In our latest blog, we cover what to expect on Results Day, as well as all the important information and deadlines to consider if someone you know decides to submit an appeal.
More information on the points covered in this blog can be found in our new information resource called Your Results which is available now to download from our website.
Results Day
Learners will receive their results certificate, delivered to their home address by first class post, on Tuesday 5 August. Those who have signed up for and activated their MySQA account will also receive their results by text and/or email the same morning from 8 am.
The appeals service will open on Tuesday 5 August at 9 am. The service provides learners with the opportunity to request a marking review if they have concerns about their certificated grade.
The appeals service is free and will be open for learners to appeal either directly to SQA, or through their school, college or training provider.
What is an appeal?
If your child has concerns about their grade and thinks there may have been an error with the marking of their exam question paper(s) or coursework, they can request an appeal.
This means a senior appointee – an experienced teacher or lecturer – will review your child’s answers in their SQA marked assessments. This includes question papers and assignments. They’ll check to make sure that:
- the marks have been given in line with the marking standards
- all parts of the assessments have been marked
- the marks have been added up correctly
- the correct result has been entered on our system
After the review, your child’s grade can go up, stay the same, or go down.
Who can submit an appeal?
The appeals service is available to all learners if they have concerns about a National 5, Higher or Advanced Higher grade.
There are a few circumstances where your child cannot appeal including:
- their course award has been cancelled due to rule breaking (known as malpractice);
- they have been through the Examination Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service; or
- they have received a grade A.
Appeals can be submitted by:
- learners directly
- parents or carers
- your child’s school, college or training provider.
Parents, carers, teachers and lecturers must obtain the learner’s permission before submitting an appeal on their behalf.
Priority appeals
An appeal can be prioritised if your child has a conditional offer for university, college or training, or if an employment opportunity depends on their grade. All priority appeals must be validated by their school, college or training provider. If your child’s school, college or training provider is submitting the appeal, please tell them that your child has a conditional offer.
How to submit an appeal
The appeals service can be accessed directly by you or your child on our website. When you first access the service, you must sign up and verify your email address. Priority appeals can be submitted up to Tuesday 12 August at 11.59 pm and by Tuesday 26 August at 11.59 pm for all other appeals.
To sign up for the service, you will be required to provide your child’s name, date of birth, Scottish Candidate Number (you can find this on their certificate), the subject and the level of the course, and whether your child is waiting for a result for a university or college place or for an employment, or training programme. Once signed up, you or your child can submit and withdraw an appeal.
If you are appealing on behalf of your child, please note the following.
- You must get your child’s permission before you submit an appeal.
- If you are appealing on behalf of more than one child, you will need to register for the service with a separate email address for each child.
- Your child should understand that their grade can go up, stay the same or go down.
- Your child should understand that they cannot also appeal separately.
Your child’s school, college or training provider can submit priority appeals by Thursday 21 August at 5 pm and Friday 29 August at 5 pm for all other appeals.
Outcome of appeals
Following an appeal, your child’s grade can go up, stay the same or go down.
Before your child submits an appeal, we would encourage them to discuss their decision with their teacher, lecturer or another member of staff to determine if an appeal is in their best interests.
We will send the final result to your child’s school, college or training provider and if their appeal has resulted in a grade change, we will issue a new certificate.
Priority appeal results will be confirmed by Monday 1 September in order to meet the UCAS deadline.
The grade your child is awarded through the appeal service will be final and they will not be able to appeal it again.
Keeping you informed
To stay up to date, visit sqa.org.uk/appeals and follow us on Facebook @ScottishQualificationsAuthority, LinkedIn @Scottish Qualifications Authority, and Instagram and Bluesky @sqanews.
