Scottish students get exam results by text and e-mail

The mySQA system also provides an online record of qualifications

Thousands of pupils across Scotland will receive their exam results by e-mail and text on Wednesday as part of a hi-tech early bird service.

Most students will get their results by post on Thursday but about 35,000 are using the mySQA system from the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Meanwhile Universities Scotland said applicants do not face the ferocious competition feared earlier this year.

It said it expected demand for places to be up by about 5%.

In January it was suggested demand for campus places was up 31%, but Universities Scotland now believes the figure was inflated by disappointed applicants from last year sending in forms early.

Ucas, the body which processes applications, said the inclusion of nursing for the first time also skewed the picture.

The SQA said the number of pupils who had opted to receive their exam results electronically a day early had increased by about 7,000 from last year.

The results were due to be sent from about 1500 BST on Wednesday.

About 160,000 students waiting for their National Qualification results - Advanced Highers, Highers, Intermediate 1 & 2 and Standard Grades - will receive their certificates by post on Thursday.