Pass rates for Scottish exams have risen this year, with students across the nation receiving their results for Nationals, Highers, and Advanced Highers. More than 148,000 learners have been informed of their achievements.
Qualifications Scotland, which replaced the Scottish Qualifications Authority last year, announced that a record number of vocational and technical qualifications were awarded. Admissions service Ucas also confirmed a record number of Scottish students have been accepted into university or college.
Education Secretary Màiri McAllan described the day as "proud" for young people and the education system. "These are incredibly positive results across the board, with academic passes up at every level as well as record numbers of vocational qualifications," she stated. "This is testament to the breadth and strength of Scotland's education system, the professionalism of our teachers and school staff and the hard work of our young people."
Statistics show that the National 5 pass rate increased by 0.8% to 79.2% this year. The pass rate for Highers rose by 0.8% to 76.7%, and Advanced Highers saw a 0.9% increase to 77.6%.
A total of 120,485 vocational and technical qualifications were achieved at levels 1-6, marking a 9.1% increase compared to last year. Over 131,000 individuals sat exams in more than 460 schools, colleges, and training centres.
The attainment gap between students from the least deprived and most deprived areas of Scotland saw a slight reduction but remains significant. At National 5 level, the gap is 15.6 percentage points, down from 16.4%. This reflects the difference between the 86.6% of students in less deprived areas achieving A to C grades compared to 71% in the most deprived areas. For Highers, the gap is 15.9 percentage points (down from 16.8%), and for Advanced Highers, it is 12.1 percentage points (down from 13.3%).
Donna Stewart, chief qualifications and examinations officer, commended the learners' hard work and commitment. "The rise in overall attainment at all three National Qualification levels and the increasing attainment in vocational and technical qualifications will rightly be welcomed in classrooms and staff rooms across Scotland," she said. Stewart added that the diversity of qualifications achieved demonstrates an appetite for both skills-based, practical qualifications and traditional subjects.
Opposition politicians have called for further improvements. Scottish Conservative MP Andrew Bowie highlighted the challenges faced by pupils due to "plummeting teacher numbers and spiralling levels of school violence," stating that students deserve credit for their achievements. He also noted that a "postcode lottery" persists in educational attainment.
The Scottish Greens advocated for replacing "high-stakes exams" with continuous assessment. Laura Moodie, the party's education spokeswoman, urged for an education system that "recognises achievement throughout the year, not just on exam day."
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), the country's largest teaching union, acknowledged the results as a testament to the hard work of learners and teachers. General secretary Andrea Bradley stated, "They should all be proud of their achievements, and we should all be equally proud of them for their hard work and the results that they have achieved." Bradley also expressed concern over the "persistence" of the attainment gap.
This year's results are the first issued under Qualifications Scotland. Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is operating an advice line for support on 0808 100 8000, available from 08:00 to 20:00 on Tuesday and Wednesday, and 09:00 to 17:00 on Thursday and Friday.
Two pupils react with shock after learning their exam results in Glasgow
The organisation replaced the Scottish Qualifications Authority, which was scrapped after a series of controversies, including the downgrading of some students during the Covid pandemic.
