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.

Good luck to all today! English higher on Friday will be the first of 5 here.

Any thoughts on Higher music? All of DD's cohort, and their teacher, thought it was a tough paper.

English next for DD on Friday. 🤞for a good paper.

Good luck for those with other exams this week.

She thought it was a hard paper but ultimately thinks she's done fine 🤷‍♀️ She's been playing the piano for the last two hours, just joyous it's all over.

Biology tomorrow! It's the one she's excited to do, as she's spent more time and effort on that than any other subject. She got a B in the prelim and was gutted, and sees tomorrow as her redemption 🤣

Higher Biology first exam for DD tomorrow. Good luck for everyone.

Hope all those who have started already are happy with how it went.

I should know this but don’t. If you have to go to the loo or are sick does the clock stop or does it just keep counting down. DD has special arrangements due to health. Last year she managed the nausea but tonight it’s not looking great. Just trying to get it straight in my head.

Some kids get AAA which lets them stop the clock. My son is diabetic and is allowed to stop and restart the clock if his blood glucose is misbehaving. But it was in writing, and he was in a separate room to let thay happen, all arranged beforehand. I think normal toilet breaks are not given the time at the end.

If she's genuinely so ill she can't sit the exam properly, they can submit exceptional circumstances.

Toilet breaks are not given back at the end in extra time. Medical breaks for whatever reason are. I was with a student one year who’d broken a leg and needed to get up every 20 minutes to hobble around on his “good” leg. But yes, needs to be arranged in advance and most schools would put those students in a room by themselves.

Thanks. She has separate accommodation in a room on her own with a toilet so she can use it if she’s sick and also so others aren’t distracted. Her gagging can be worrying if you’re not used to it.. Didn’t need to be sick last year but as I say, today’s looking more likely.

Any guesses on what the H English RUAE paper might be on? Am thinking perhaps sport since it's the commonwealth games this summer..... !

My son and his pals.found nat 5 Biology ok.today..nice surprise as he found it a.lot to.learn...

Oh it could be anything. The papers are written months, sometimes more than a year in advance so I wouldn't expect anything too current.

N5 RUAE is more predictable. Something that the SQA patronisingly think of as 'relevant' or 'appealing'- see the years on McDonald's, Taylor Swift, Sims, Bluey and technology...

How did she get on? I hope well

DD thought Higher Bio was 'very very average' 🤷‍♀️

She's now sat writing a critical essay for QP2 for Higher English on Friday. It all feels relentless at the minute.

Thank you. This morning was tough with nausea but she managed well. She’s got some strength of mind and determination. She’s relatively happy with it. This is her big passion and she’s now second guessing herself as there’s lots of online about people’s thoughts. One down four to go!
Hope everyone’s biologists had a decent day.

Jumping on to wish everyone good luck. My youngest has 7 Nat5s exams starting with Economics tomorrow then English on Thursday. Been very relaxed until last night when it suddenly got real for her.

DD says if it’s about Brainrot she’ll fail on purpose 😂

Does anyone know what today's Nat 5 RUAE paper was on? Just curious after Taylor Swift last year!!

I Invigilated a teenage boy last year and he was pleased with Taylor swift, said he was quite a fan but not to tell his friends.

Just waiting.to hear about my sons nat 5 English!fingers crossed was.ok..🙏

Sending all the good vibes for those sitting English today! I’m also interested to find out the RUAE piece! Higher tomorrow and revision seems to be happening

I’m told the RUAE paper was on the TV show where young kids spend time with residents of nursing homes. My DS said it was quite easy so hoping this translates to a good grade.

It was! A weird linking sentence Q but otherwise a very fair paper. The essay Qs in QP2 appear to have been great too. Lots of kids buzzing that it went well.

yeah, DD said Nat 5 English was Ok - and English is one of her weaker subjects.
She scraped a C in her prelim, in large part due to not being able to complete her essay, but today said she was able to answer her Scottish set text questions quickly, so could finish her essay, so am cautiously optimistic for her.

Does anyone know about the advanced higher RUAE?

RUAE isn't a thing at AH - it's a Literary Study (comparative critical essay) and Textual Analysis (analysis of an unseen literary text)