It was the final opportunity for the Yes and No campaigns to bring youngsters on side.
Despite boasting a line-up of top politicians, including Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, the BBC’s Big Big Debate was described as a “waste of time”.
Around 12,000 pupils from schools across Scotland took part in the event at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.
Among them were Kirkcaldy High School pupils Kerry Steedman and Kirstin Gourlay, both 17.
Although they are supporting opposing campaigns, they were united in their belief that the event was “pretty rubbish” and hit out at the “petty sniping” between the panel members.
Kerry said: “I think they did better than the last debate between Alistair Darling and Alex Salmond, but there was lot of insults being directed towards each other.
“I was hoping a lot of kids from my school would turn to No, but a lot of them have turned to Yes, mainly because the Yes campaign had stronger speakers.”
Meanwhile, Kirstin criticised the debate for being “too short”, saying too much time was spent setting up for filming.
“I think a lot of the undecided people will still be undecided,” she added.
These views were echoed by Ross Meekins, a 16-year-old pupil from Monifieth High School.
A firm No voter, he hit out at the speakers from the Yes campaign for bringing up George Galloway’s past during the debate.
“That is not what we are voting for we are voting for the future of our country,” he said.
“I don’t think the debate was useful at all.”
Erin Harkness, 16, who is also a pupil at Monifieth High School, said the debate had helped her make her mind up.
She said: “I was undecided but now I’m going to be voting Yes.”