Assessment
The latest news and analysis on exams in the UK, including key dates, timetables, results and statistics for Sats, GCSEs and A levels
Wednesday
7th Aug 2024
How big is the gap in SQA results around Scotland?
After education secretary Jenny Gilruth drew attention to a ‘wide degree of variation in results’, we look at the size of that disparity at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher
![How big is the gap in SQA results around Scotland?](https://assets.tes.com/magazine-attachments/s3fs-public/styles/448x245/public/2024-08/SQA-gap.png?itok=vnDd1wPV)
Exams 2024: Why RAAC, P8 and the pandemic can’t be ignored
While exams were sat as normal this year, the reality is that students have experienced years of disruption – posing problems for them and how schools will be judged on their outcomes
![Walking on grass](https://assets.tes.com/magazine-attachments/s3fs-public/styles/448x245/public/2024-07/ignore-signs.jpg?itok=QYVF_ZkD)
Tuesday
6th Aug 2024
SQA grade boundaries: Higher pass marks by subject
We show the percentage mark that students needed to pass an SQA Higher course in each subject, as the 2024 results data is published
![SQA results day 2024: grade boundaries by subject](https://assets.tes.com/magazine-attachments/s3fs-public/styles/448x245/public/2024-08/Grade-boundaries02.jpg?itok=Npe65ktR)
SQA exam results: the attainment gap widens
This year’s Scottish Qualifications Authority annual results data shows pass rates down and the attainment gap is now wider than it was in 2019 at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher
![Students opening their SQA exam results in 2024](https://assets.tes.com/magazine-attachments/s3fs-public/styles/448x245/public/2024-08/SQA-exam-results-2024.jpg?itok=902MjuO2)
Monday
5th Aug 2024
SQA should cease to exist in 2025 - but what will change?
Ramping up internal assessment and reducing reliance on exams requires more teachers – but councils say they can’t afford them and universities are struggling to recruit
![Jenny Gilruth](https://assets.tes.com/magazine-attachments/s3fs-public/styles/448x245/public/2024-08/SQA-change.jpg?itok=s4bGfyuK)
What to do if you think part of an exam paper was not marked
If a student’s GCSE or A-level exam results seem surprisingly low and they’re sure they answered all the questions, it’s worth considering this possibility
![Low marks from judges](https://assets.tes.com/magazine-attachments/s3fs-public/styles/448x245/public/2024-07/Low-score.jpg?itok=Q8vU4_5G)
Friday
2nd Aug 2024
Inside the factory: how 9 million exams are prepared for marking
Once students close their GCSE and A-level exam papers, they might be out of sight, out of mind. But where do the papers go? Tes follows their journey through the exam factory
![Inside the exam factory](https://assets.tes.com/magazine-attachments/s3fs-public/styles/448x245/public/2023-07/ExamFactoryMain.jpg?itok=AE5j1ZIR)
SQA results: ‘We need to look beyond the data’
The release of Scottish Qualifications Authority data each August marks an important point in the calendar – but data doesn’t tell the true story of students’ achievements, says the general secretary of School Leaders Scotland
![Paint by numbers](https://assets.tes.com/magazine-attachments/s3fs-public/styles/448x245/public/2024-07/Unfinshed-picture.jpg?itok=-do4DzWW)
Thursday
1st Aug 2024
How do we establish tests worth teaching to?
As Scottish schools wait to see what exams reform will look like, David Cameron weighs up what assessment should look like in the years ahead
![How do we establish tests worth teaching to?](https://assets.tes.com/magazine-attachments/s3fs-public/styles/448x245/public/2024-07/worth%20teaching.jpg?itok=zK4uLbz0)
Why special school students need access to mainstream qualifications
As GCSE and A-level exam results loom, the CEO of a multi-academy trust that runs several special schools explains why it is so important that all students can sit assessments
![Seating icons](https://assets.tes.com/magazine-attachments/s3fs-public/styles/448x245/public/2024-07/Priority-seating.jpg?itok=yIUGJ-s-)