Can you appeal your results?published at 10:52 British Summer Time 5 August

10:52 BST 5 August

We've been looking at your queries about the results system. This one on appeals comes from - Thomas Lawson, 19, of Mossblown, Ayr. Via: BBC Scotland News Instagram

The SQA say: “If you have concerns about a grade (or grades) on your results certificate, you can use the free appeals service. You can appeal directly to us or ask your school to do this for you.

"The service will open on results day, Tuesday 5 August, at 09:00, and the learner direct submission deadlines are:

• Tuesday 12 August at 23:59 for priority appeals
• Tuesday 26 August at 23:59 for all other appeals

"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.”

You can see more details on the SQA appeals service information page, external.

Image source, Getty Images

Katy McCloskey, Senior producer, Education

A record number of young Scots have been accepted into university or college, says the admissions service Ucas.

Figures released today show that 17,350 17 and 18-year-olds have gained a place, up from 16,650 last year.

There’s also been an increase in the number of young people from the most deprived areas going to university or college – over 1000 more on last year, at 2060.

Overall, around 94% of Scots obtained their first choice at university, says Ucas, but the total number of Scots of all ages accepted to university fell by 120.

Robbie Boyle
BBC Scotland News

Despite getting five As at Higher level, Katy McDonald from Old Machar Academy in Aberdeen says she isn't planning on going to university just yet.

The 16-year-old is keen to get a taste of different college courses now she has left school, before making any longer-term life decisions.

She says: "I can use those 5 As somewhere down the line.

"It has helped me get into college for this year.

"I still wanted to leave school and do something different. So I can do something I love and meet new people as well.

"I'd love to get into sport - whether that's physiotherapy or sports analysis. I'll know what I want to do once I've been able to do a few courses".

Trepidation and relief as exam results come inpublished at 10:35 British Summer Time 5 August

10:35 BST 5 August

Andrew Kerr
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Many adults will be reminded this morning of that moment of trepidation before the brown envelope popped through the letterbox with your exam results.

Meanwhile, the Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth may have felt some nerves before she sat down with civil servants to be briefed on this.

But, like many students opening that envelope, there would be relief when they looked at the analysis.

Exam results day provides a clear snapshot of just how Scottish schools are performing and we're told things are looking up.

Jenny Gilruth has spoken about the "pandemic generation" - the kids growing up with Covid restrictions.

As these young people are tested in exams, they are not found wanting.

Attainment is rising across the board and the government says there's good news with the narrowing of the poverty-related attainment gap.

This will hold off criticism from opposition parties a little - as they mark Gilruth on her performance in office.

When is the latest I could get my results?published at 10:31 British Summer Time 5 August

10:31 BST 5 August

People have been getting in touch with queries about the results system. This one comes from - Jess Stepien, 15, Edinburgh. Via: BBC Scotland News Instagram

SQA exam results for National 4, National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications in Scotland are published today - 5 August.

If you signed up for MySQA text/email, results are sent from 08:00. You should also receive a certificate through the post on the same day. If you missed the MySQA sign-up deadline, you will still receive your certificate by post.

However, mail deliveries in some parts of the country are delayed due to Storm Floris.

Information from SQA

Let us know how you did in this year's exams. How will you celebrate? What are your plans for the future?

Use this form to get in touch with the BBC Scotland news team.

The number of Scottish pupils receiving the top grades in their National 5 and Higher exam results is roughly back to pre-pandemic levels.

78.4% received an A, B or C in their National 5s. The figure at Higher level is 75.9%.

However, the number of students receiving the same grades in Advanced Higher is down on pre-pandemic levels, despite rising from 2024.

Andrew Kerr
BBC Scotland political correspondent

Image source, PA

Scotland's Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth has welcomed this year's SQA results, saying they are evidence of "a strong recovery in Scotland’s schools, following the pandemic", with more passes at every level compared to last year.

"They are a testament to the hard work of learners, teachers and parents and carers," she adds

“It is, furthermore, encouraging to see that the poverty-related attainment gap has narrowed at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher levels. "

The Scottish government has welcomed improved attainment across the board in SQA results.

The number of students achieving passes at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher level, as well as in vocational and technical courses, has increased across Scotland this year.  

The poverty-related attainment gap has also narrowed at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher level over the 2024-25 academic year, according to the results data published by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

The number of pupils and students achieving passes in vocational and technical qualifications and awards, such as construction, hospitality and business, has reached a record high of 110,380 – this represents a year-on-year increase of 22.6% compared to 2024.  

The pass rate for National 5 and Highers is also up, when compared to both last year and the pre-pandemic set of results, back in 2019, while the total number of Higher entries passed the landmark 200,000 level for the first time since the Curriculum for Excellence was introduced in 2010.

Image source, SQA

The first official exams data has just been released by the SQA , externaland it reveals there has been a small improvement in attainment in this year's results.

• Nat 5 - A-C attainment - 78.4%, that's up from 77.2% last year
• Higher - A-C attainment - 75.9%, that's up from 74.9%
• Advanced Higher - A-C attainment - 76.7%, that's up from 75.3%

Katy McCloskey, Senior producer, Education

We’ve been told that Shetland and Orkney flights departed with mailbags this morning and that students there should receive their results today.

Royal Mail are still navigating deliveries to islands which rely on ferries only. It's likely that students on Arran could see their results arrive after the 11:00 ferry docks.

Image source, PA Media

If you are just joining us, young people across Scotland are receiving their exam results - though mail deliveries in some parts of the country are delayed due to Storm Floris.

Email and text results are unaffected but those waiting for certificates in the Outer Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland have been told to expect delays.

More than 147,000 candidates are getting their marks for Nationals, Highers, Advanced Highers and Skills for Work Awards, as well as National Progression Awards and National Certificates.

Certificates have been be sent by first-class post, although many students will also receive a text or email.

Digital results are being sent to those with an activated MySQA account from 08:00 onwards.

Read more here.

If you haven’t received your results by text, email or post, don’t panic.

Contact your school or college and they'll be able to help.

If there’s anything missing or wrong with your certificate, call the SQA Candidate Advice line on 0345 279 1000.

We're being told there have been problems with administrative issues causing a delay in certification for some of the courses that UHI Orkney, external deliver.

These courses do not have results and they won't appear on the certificate:

NPA Travel and Tourism Level 6Foundation Apprenticeship Social Services and Health CareFoundation Apprenticeship Social Services and Health Care (Fast Track)Foundation Apprenticeship Social Services Children and Young PeopleNational Progression Award in Psychology level 5 Skills for Work: Early Learning and Childcare – National 5Rural Skills – Agriculture Level 5

UHI Orkney has apologised for being unable to supply these results at the expected time.

The college says if you are affected you should contact Pauline Black, the deputy principal of UHI Orkney at pauline.black@uhi.ac.uk, external or go in person to the college or visit the website here, external.

We're hearing more from pupils and their instant reactions to receiving their results...

Levi says he got on better than he thought he would.

"Quite happy. I got an A in Chemistry and a B in Physics and Biology.

"I'm going to St Andrews to study medicine."

And on another positive note, he says the celebrations start now!

Our colleagues on Good Morning Scotland have been speaking to pupils to get their reaction as results start to arrive.

Emily tells the programme she has done better than expected - managing a B in Media Studies and a C in Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies (RMPS).

She says she is hoping to go to Glasgow Caledonian University to study International Marketing.

Emily says she “put in the effort” for her results.

“I’ve got on a lot better than I thought I would and I’m actually really happy with my results.

“The school was a huge help with it all as well, with all the support studies ,but I feel like the work I’ve put in has been rewarded.”

By Katy McCloskey, Senior producer, Education

Grades are set at boundary meetings, which take place in June and July.

This year, there were 123 meetings to set boundaries. New grade boundaries are agreed for every qualification every year.

The boundaries are set by principal assessors with the help of senior SQA staff and data analysis. Grade boundaries are not set until the marking is completed.

Markers will input into these decisions – if there are recurring difficulties which students have experienced with particular questions – such as the infamous zebra question - then grades can be altered to take account of questions which were perhaps not worded terribly well or where there was widespread learner confusion.

It’s important to note that grade boundary discussions do not start out or set out to achieve a pre-determined number of grades in each category. Exact percentages for grade boundaries this year will be published later this morning.

Exam results day can stir up a mixture of emotions: you might be feeling worried, excited or stressed. But don't panic, these feelings are completely normal and, as always, the BBC's Bitesize Study Support has got your back.

This helpful guide to your SQA qualification results will help you feel as prepared as you can be to deal with all possible outcomes.

Read more of the Bitesize Study Support here.

Jenny Gilruth goes on to say “progress is being made” on closing the attainment gap between the richest and poorest pupils in Scotland.

She says the Covid pandemic had an impact on results for children who experienced part of their schooling during the lockdown era.

But she insists “real improvements” are being made on levels of numeracy and literacy gained by young people.

“This is the pandemic generation. These children and young people’s experience of school was disrupted at regular points and I think that has impacted on some of what we have seen in recent years in terms of attainment,” she says.

“But there is also evidence of recovery.

“The data that was published last year showed real improvement in numeracy and literacy in our primary schools. We’ve also seen a narrowing of the attainment gap in terms of those going on to positive destinations since 2009/10.”

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland's education secretary says all pupils will be able to access their results this morning – despite delays to some hard copies.

Mail deliveries across parts of the Highlands and Islands have been impacted by Storm Floris, meaning some pupils have a longer wait for certificates.

However, Jenny Gilruth says there were ways to access results by text, email or students calling their schools or SQA helpline.

“I know this will be disappointing and nerve-wracking for some of the young people involved,” she tells the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme.

“But those signed up for the text and email service should still receive their results by that route and certificates when they do arrive in the post.

“They can also contact their school or college or the SQA helpline, but the first port of call is to contact the school or college directly.”