2026 SQA exams - is there a thread?

[YouBelongWithMe]

I can't see a thread so am starting it!

Last year my DS went through a mix of Hs and AH in S6 and now is finishing first year of uni.

It's now the middle child's turn - she's sitting six Highers in S5, and they're all packed in over about thirteen days! She's totally finished by the 11th.

Can't believe they've come round so fast.

My son missed an A in his crash higher computing by one mark! He’s absolutely gutted. He’s appealing but it’s a low chance it’ll go up.

You do actually have the potential to go DOWN bands too, so think very carefully before appealing. Exams are scaled so “1 mark away” isn’t actually 1 mark. It’s 3 or 4. And NO teacher should be encouraging or discouraging appeals. We are not allowed to. It’s up to the pupils.

The B is still an absolutely brilliant grade!!! Well done to him for crashing the Higher and doing so well 👏

what would you do?

DS just finished S5 just done highers, got 1 b and 3 c which were much better than expected.

School rang yesterday re appeals. Said he was 1 mark off a B in Modern Studies and wanted to appeal. Also 3 marks off a B in English and appeal also. Discussed it with DS. He said def agree to appeal in MS but was uncertain to appeal on English. He does not want to risk going down to a D. Apparently he got 58, 61 would be a B, but he only needs to drop 6 marks to 52 get a D if it is remarked. He said it's such a subjective subject and his paper was quite political so would prefer for it not to be remarked in case it does actually drop to a D. Of course it's his decision but he asked my opinion and I just don't know what to say.

what would you say? uni not an issue as he has left school now and started an apprenticeship

I think I would probably not appeal the English. I understand his feelings, and while he doesn’t need it now, that pass in English could be something that’s asked for by future employers.

My son got a C in English and decided not to appeal, he missed a. B by one mark. School put into his head that it could go down and he wouldn’t be convincef it was massively unlikely. Eventually he decided he needs the certainty of the C more than the possibility of a B as he might want to go into teaching

@Ralstan wow. Your school shouldn’t be advising for or against appeals. And as I’ve said several times before, 1 mark isn’t 1 mark due to scaling. It’s more like 2 or 3. Unless he’s a band 5C or band 3B you always run the risk of dropping a grade.

Thank you for your advice. I agree this is the best option. Was just looking for reassurance really. No point risking English being downgraded to a D. Thanks again

Thank you. Definitely agree the certainty of a C in higher English is better than taking any chance. Thank you

Thanks for your comments. The school's policy every year is that they look at all boundary grades and do appeals. I assumed all schools did this. We wouldn't know how many marks he was away from the grade boundary as the school is.

How do you mean about 1 mark isn't 1 mark? I've not seen your previous comments.

I'm unsure what 5C or 3B are

The bands are split, so an A can be an upper A, which is A1 and a lower band an A2. Then B3 the top half of a B grade and B4 the lower etc

Thank you. I've never heard of this. thought it was just the english gradings that used numbers

The only time I have heard them being used is when applying for Oxford/Cambridge/LSE if they are looking for an A1 band.

It is one of the unfairnesses of the current ‘appeal’ system: you cannot get an A1 through appealing regardless of score unless you need one to get into uni.

new exam timetable for next year is out on Qualification Scotland website…
(sorry, can’t do links on phone app)

Thanks for the heads up . Had booked an activity with 1 DC in April and wasn’t sure if we would have to cancel depending on exams . Has worked out .

A warning - they have been known to change the timetable

Alterations from the draft to published exam schedule have caused a headache here. DD was due to sit 3 AH from the 30th of April, finishing on the 10th. She now has 3 in a row between the 10th to 12th. It’s going to be a heavy week!

Oh ignore the timetable. It changes. I booked a holiday for when DS finished his N5s last year. timetable changed, holiday had to change cost me a fortune!

Just got a phonecall from school. DS's AH Chemistry appeal was successful and has gone from a B to an A. He was 4 marks away initially. Delighted DS.

That’s great. Not successful here unfortunately. DD has stayed at B in Maths. She was one mark off an A.

Sorry to hear that, hope your DD isn't too disappointed.

Have all the appeals been finalised now? My DC did appeal one of theirs but has heard nothing - from what I've read it's all through the school so I'm assuming no news is (in this case) not good news

that is gutting - hope your DD is ok. I had a family member who was in a similar boat last year - same mark and same appeal result.