The number of Higher passes achieved by Scottish students fell by more than 3,000 this year – but was still the second highest total in history.
Students achieved 152,701 passes in 2016, down from a record 156,000 last year.
It is only the second time more than 150,000 Higher passes have been attained by Scottish pupils in a year.
The fall in passes has been attributed to a fall in the size of the year groups sitting those exams this year.
There were 2,076 fewer Higher entries in 2016 than 2015 and 447 more Advanced Higher entries.
Of the 197,774 Higher entries, 152,701 gained a passing A to C grade.
The percentage of pupils passing Highers with grades A to C fell from 79.2% last year to 77.2% this year.
However, the Scottish Qualifications Authority said making direct comparisons between years is difficult because of the introduction of new exams.
More than 50,000 pupils across Scotland received text messages informing them of their results this morning.
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Certificates were delivered later on Tuesday morning.
The Scottish Government said there have been significant increases in the number of students taking and passing qualifications related to wider life and work skills, with attainment of National Certificates at SCQF level 6 – each of which attracts the same number of credit points as three Highers – up by 23% to 4,920.
The figures also reveal that total attainment for Awards, National Certificates and National Progression Awards – in courses such as early education and childcare, computer games development, and leadership – is up by 27% this year, to more than 43,000.
Deputy First Minister and education secretary John Swinney said: “This has been another successful year for Scotland’s young people and I would like to congratulate them on all their hard work and achievement.
“Receiving results can be a nerve-wracking time and everyone who has received positive results today can be extremely proud of their efforts.
“Today’s results show that Scotland’s learners continue to perform very well, with the second highest number of Higher passes on record, despite a fall in the size of the S5 and S6 year groups.
“This year is only the second time in history that we have seen more than 150,000 Higher passes, up from around 112,000 just ten years ago.
“The results also demonstrate the changing nature of Scotland’s education system, as it responds to the challenge set by the Developing the Young Workforce programme.
“That approach seeks to prepare our young people better to enter the world of work by offering them much more choice and flexibility in their education path than traditional qualifications alone.
“It is encouraging therefore to see strong performances in qualifications related to wider skills for life and work and I greatly welcome the increase of attainment in Awards, National Certificates and National Progression Awards.”
