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.

Nat 5 paper 1 maths was hard..paper 2 much better was the verdict with my son and his pals!

Mine said the opposite!

My DS said the opposite. Paper 1 good. Paper 2 hard

DD was pleased with Nat 5 maths - for the first time ever she was able to have a go at all the questions on both papers.
She got a C in her first prelim in November, a D in her second prelim after they had done the whole course, but she’s thinking she should get a B, or maybe an A
really chuffed for her - she’s been working really hard, so I’m hoping its paid off for her

I am wondering whether this protest is partly of the SQAs own making. Those of us who have had kids going through the system have quite often raised concerns about the "technique" of the exam being more important than the knowledge and application of the knowledge. So teachers - who want their kids to succeed, no criticism there - teach this technique. If it says "explain", you do X, Y and Z. If the command word is "describe", then you are expected to provide these three things, and so on.

So when the SQA goes a bit rogue and produces a paper which deviates from these expected keywords/command words and structures, and expects a different level of interpretation and applying knowledge from the kids, they freak out?

Ds said nat 5 maths was fine. He usually sits comfortably above 90% for maths so it was never a worry for him. He said he missed out one question though, which is not like him. I asked why he didn't just attempt it anyway - he had plenty of time, he said the teacher said not to do that which I find hard to believe.

Two of our maths teachers said the exact same thing.

@TartanMammymy DS said it was fine too but one question really stumped him. He finished paper 2 with an hour to spare but went back and spent 30 mins on the tricky question. After chatting to his friend afterwards he thinks he got it right.
I also don’t think a teacher would say not to attempt a question but sure your DS will get on well anyway if he usually gets over 90%.

My DS finished paper 2 after an hour and 10 mins. said half the school had left by the hour mark. Was 1 hour and half really too much time. In my day it was use all the time you had!

The school I am in will not let children leave before the end of the exam, irrespective of SQA rules. So even if people are finished with 45 minutes to go, they cannot leave. They just have to sit there until the end.

For me as an invigilator, the same rules apply to me in a 1 to 1 with a child. They have to stay to the end of the timetabled exam but don't have to use extra time if they have been given alternative arrangements. Last year I had a student who was completely out of their depth with one exam, think it was History, they had a scribe and had dictated all the answers in about 20 minutes with over an hour left to go. Student fell asleep on the table and the scribe and I just had to sit there.

I agree this is a better policy. People leaving distracts others.

That's why they do it. It is disruptive when people are getting up and leaving in dribs and drabs. But it also plants seeds in people's minds when they are still writing - why are they finished and I am not? Am I missing something? Is it hard/easy?

My child is 1-1 and can leave at anytime - usually after about an hour or so 😣

Yes in most schools that's the case. It is not part of my role to restrain a child and stop them leaving. In this particular school though the rule is that everyone stays for the full duration of the exam. The kids are polite, well-mannered and wouldn't dream of just getting up and going.

@Ralstanmy dd said the same about paper 2 being hard. I think she said the last question almost broke her. She’s in the top set for maths and said none of her friends were sure if they had done the same question correctly.

Mine said a similar thing. Missed out a question because the teacher told them it was only worth 1 mark and wasn’t worth learning. I wonder if it’s the same one.

So grateful for this page. Nat 5 maths. DS thought he'd done ok yesterday but last night looked online at the answers and now thinks he's failed. He's utterly inconsolable.

Hopefully she will have done better than she thinks. My DS didn't do the last question either but now thinks he's failed the whole thing after looking online last night :(

I have had three kids go through the exam system now and there is usually one question on each paper which is very hard or goes above and beyond to separate the A1 bands from the rest. It's really hard for the kids doing Nat 5s who haven't gone through the whole system before, but it's not that unusual. Going through papers online isn't that helpful though as they won't ever remember 100% what they put down on the paper and may not remember that they get marks for working even if the end result is the same.

Thank you. you're right-going through the papers is not a good idea, especially in the middle of the night. I was trying to comfort him but it was no help. Hopefully he will be more positive today.

Poor lad. It's awful when one paper throws their confidence like this. Hope he's happier today.

Thank you

Likesise...my son thought nat 5 maths paper 1 was hard,paper 2 better and thougjht overall he had done ok...but my pal whos his maths teacher sent the papers with the answers to me last night and I cant imagine hes.managed to do that many of them!!..so.Im.now wondering.if hes even scraped.a.pass..trying hard to just let it go now for his sake!feel.for him and all.others whi gave it their best shot.

Has he looked at the answers?hiw do they compare to his answers?

My ds not great today. Just time needed I suppose

He hasnt looked at any answers..he just.knows about 1 simultaneous equation.he got.right!I just didnt get good.vibes from how hard.the questions.looked.compared.to the past.paper ones we.had.been doing before hand!I shouldnt have.looked though as past now..and hes nor.mentioned it.today so.maybe hes thinking hes.done.ok!!!Hoping now his maths apps next.friday is easier so he will.have that if.his maths result isnt.a pass.