Thousands of pupils found out their exam grades today as pass rates in Scotland increased year on year.
For the tirst time, exams were cancelled and the governing body had to devise an alternative method of awarding grades based on prelims and coursework assessment.
The National 5 pass rate was at 81.1% (+2.9%), the Higher pass rate was 78.9% (+0.7%) and the Advanced Higher pass rate was 84.9% (+5.5%).
Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) said it would “moderate” the results, based on historical performances of the school, not the pupil.
This is what students and parents had to say on Twitter:
A lot of people weren't happy
Twitter user @isla_logan asked the First Minister:
@NicolaSturgeon #SQAResults how can my daughter get 97% in her prelim and get awarded a B 🤷♀️
— watdeborah mcpherson (@isla_logan) August 4, 2020
"@NicolaSturgeon #SQAResults how can my daughter get 97% in her prelim and get awarded a B"
Kelly Wan said:
Can’t believe I was predicted all A’s from the start of the year. Achieved all A’s in my prelims. Have well enough evidence to back it up. Was told I wouldn’t go lower than my prelim grade. But managed to only get 2 A’s out of 5. CLASSISM #SQAResults
— Kelly Wan (@kellywanxo) August 4, 2020
"Can’t believe I was predicted all A’s from the start of the year. Achieved all A’s in my prelims. Have well enough evidence to back it up. Was told I wouldn’t go lower than my prelim grade. But managed to only get 2 A’s out of 5. CLASSISM #SQAResults"
David Fleming stated:
#SQAResults fantastic that the sqa just took my teachers recommendations and said ‘lol wouldn’t it be funny if we completely ignored them’
— david🌚 (@david__fleming) August 4, 2020
"#SQAResults fantastic that the sqa just took my teachers recommendations and said ‘lol wouldn’t it be funny if we completely ignored them’"
Some joked about appealing straight away...
#SQAResults
— Adair (@AdolfDripler__) August 4, 2020
Me and the homies rn: pic.twitter.com/geVMzniAkU
And one user, who changed their name to express anger at Education Secretary John Swinney, referenced the teletubbies in their tweet:
SQA said a group of four checked each result. These guys by any chance? #SQAResults pic.twitter.com/psipMrFshU
— JOHN SWINNEY RESIGN NOW (@mcnamarajoel1) August 4, 2020
Liam Thomas referenced a classic Come Dine With Me scene as he wrote:
You won, SQA. Enjoy my disappointment, I hope it makes you very happy. Dear lord, what a sad little life SQA. You’ve ruined my night completely. #SQAresults pic.twitter.com/SNIWVtecUH
— Liam Thomas (@03liamT) August 4, 2020
"You won, SQA. Enjoy my disappointment, I hope it makes you very happy. Dear lord, what a sad little life SQA. You’ve ruined my night completely. #SQAresults"
However, not all were displeased with their results.
User philisnxtonfire said:
OHMYGOD IM GOING TO BE A DOCTOR im crying #SQAResults
— afi 🦋 (@philisnxtonfire) August 4, 2020
"OHMYGOD IM GOING TO BE A DOCTOR im crying #SQAResults"
Hard work pays off🥰🤩#SQAResults pic.twitter.com/7qynKxYUUf
— Natasha Gills (@NGills) August 4, 2020
Of course, it wouldn't be results day without a petiton to the SQA...
Scottish Government : Make the SQA re-evaluate results which isn’t based on a classist marking sceme. - Sign the Petition! https://t.co/BcK7G7UDli via @UKChange #SQAResults
— ˗ˏˋamelia⁷ˎˊ ARSD📌 (@fakeIovejin) August 4, 2020
And let's not forget the people who didn't sign up to the text alert.
everyone has got their results and i’m sitting here waiting for the post #SQAResults pic.twitter.com/JvHTCCteAJ
— ً (@baekjuul) August 4, 2020
Good luck to pupils in the rest of the UK, who have all this to enjoy next week
Me as an English A-Level student stalking the #SQAResults reactions so I can prepare myself for bad news in 9 days time #alevels2020 #resultsday2020 pic.twitter.com/R3NpqXH5fE
— Jess Rowlands (@rowlands7_jess) August 4, 2020
Were you happy with the SQA results? Let us know in the comments.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here