Top marks: Scotland's exams results hit record high

by Andrew Denholm© The Herald
Originally published: 05.08.2008

Tens of thousands of pupils across Scotland today celebrate record exam results with pass rates at Higher, Advanced Higher, Standard Grade and Intermediate all at their highest levels since the new qualifications system was introduced.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) publishes the overall pass rates today as schools and colleges receive their results through the post or via the internet.

Although rising pass rates are routinely criticised as evidence that the exam system is being "dumbed down", the SQA says the improving results are a result of hard work and appropriate decisions about which exams pupils sat.

However, there was some concern after it emerged that the pass rate for English Higher jumped by more than three percentage points between 2006 and 2007 from 64.9per cent to 68.3per cent.

Usually, any changes in pass rates that are more than two percentage points are seen as statistically significant, but a spokesman for the SQA said the difference could be explained by a change in the marking system.

Last year, the SQA ordered a review of Higher English after warnings from teachers over the reliability and content of the qualification, which is seen by many as the country's most important exam.

Complaints from secondary headteachers centred on concern that too many pupils at schools across the country were not getting the results predicted for them.

Yesterday, a spokesman for the SQA said concerns had been listened to and the marking of the critical essay section of the exam had been improved.

"People said to us that they were surprised at some Higher English results in the past with pupils not getting the predicted grades and we have listened to those comments and incorporated that feedback into the marking schemes, " he said.

"However, we would note the pass rate for English is lower than the overall pass rate for Higher and we still recognise the fluctuations as an acceptable variance."

Overall, the SQA figures showed pass rates at Higher rose from 71.7per cent in 2007 to 73.4per cent, while Standard Grade passes rose from 97.6per cent to 98per cent. The proportion of pupils passing Advanced Higher was up from 74.6per cent to 75.8per cent. All were the highest since the change in exam structure in 2000.

The SQA spokesman said: "The pass rates show that, within this robust system, learners are performing well and being prepared well. It is also an indication that pupils are being put in for exams at the right level and are therefore going on to pass those exams."

The figures also showed the decline in the number of pupils sitting Standard Grade exams, which has dropped sharply from 433,000 in 2004 to 386,000 this year.

But there was good news for science and languages with an increase in the numbers of pupils sitting physics, chemistry, French and Spanish at Higher - a rise welcomed by Fiona Hyslop, the Education Secretary.

"I want to congratulate pupils all over Scotland for their achievements. These results represent months of dedication and hard work by them and their teachers, combined with support of their parents and friends, " she said.

"The continuing healthy uptake and attainment in science and modern languages by our young people demonstrates the continued drive to make Scotland a more competitive place to do business."

Dr Janet Brown, the SQA's chief executive, added: "I am delighted and greatly encouraged to see the increase in numbers of learners achieving our qualifications and the steady growth in pass rates. These results show continuing strong achievements in what is a robust Scottish education system.

"Almost 160,000 learners will receive results today and I congratulate them all and wish them continuing success in the future."