Pupils in Scotland have set a record by passing almost three-quarters of Highers sat this year, while the proportion gaining top marks at Standard Grade is also up.
Figures from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) show pass rates are broadly similar to last year.
A total of 160,745 candidates sat 736,000 exams between April and June. The number of entries was up at all levels, except for Standard Grade, which fell partly because of the rising popularity of Intermediate courses.
The pass rate for Highers is up 0.4% to 74.6% the highest ever although that for Advanced Highers is 0.3% down to 77.5%.
While the pass rate at Standard Grade remains at 98.5%, 46.6% of those are at credit level which is up 0.7% on last year. Passes at general and foundation level have fallen slightly.
Local authorities have already began poring over their own results, although it will be several weeks before the figures are published by the SQA to allow comparisons to be made between areas.
A Dundee City Council spokesman said, “The education department is analysing the exam results information for pupils in the city and this information will be used to help plan for the school year ahead.”
The council is likely to be particularly interested in the outcome of the new science baccalaureate, as it had one of the highest number of pupils taking part in the country.
SNP education secretary Mike Russell said, “We know from the national headline figures that yet again Scottish students are achieving excellent results, with the record Higher pass rate particularly standing out.”
Labour education spokesman Des McNulty said the exam system was robust but there was uncertainty about the future given the SNP’s failure to deliver information about examination arrangements under the Curriculum for Excellence, which new secondary pupils will be on this month.Fewer teachers claimHe said, “There are 2500 fewer teachers in Scotland, 1000 fewer classroom assistants and school budgets have been slashed.
“More newly qualified teachers than ever before cannot get jobs. More children are being taught by a succession of supply teachers as vacancies are frozen.
“Raising educational standards should be the priority of any decent government.
“Today’s exam results show the strengths of the system but the failure of the SNP to get everything in place for the introduction of the Curriculum for Excellence poses a challenge for the future.”
The Tories want more testing in literacy and numeracy skills by the time pupils reach P7, claiming there are concerns that the exam structure does not prepare them for university, college or the workplace.
Education spokeswoman Liz Smith MSP said, “Examination success remains a vital component of a youngster’s preparation for the workplace.
“There are still concerns from employers, colleges and universities that the exam system is not consistent with their demands.Numeracy concerns”For example, last year we found out only 30% of Scottish S2 pupils are reaching satisfactory standards in maths.
“We want more rigorous testing of basic skills in reading, writing and arithmetic by the time a pupil reaches the end of P7.”
The exam results show that the total number of entries this year was 770,000, higher than the number of exams sat as some courses are marked by continuous assessment.
Since 2006 the number of Standard Grades sat has dropped by 18%, although they remain by far the most common qualification, while the number of Intermediate courses has risen by around 40%.
The number of Highers sat has gone from 158,000 four years ago to 175,000 this year, with Advanced Highers up more than 2000 to 20,500.
At Higher, the number of pupils sitting English and maths was up on last year. The SQA figures show that the pass rate for maths has risen strongly, from 69.7% last time to 72.1% now, however that for English is down 0.8% to 68.1%. This year saw the introduction of Highers in Mandarin and Cantonese.
Maths, chemistry and biology were the most popular subjects at Advanced Higher in 2010. The range of Advanced Highers on offer has risen to 37 subjects.
Picture used under Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user dcjohn.
The language and science baccalaureates, which combine a mix of Advanced Highers, Highers and an interdisciplinary project, were designed to provide a challenging experience for able pupils.
There were only 138 entries this year, with science being by far the more popular of the two, and the pass rate was 76.8%.
SQA chief executive Dr Janet Brown offered “special congratulations” to those who passed baccalaureates.
“The numbers choosing the baccalaureate route was in line with what we anticipated and as the new qualification goes on to prove its worth we anticipate that many more of our young people will follow in the footsteps of today’s pathfinders.”
Many of the young people receiving their exam certificates today will have already left school and be looking forward to planning their futures.
There had been signs this year that demand for university places was soaring, but it now appears that applications will be up by only 4.6% compared to last year.
UCAS, the organisation that manages the higher education application system, is processing more than 43,000 applicants from Scotland. That is up more than 7000 up on last year, but the figure has been artificially inflated because would-be nursing and midwifery students who previously used a different system have been included.
Universities Scotland said in January that demand for campus places at that point was up 31%, but it now reckons that the figure was boosted by disappointed applicants from last year putting their forms in early.
There are still likely to be many people disappointed this time around as the number of acceptances is unlikely to change much compared to last year’s 31,000.
Andrea Robertson, UCAS director of customer and application services, said, “It can be a stressful time for students who are awaiting news of their results, but it is important to ensure that you understand your offers and the clearing process.”
Clearing for Scottish applicants begins today when vacancies will be advertised. Advisers from UCAS will answer questions on 0871 4680468 from 8am.
Andrea’s advice to applicants was, “Remember that you need to be flexible.
“Spend time looking at all the options available to you so you don’t feel pressured into making rushed decisions.”