Apology from Scottish exam body after some pupils get blank exam results

Many students received their results by text or email like these at a training camp in North Ayrshire

Scotland's exam body has apologised after thousands of students got their exam results later than expected because of a technical glitch.

Some pupils across Scotland received emails with a blank space where the result should have been.

Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) said the fault affected students who had signed up to received their National, Higher and Advanced Higher results by email.

Around 7,000 pupils were affected.

Of the 145,000 who sat exams in Scotland, 5% were signed up for email-only results.

In a statement SQA said the technical issue had now been resolved.

National, Higher and Advanced Higher exams are taken by pupils aged between 15 and 18.

For students wanting to go on to University their Higher and Advanced Higher results can impact which university they go to which is why it can be a particularly stressful wait.

Apprenticeships and some jobs also ask for particular level of National qualifications.

Some pupils received an email like this with a blank space instead of their exam result

Some older teenagers in Scotland also reported getting a response from the University or College they applied for before receiving their results.

The BBC spoke to Moira and Christopher who got their exam results email over an hour and a half late this morning.

The teenagers were waiting to hear how they had done in their National 5s from 08:00.

Moira, 15, from Edinburgh received an email but it was blank and Christopher,16, from Aberdeen didn't get an email or text at first.

“It’s been a nerve-wracking day today and as the day went on it became more and more worrying,” he said.

Both received their results shortly after 09:30 and said they felt “relieved and happy”.

Moira and Christopher were affected by exam result delays

In a statement SQA said the technical issue had been resolved and texts were not impacted.

"We apologise for any concern caused to learners who experienced a delay before receiving their MySQA email with their results attached."

Results day will bring lots of mixed emotions for people expecting results.

There may be excitement, anxiety, happiness, sadness or frustration. If someone you know is getting results today and they're feeling scared or anxious, you can support them by:

• Telling them that you're there to listen if they need to talk

• Distracting them with conversation, games or their favourite food or movie

• Offering to give them space if they need to be alone

• Accepting the way that they feel - whether that is happy or sad

• Celebrating the things that they're proud of

Have you or someone you know been affected by this issue? Let us know in the comments below.