SQA exam results support
If you haven't received the grades you hoped for, there are a number of organisations that can offer support about what your next steps may be.
School
If you did not get the grades you were hoping for, you may be able to change your S5 or S6 course options. It may be that you can re-sit a course or choose an alternative subject to study.
Get in touch with your school as soon as possible if you feel that you may need to
change a course or level.
SQA Appeals Service
The SQA Appeals Service will open on results day, Tuesday 8 August at 9am.
Appeals 2023 is a free service that you can use if you have concerns about a grade (or grades)
on your results certificate. You can appeal directly to SQA or ask your school to do
this for you. Your appeal can be prioritised if you have a conditional place at university or college, or in training or employment that depends on your grade.
Appeals 2023 has a different process to the one used last year as alternative assessment evidence will not be considered. If you appeal your grade, a senior marker will carry out a marking review of your SQA-marked assessments.
This is not a re-mark.
A marking review checks that:
- all parts of your SQA-assessments have been marked
- the marking is in line with national standards
- the marks given for each answer have been totalled correctly and
- the correct result has been entered on our system
After being reviewed, your result could stay the same, go up or go down.
For more information you can visit the SQA website.
The SQA telephone advice line will run from Tuesday 8 until Friday 11 August. This
will provide general information and answer questions about the Scottish Qualifications Certificate.
The advice line number will be given in the information leaflet issued with your
certificate.
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)
If you have applied to university, you will have gone through the UCAS system. If you haven’t achieved the grades that you needed to automatically secure a place, you may still be able to gain a place through the ‘Clearing’ system. More information is available on the UCAS website.
Skills Development Scotland results helpline
0808 100 8000
The Skills Development Scotland helpline goes live at 8am on results day, Tuesday 8 and will be open until Friday 11 August. You can talk to SDS's expert careers advisers about course vacancies at UK colleges and universities, Confirmation and Clearing, advice about Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships, jobs, volunteering, or staying on at school.
The full opening times are:
- 8 and 9 August, 8am to 8pm
- 10 and 11 August, 9am to 5pm
There is also support and advice available on the My World of Work website.
Young Scot
The Young Scot website includes links to what you can do next and further advice on where to get help and support.
Parents and Carers
The arrival of SQA results marks the end of a demanding time in your child’s life. While it is hoped that this has been a positive experience, in some cases, it can be a day when your child does not receive the results they hoped for or needed. If this is the case, it is important to reassure them that there are still many options open to them and it may mean that they take a different route to achieve what they are aiming for.
If your child is continuing at school, they will continue to be fully supported in their learning journey and towards achieving their full potential.