teachers. It can put you off a subject!

Vettrianofan · 15/08/2024 12:10

Sturmundcalm · 14/08/2024 20:24

DS got his marks by email because he's now left school. Think we're just going to appeal his fail (nothing to lose!) but the other two we might have done are mid-boundary so just going to leave.

It's free to appeal so you can do as many as you want.

Vettrianofan · 15/08/2024 12:13

H Chemistry 43.3% grade boundary to get a C. No other subject has had to lower it as much as this 😱 must have been a really difficult exam.

GargoylesofBeelzebub · 15/08/2024 12:16

Vettrianofan · 15/08/2024 12:13

H Chemistry 43.3% grade boundary to get a C. No other subject has had to lower it as much as this 😱 must have been a really difficult exam.

That's interesting. It's chemistry that DS would like to appeal for.

If they get a lot of appeals for a subject is that likely to indicate to them they've been too harsh?

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