More than 132,000 pupils across Scotland are opening their exam booklets this month. But the real pressure? That’s sitting squarely on the desks of Scotland’s education ministers.
Last year’s results were a letdown. The government knows it. The teachers know it. And the pupils — especially the ones getting ready for those dreaded Highers and Advanced Highers — definitely know it too.
A Decade of Promises, Still No Narrower Attainment Gap
You can’t say the warnings weren’t there.
Year after year, ministers promised action on the educational attainment gap — the stubborn divide between pupils from wealthier areas and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. And yet? It hasn’t budged. Not an inch.
A full ten years after Nicola Sturgeon declared closing that gap as her “defining mission,” recent data shows it’s as wide as it was then. In some areas, it might even be getting worse.
Jenny Gilruth, Scotland’s current Education Secretary, didn’t sugarcoat it last summer. “Not good enough,” she said of the 2023 results.
She’s now banking on a strategy that includes:
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Hiring more teachers
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Easing classroom workloads
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Reforming a curriculum many believe is no longer fit for purpose
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Tackling growing behavioral issues in schools
But one thing that’s staying — for now — is the exams themselves.
The Same Halls, The Same Silence, But With Different Stakes
This year’s exam cycle looks and feels a lot like the pre-pandemic ones. Pupils file into silent halls. Invigilators shuffle. Two million papers handed out.
The first subjects? Psychology and computer science. The last? Religious studies on May 30th.
There’s some comfort in the routine. But that doesn’t mean the pressure isn’t suffocating.
National 5s are being taken by 15- and 16-year-olds across more than 50 subjects. Highers and Advanced Highers stretch that into the late teens. But despite the breadth of offerings — from accounting to Urdu — most pupils gravitate toward the usual suspects.
Here’s a quick snapshot from 2024’s entries:
| Level | Most Popular Subjects |
|---|---|
| National 5 | English, Maths, Applications of Maths, Biology, PE |
| Higher | English, Maths, PE, History, Chemistry |
Girls outnumber boys in both Highers and Nat 5s again. That trend’s been consistent for years.
Exam Reform: Talked About, Then Tabled
Three years ago, Professor Louise Hayward was handed a big task: reimagine Scotland’s assessment system. Her review didn’t hold back.
She called out the “two-term dash” — where pupils cram the same subjects into S4, S5, and S6 — arguing it forced teaching to the test. She said too much weight was placed on high-stakes final exams.
Gilruth agreed. In principle, at least.
But when it came to action, not much changed. A few practical subjects like woodworking and cake-making will drop exams next year, but the rest stay intact.
One short sentence here.
Behind closed doors, curriculum reform is happening. Slowly. Subjects like maths and English are under review. Some insiders say this is the SNP’s way of fixing the Curriculum for Excellence without admitting it needs fixing in the first place.
SQA’s Final Year — or Just a New Nameplate?
Here’s where it gets awkward.
This year marks the end for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), the exam body that’s weathered scandal, pandemic backlash, and a wave of distrust. Or at least, that’s the idea.
Qualifications Scotland is set to take its place — assuming the reforms make it through Holyrood in time. But critics say it’s more of a facelift than a fresh start.
Most of the staff will stay. The processes? Still a work in progress. Pupils in exam halls won’t notice any difference. But those watching from the sidelines are far less convinced.
And for the ministers trying to defend the transition? Let’s just say, they’ll need more than a new logo.
Normal Marking? That’s Still Up for Debate
For the first time since Covid tore up the rulebook, Scotland’s exam results will be marked under “normal” conditions. At least that’s what’s being said.
During the pandemic, exams were cancelled twice. Marks were based on teacher estimates, coursework, and past school performance. That sparked controversy — and some eyebrow-raising results.
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In 2020, Higher pass rates shot up from 75% to 89%
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In 2021, record numbers of pupils scored A grades
Since then, the SQA has tried to bring things back to baseline, but inconsistencies have lingered. Grade boundaries were adjusted more heavily last year than usual, and nobody’s quite sure what “normal” really means anymore.
One short paragraph, again.
If 2024 sticks the landing, it could restore confidence. If not, it’s another headache for Gilruth’s team.
Results Day: A Reckoning for More Than Just Pupils
August 5th is circled in red on a lot of calendars.
That’s when 147,000 candidates — and probably just as many anxious parents — will receive their grades. But behind those figures is a more complicated story.
Because this isn’t just about grades anymore. It’s about trust. It’s about credibility. And it’s about whether the Scottish Government’s education strategy is working at all.
One bullet point is all it takes to show what’s at stake:
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If results improve, ministers will say reforms are working.
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If they fall again, critics will demand resignations — or worse.
And remember: we’re heading into an election year. That makes the stakes even higher.
So while thousands of pupils silently turn pages in gym halls and libraries, Scotland’s politicians are holding their breath.
They’re not the ones writing answers. But they are the ones being tested.
