This spring, thousands of secondary school students in Scotland will be sitting Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) exams in each of the three final years of school in the country: S4, S5 and S6.
But when are the exams, and will they be similar to the 2023 SQA exams?
We’ve produced a handy guide that includes everything from when exams will take place to how they will be assessed this year.
The 2024 SQA exam diet starts on Monday 22 April and finishes on Thursday 30 May. SQA results day will be Tuesday 6 August.
Maths and English exam dates
Uptake of maths and English qualifications is far higher than uptake for any other subject offered in Scottish schools.
- English National 5 exams will take place on Tuesday 7 May
- English Higher exams are on Thursday 9 May
- Maths National 5 exams are on Friday 3 May
- Maths Higher exams are on Monday 13 May
Full details of dates and times can be found on an SQA webpage with 2024 exam details.
End of Covid modifications to assessment
The SQA announced in March 2023 that the modifications to assessment put in place to mitigate against the impact of the pandemic on learning and teaching would end this academic year. It said that coursework and exams for practical subjects would return.
Seamus Searson, general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, said after the decision that students were not ready for a return to full assessment arrangements.
However, it does mean that this year, in many subjects, a mix of coursework and external examinations will determine grades, so students’ results will not rely so heavily on exam performance.
The SQA said the return of coursework would benefit students by giving them the chance to fully demonstrate their learning; ensuring they have a fuller understanding of the whole course; and enabling them to apply their skills in practice.
Approach to grading exam papers
In 2022 and 2023, the SQA took the impact of the Covid pandemic into account when determining the cut-off points for grades.
This year, it has hinted that this more “generous” or “sensitive” approach to grading will end and that it will be back to business as usual, but as yet there has been no official confirmation.
In England, Ofqual has said that grading this year will be “normal”.
Exam appeals
Since external exams made a comeback in 2022, the approach to appeals has been different each year, and has differed from the approach before the pandemic. However, as with the approach to grading exams, it has been clear the SQA has been keen to get back to pre-Covid norms.
In 2022-23, the SQA reverted to a system akin to that in place before the pandemic, in which the marking of exam papers and coursework was checked but past performance, such as in preliminary exams (or “prelims”), was not considered.
However, appeals were free - one key difference compared with 2019 - and students could also appeal directly, without having to go through their school.
An announcement on the approach to 2023-24 appeals is expected soon.
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