‘Unusually hard’ maths exam but record new Higher results

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has admitted the new Higher maths exam was too hard, and changed the grading system accordingly.

The new Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Highers have started to be phased in but in May 14,000 pupils and parents signed online petitions complaining about the difficulty of the Maths exam.

Today, as results were delivered to pupils across Scotland, the SQA confirmed grade boundaries for the new CfE Higher exam were reduced to correspond with the difficulty level of the existing Higher exam.

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This led to the A-C attainment rate for existing Higher Maths was 73.1 per cent, while for new Higher Maths the rate was 70.8 per cent.

Dr Janet Brown, SQA's chief executive said: “As in every year, we carry out a review of assessments to ensure candidates have been able to display their skills, knowledge and understanding.

“If required, grade boundaries are adjusted to take account of any assessments that were easier or more demanding than intended to ensure all candidates received the grades they deserved.”

Education Secretary Angela Constance told BBC Radio Scotland this morning pupils would get the grades “they deserve”.

“I appreciate that there was a lot of activity on social media and a lot of people expressing their concerns but irrespective of these concerns, the SQA have these well-established processes that first and foremost test the performance of the examine every year,” she said.

Students across Scotland achieved 156,000 Higher passes this year – up 5.5 per cent on 2014. The National Parent Forum of Scotland welcomed the improvement. Vice chairwoman Joanna Murphy said: “Today’s results demonstrate what can be achieved when parents, pupils and schools work together in partnership to ensure the full potential of Curriculum for Excellence.

“The Forum will continue to support parents to have their voices heard and taken into full account as the new National and Higher qualifications are consolidated.”

This is the final year of the existing Highers and Advanced Highers, and the second year of the new National qualifications, which replaced Standard Grade.