2025 SQA Exams

[Issy422]

With SQA exams starting tomorrow, is it time for a general exam thread?

It's just DD for me, doing Nat 5s. My first 'anxious parent for formal exams' experience. Starts with Music on Monday and ends with Art & Design on 26th, so we've exams throughout. Study leave not started here so first exam is on first day of study leave. She's over revision already so going to be a long 5 weeks.

Parents do need to intervene from an early age - checking if child has homework, checking if they have done said homework, checking if they are going to available supported study sessions, buying study books / past papers, using bbc bitesize, youtube videos, local library - whatever it takes and many of these things don't actuallly cost.

In S4, DD was struggling to find the right approach to studying, so we tried many of the above. Books and bitesize didn't interest her but past papers, youtube videos and some flashcard site I forget the name of did. We also got tutors.

I personally don't agree with leaving them to it, unless your child is naturally gifted or something. They do need a steer at times. They're still young!

My DD15 made a super detailed timetable way back and is merrily working through her tasks each day. She seems to do it at mad times and always with The Vampire Diaries on in the background, but she's definitely doing enough. Tbh she's highly academic and could breeze N5 with no revision, but it's important to build the skills for next year, especially as she's doing six Highers.

My DS I have left entirely to his own devices. He is 18 next month and about to go to uni. He seems to be focusing almost exclusively on Maths but then it's his only uni condition, so that's sort of sensible and I can't argue with the logic.

@allaboutthatsass . I agree that we should do what we can to support our children and take an involvement in their lives including their school work .
But what works for your DD and your level of involvement will not work for everyone as we are all different .

My DC does not want very much involvement from me . They won’t really engage with me if I try to discuss how they are getting on , what they might need . They just want to get on and do it on their own . They are bright but probably doesn’t do enough studying to get the best marks they could .
I have gone to the school talks about studying and what you can do to help your child . I came away keen to impart this knowledge , but DC only listened to me for a few minutes .
As a seasoned procrastinator I probably spent a bit too much time drawing up study timetables and colouring them in when I was a student . I would have loved to help them with a study timetable and discuss sources etc - but again I am shut down for this .

So my role is confined to making sure they get out of bed ( no mean feat ) and being fed and hydrated . I will of course check in periodically if they need anything else .

My younger DC I predict will need a lot more input from me and I already try and help them when they are stuck with homework etc .

@YouBelongWithMe DD sometimes has the gilmore girls playing in the background. She's watched it a zillion times. What is it with Gen Z kids and this new found interest in 90s/00s shows?

@imfae where did I say everyone else had to do exactly the same as what me/my daughter do? I simply said sometimes they need a steer until they find their own way.

Totall @allaboutthatsass it’s Brooklyn 99 and Modern Family on repeat in our house.

Good luck to all the Nat 5 English candidates tomorrow. May the RUAE be straight forward and the set text be the one they hope for (In the Snackbar and not Winter please!)

Good luck for English tomorrow all! DD has been given Ann Donovan and it’s pure misery town! She thinks the trend in the past is that SQA try and pick ‘trendy’ topics for Ruae and is predicting Wicked.

Son also doing English tomorrow. Not sure he has done as much revision as he could have 😢 He did very well in the prelim but hope he hasn’t been lulled into a false sense of security.

That’s exactly what my daughter thinks too. She also suggested Taylor Swift!

The nerves have hit dd tonight she had admin last week and wasn't up nor down but tonight she's feeling it English is her favourite subject.

My son is sitting higher, but he said tonight he thinks the RUAE might be Wicked!

Good luck to everyone doing Nat 5 and Advanced Higher English🤞🍀

DD also hoping it's not Winter and that it's a theme not a character question.

Good luck for everyone doing English today. Also desperately hoping it's not Winter here too.

I am invigilating Nat 5 English this morning so will be scanning the paper for the trendy RUAE (last year was electric cars, or was that the Higher) and thinking of you lot when I check out the set text.

Hello all.. late to the party as first exam today. ( AH English)

DD1 sitting her Adanced Highers in English, French & Modern Studies

DD2 sitting Highers (English, Art, Design & Manufacture & Business Management)

Both have some access arrangements due to ASD and DD2 has more due to dyslexia…

And they're off. Sending positive vibes to all the exam halls across the country.

Welcome @TalkedTooMuchStayedTooLong . Your DD2 and my DD have similar Highers choices. Mine has chosen English, D&M and Art next year (well S6 for D&M because it clashes with Art).

@SnoozingFox Are your own DC doing the exam that you're invigilating? I remember sitting in uni exams and being concerned about friends that hadn't revised the right topics, must be multiple times worse when it's your own DC.

Look forward to hearing about the papers from you later. (DD never has much to say and she'll have offloaded to DF on the journey home and won't want to talk about it anymore by the time she gets here.)

My DD1 had her exam access arrangements screwed up by the school the day she sat Nat 5 maths… the school used the “exceptional circumstances” procedure to ensure her predicted/ prelim/ late evidence grades were considered. That may apply to your DD if a familiar face is unavailable on the day. Link below:

https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/109851.html

@TalkedTooMuchStayedTooLongthanks. I've spoken to school who say, in the event, they would do this 'but no guarantee SQA would award grade given by School'. So, I'm not clear about that bit at all ?

@pinkingshears… yeah, the SQA website states they may not… and that any award will be at the bottom of the relavant band e.g. A2, B4, C6… in our situation she actually achieved an A2 on her own once she’d calmed down, last minute alterations were made and she started late, so it was more of an insurance thing (she’d only have got a B at best if they’d looked at prelim and late evidence tests).

Wow @Locallassie your daughter was spot on with Taylor Swift for RUAE. Amazing prediction. My daughter said it went well. Hope the critical reading paper is as good.

I just got the Taylor swift text too! Says it went ‘pretty well’ with lots of in own words questions.

Ruae for Nat 5 was Taylor swift which I’m sure would have delighted some and not others.

it’s pure luck whether I’m invigilating exams my son is doing - I’m working in a different school. Last year I did Moddie when he was sitting it, this year it’s business and English higher.

ds doing AH English in the afternoon. He is predicted an A, seems quite nervous.

Not heard from son but I’m sure he was not enamoured with Taylor Swift!