All the results for SQA Nationals, Highers and Advanced Highers will be announced on 4 August 2020.
There have been no exams for school pupils this year as a result of the pandemic, and so all results will be based on estimates. These were submitted to the SQA by schools and colleges by the end of May.
The SQA says it aims to be fair to all learners and that it will deliver all qualifications safely too.
Fiona Robertson, SQA Chief Executive and Scotland’s Chief Examining Officer, said: “With there being so much uncertainty this year, we wanted young people to have confidence in the SQA results they receive on 4 August. Learners’ Scottish Qualifications Certificates will be delivered by first class post on 4 August, and if they have signed-up for, and activated, a MySQA account, they will also receive their results by text or email from 8am that morning.
“We are providing a free appeals service this year. That means schools and colleges that have questions about a candidate’s final grade can appeal the result, if it is lower than what they estimated. They need to have permission from the candidate and sufficient evidence to support the initial estimate. Following an appeal, final grades can be increased, they can be lowered, or they can remain the same.
“If learners have any questions about their results they should speak to their school, college or training provider first. If they need to talk to someone about their results certificate, SQA’s Candidate Advice Line is open from 8am on Tuesday 4 August. If they want to find more information about what career or study options are available to them, Skills Development Scotland is running its annual Results Helpline. There is also a host of information online, search for SQA Results.”
SQA’s Candidate Advice Line can be reached on 0345 279 100, and runs from 8am – 6pm on Tuesday 4 August, and from 9am – 5pm Wednesday 5, Thursday 6, and Friday 7 August.
More information is available online at www.sqa.org.uk/results.
Skills Development Scotland Results Helpline can be reached on 0808 100 8000.
Greens call for transparency
The Scottish Greens have said that West Lothian schools are one area where there have been the largest average improvements. They claim that students at the schools in this and other similar areas could be disadvantaged due to the moderation procedures which the SQA will follow. They have called upon the exams authority to reveal their methodology.
Ross Greer, education spokesman for the Scottish Greens said: “This secret grading system ingrains inequality by marking down those who already face more adversity, no matter how hard they have worked on their coursework. Teachers won’t be informed that the SQA are changing their submitted grades, never mind being given the opportunity to discuss this. This is deeply unfair and is only creates far more work down the line when a vast number of pupils appeal their grades.
“The SQA are undermining not only the professional judgement of teachers but the hard work of pupils with this secret moderation process. The agency must publish its methodology and the legally required Equality Impact Assessment now, so teachers can have confidence it is robust and know what to expect when the results come in.”
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