Image source, PA Media

If you're just joining us here's a reminder that the pass rate for exams in Scotland has fallen - but it remains higher than before the Covid pandemic.

More than 144,000 young people across Scotland are receiving their grades for National 4s and 5s, Highers and Advanced Highers.

The proportion of pupils awarded an A, B or C at Higher has fallen from 78.9% in 2022 and 89.3% in 2020 to 77.1% this year. The pass rate was 74.8% in 2019.

It was a similar picture for National 4s and 5s and for Advanced Highers.

The pass rate for National 5 qualifications was 78.8%, which was down from 80.8% in 2022 and 85.8% in 2021 but up from 78.2% in 2019.

At Advanced Higher level, 79.8% passed. That was down from 81.3% in 2022 and 93.1% in 2020. The pass rate was 79.4% in 2019.

Thank you for joining us during our live coverage of Scottish results day.

This page was edited by Jamie Whitehead and Craig Hutchison, and written by Sam Hancock and Andre Rhoden-Paul.

You can read more on Scottish results day in our main story that will continue to be updated.

Here's a final reminder of the helplines available to pupils:

SQA candidate advice line: 0345 279 1000

Opening hours

• Tue: 8am-6pm
• Wed-Fri: 8.30am-5pm

SDS results helpline: 0808 100 8000

Talk to careers advisers who can offer help with post school options like college/university, apprenticeships, jobs and volunteering

Opening hours

• Tue-Wed: 8am-8pm
• Thu-Fri: 9am-5pm

UCAS - 0371 468 0468

More information has been sent to learners’ homes and is available at www.sqa.org.uk/appeals, external.

Clearing resources can be found at www.ucas.com/clearing-launch, external.

As the dust settles in the aftermath of revealing Scotland's exam results, we've been gathering reaction from teaching unions.

EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said, “Scotland’s students, their families, carers and teachers, should be very proud of the results that have been achieved this year, across a range of qualification types.

"These results have been achieved despite the significant continuing challenges of education recovery in the post-pandemic era, together with the added pressure of the cost-of-living crisis and the impact of poverty on far too many families across Scotland.

"That the attainment gap has narrowed compared to pre-pandemic is to be welcomed but that there is still a gap at all underlines the need for increased support for students and families, and reform of the assessment system.”

Commenting on today’s National and Higher results, Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union, said: “This year’s results were inevitably going to reflect the fluctuation in grades caused by the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Given the particular circumstances of the last few years and the mitigations which were rightfully put in place to account for the disruption to learning, seeking to draw conclusions about or comparisons with the performance of previous cohorts would be unfair and misleading.

“Students and teachers have continued to work as hard as ever to secure these year’s results and they should be congratulated for their efforts.”

Scottish Conservative education spokesman and north-east MSP Liam Kerr congratulated all those who have achieved the grades they hoped for and acknowledged the commitment that made that possible.

However he expressed concern the pass rate for National 5s and Highers had gone down.

“This can’t have been helped by the disruption experienced by pupils over the last year and my sympathy goes to disappointed students who didn’t achieve the results they may have wanted.

“Both the Scottish government and councils must now work together to identify what can be done in the future to increase the number of passes at these levels.

“The widening of the attainment gap nationally continues to be a badge of shame for the first minister after 16 years of government and we can’t ignore this failure of the SNP to support children from the most deprived parts of Scotland.”

Our colleagues at BBC Bitesize have a plethora of support websites:

• Here's a practical guide for what to do on results day

• How to look after your wellbeing on results day

• Teacher’s top tips for results day

• 3top tips for getting through results day

• What you can do after getting your nationals

• Staying on at school after nationals – what are your options

• Vocational options after nationals

Now that the exam results have finally arrived for 140,000 pupils, here's a reminder of two helplines available to them:

SQA candidate advice line: 0345 279 1000

Opening hours

• Tue: 8am-6pm
• Wed-Fri: 8.30am-5pm

SDS results helpline: 0808 100 8000

Talk to careers advisers who can offer help with post school options like college/university, apprenticeships, jobs and volunteering

Opening hours

• Tue-Wed: 8am-6pm
• Thu-Fri: 8.30am-5pm

UCAS - 0371 468 0468

More information has been sent to learners’ homes and is available at www.sqa.org.uk/appeals, external.

Clearing resources can be found at www.ucas.com/clearing-launch, external.

Reaction to this year's exam results in Scotland continues to come in.

Scottish Labour's Colin Smyth congratulated the pupils and teachers for this year's results.

“I hope those receiving their results feel like their hard work has paid off, but I know some will be disappointed.

“In these cases, it is important to remember that everyone’s journey is different and there is support out there for anyone who needs it.”

The Labour MSP added: “It’s clear however, that the outstanding work of our teachers and young people is a sticking plaster over a system that is failing them.

“The attainment gap between the poorest and richest continues to be very concerning, with cuts in funding to the poorest communities exacerbating that problem.”

Image source, Getty Images

This year's exam results are being digested across the country this morning.

There's been a slight drop in the number of puils being awarded A's, B's and C's.

SQA's chief executive Fiona Robertson said: "This year does not mark a return to normal for learners and educators.

"But it marks another significant and positive step on the path back to normal awarding following the years of disruption to learning and teaching caused by the pandemic.

"Our sensitive approach to awarding this year was developed with and supported by the education community. It has given learners the best chance of performing to the best of their abilities."

All examinees will be able to access support, including a dedicated helpline, over the coming days.

Hope Webb
News reporter

There's been a slight drop in the number of pupils being awarded A's, B's and C's in their exam results - but numbers are higher than pre-pandemic levels.

More than 140,000 young people across Scotland are receiving their grades for National 4's, 5's, Highers and Advanced Highers today.

And we now have a picture of the results across the country. 77.1% of pupils were awarded an A, B or C in a Higher.

That's down from 78.9% in 2022, but up from 74.8% in 2019.

78.8% achieved the same in their Nat 5's - that's around the same as in 2019 but a slight dip from last year.

The SQA has this year returned to what it describes as a "normal awarding procedure" but promised to be "sensitive" to any ongoing impacts of the pandemic.

If you're from or live in Scotland, it's likely you know what the SQA is - but if you aren't or don't, here's a quick explainer.

The SQA, full name Scottish Qualifications Authority, is a public body responsible for accrediting educational awards in Scotland. This includes school, college and some vocational qualifications.

On its website , externalthe SQA - founded in 1997 - says its purpose is to "help people fulfil their potential and maintain standards across Scottish education".

In June 2021, the Scottish government announced that the SQA was going to be scrapped and replaced, in response to a report by the OECD. The review backed Scotland's curriculum as a whole but said there was too much focus on exams in later years of schooling.

What the SQA is to be replaced with is not yet know, but an educational reform programme has been set up in the meantime to decide just that. The change is due to take place some time next year.

Image source, PA Media

We're hearing now just under three-quarters of young Scottish pupils have been accepted by their university of choice.

Ucas - the independent organisation who manage university applications in the UK - said figures released by Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) show 72% of applicants (18,780) in Scotland, aged 19 and under, gained a place at their first choice university.

This is an increase of 69% from 2022 and 65% in 2019 [before the pandemic].

UCAS chief executive Clare Marchant said: “Today’s figures show that demand for going to university or college is still healthy and much higher than pre-pandemic levels.

"Students who have applied have been more likely to secure a place which demonstrates how the admissions system is continuing to deliver for students as they make the next memorable step on their higher education journey."

She added for there are courses for people who might have missed out through clearing.

Getting your results can be a stressful and difficult process and it is important to look after your mental health.

There is lots of information online about how to relax and support one another, as well as organisations you can talk to:

• Young Scot – Information and Opportunities for Young People, external
• See Me - End Mental Health Stigma and Discrimination, external
• Home Page - e-Sgoil, external

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “First and foremost I wanted to congratulate every single one of our young people who have undoubtedly worked incredibly hard over the last year.

“But whatever your situation today, whether the results you have received have exceeded your expectation or met your expectations or whether they didn’t and whether your feeing just a little bit down as I was when I got my Highers through, a long time ago now.

“I felt a little bit down because I didn’t quite get the results that I had wanted but there truly is no wrong path and I just want you to know there is support available for you.

“You will hear this from many people and let me add my voice to it that even if you didn’t quite get the results you wanted don’t worry, life will work out just fine for you, you will find the right path for you and I’m sure whatever you do you will make a remarkable success of it.”

There's been a slight drop in the number of pupils being awarded A's, B's and C's in their exam results - but numbers are higher than pre-pandemic levels.

More than 140,000 young people across Scotland are receiving their grades for National 4's, 5's, Highers and Advanced Highers.

77.1% of pupils were awarded an A, B or C in a Higher.

That's down from 78.9% in 2022, but up from 74.8% in 2019.

The SQA has returned to what it describes as a "normal awarding procedure" but has promised to be "sensitive" to any ongoing impacts of the pandemic.

The SQA's Candidate Advice line will open at 08:00 on results day and will stay open until 18:00.

From Wednesday 9 August to Friday 11 August it will be open from 08:30 to 17:00. The line can be reached on 0345 279 1000.

If you narrowly missed out on the grades you needed to study a particular subject at university or college, the relevant admissions office may have some flexibility, or might suggest a different course.

You can also apply to Ucas' clearing process, which is used by universities and colleges to fill empty places.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS), the agency which supports training and skills for work, will also operate an advice line from 8 to 11 August.

SDS results helpline: 0808 100 8000

Read more here.

Every year thousands of students appeal their grades and there is a long-established system in place for dealing with this.

Before any student sits an exam their school, college or training centre submits estimated grades for every candidate to the SQA.

Students concerned with their grades can submit an appeal. Appeals will be subject to a marking review - a check that marks have been added up and submitted correctly and a check that the marking meets the national standard.

An appeal can be prioritised if you have a conditional place at university or college, or are in training or employment that depends on your grade.

The deadline for priority appeals is Tuesday 15 August, or Tuesday 29 August for other appeals.

Read more here

The results have been sent out by first class post but many students will have opted to receive their grades by electronic means.

Those who have signed up for the Scottish Qualifications Authority's MySQA service, external will receive their results by text or email.

Schools will have all the results, as will any colleges or universities students have applied to via Ucas.

If for some reason students do not receive their results, they are advised to contact their school.

Read more here

As students across Scotland find out their exam results this morning, James Shaw speaks to some pupils at Hamilton Grammar School in South Lanarkshire about how they've got on.

Students across Scotland are finding out their exam results today.

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Now that the exam results have finally arrived for 140,000 pupils, here's a reminder of two helplines available to them:

SQA candidate advice line: 0345 279 1000

Opening hours

• Tue: 8am-6pm
• Wed-Fri: 8.30am-5pm

SDS results helpline: 0808 100 8000

Talk to careers advisers who can offer help with post school options like college/university, apprenticeships, jobs and volunteering

Opening hours

• Tue-Wed: 8am-6pm
• Thu-Fri: 8.30am-5pm