The start date of the 2025 National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher exams has been delayed by the Scottish Qualifications Authority after concerns were raised by headteachers that there would not be enough time to prepare students after the Easter break.
Under the original Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) plans, the exams were due to start on Wednesday 23 April 2025 - just one day after students returned to school following the Easter holidays in some areas.
However, after objections from secondary headteachers, the 2025 SQA exam diet will now start five days later, on Monday 28 April 2025.
Later exam start date welcomed
In an update to secondary school leaders, seen by Tes Scotland, Graham Hutton, general secretary of School Leaders Scotland, welcomed the move.
He was pleased that the SQA had “acknowledged and addressed” the concerns about “the very limited time available to prepare learners for exams after the Easter holidays”.
However, the change to the start date means that the overall exam period is shorter this year.
Mr Hutton added that this “may result in some of your learners having exams closer together or coincident exams”.
This happens each year anyway, he said, but the change in the start date could result in “an increase in the number of learners having these issues”.
In its own update sent last week, the SQA said the only way to allow more time for learners to prepare and ensure that “all procedures take place in time for results day and the [admissions service] Ucas deadline” was to “reduce the period of the exam diet”.
The SQA said that if students had exams that clashed they should speak to their school or college, “who will advise on the arrangements in place for your centre”.
SQA apology for ’inconvenience’
The SQA update added: “SQA appreciates your patience while waiting for the 2025 exam timetable to be published. We’re sorry for the inconvenience this has caused while we discussed the matter further with partners. We hope the change of start date proves to be the best option for your learners.”
The 2025 exam timetable is expected to be published on the SQA website tomorrow.
The Easter break in the 2023-24 academic year in two of Scotland’s largest authorities - Glasgow and Edinburgh - ended on Monday April 15 and Tuesday 16 April respectively. The exams then got underway roughly a week later, on Monday 22 April.
In 2024-25 students do not return to school in these areas until Tuesday 22 April, the day after Easter Monday. Under the SQA’s original plans, they would have started sitting exams the following day.
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