Scottish Parents - NABS

[Groovee]

Can anyone explain to me what NABS are? Tried googling and didn't really understand. Dd is currently in 3rd year and has done Maths and Biology and is doing Home Economics on Friday.

I did Standard Grades and am totally lost about nationals.

I've never heard of the either I too did standard grades and Highers which along with intermediate they still do.

I did NABS with my highers, it was just an end of unit test, a back up to the prelim if an appeal was needed. May have changed now though.

Ah right I remember them now I just didn't know they had a name.

Nabs are end of unit tests and are not graded other than as a pass/fail. What they do tell the teachers is whether the pupil is going to be able to pass the higher exam. If they fail a Nab, and there are several chances to pass usually, then the decision is usually made to withdraw them from the higher exam as they're unlikely to pass. Most pupils in this position will sit the subject at Nat 5 instead.

Thanks everyone x

What has changed is that they can no longer be used as part of any appeal. They are pass/fail only and don't contribute to the grade at the end of the year.

My impression was that you couldn't Appeal a national 5 result?

My understanding is that schools can apply for exceptional circumstances consideration prior to results coming out, for candidates that have been ill for instance, in which case class assessments (guess this could include NABS) can be taken into account. Otherwise, once results are out schools can request a clerical check or remark, but only if the exam script and nothing else can be taken into account.