National Qualifications 2024-25 update on exam services
The following is an update on the exam services that we’ll provide for learners this year. While the recent changes to the 2025 National Qualifications exam timetable have prompted additional access to our Examination Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service, our Appeals Service remains the same as last year.
Exam exceptional circumstances
The Examination Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service (EECCS) will continue to be available this year, meaning those learners experiencing exceptional circumstances can have alternative assessment evidence reviewed to help determine their grades.
Extra time assessment arrangements
Learners with an extra time assessment arrangement might be due to sit more than six hours of exams in one day. Centre guidance is already in place to support these learners to sit all their exams – for example, depending on the provision of overnight supervision, one of the exams could be taken the following day. For the 2025 exam diet, we are also including the option for these learners to ask their centre to submit an EECCS request for the last exam due to take place on a day where they are required to sit more than six hours of exams.
Holiday bookings and overseas travel
We know that the updated 2025 exam timetable has introduced the risk of financial loss for a small number of learners who have booked holidays or overseas travel based on the previous dates.
For the 2025 exams only, learners impacted by the above can ask their centre to submit an EECCS request. Learners will need written proof that their booking was made prior to Monday 3 February when the exam timetable was changed. As with all other EECCS requests, they will also need to have
an estimate submitted for them by their centre.
completed all non-exam components.
an estimate submitted for them by their centre.
You can submit EECCS requests for these learners when the service opens on Friday 25 April.
While we’ve extended access to the service for 2025, our EECCS is in place to support learners who are genuinely unable to sit their exam or whose exam performance is impacted by an exceptional circumstance.
We’re aware that changes to the 2025 timetable and sitting exams in general may result in a nervous time for some learners. Exam nerves mustn’t be confused with legitimate mental health conditions and are therefore not a valid exceptional circumstance. We rely on your continued support through application of our EECCS guidance to ensure the service is not used when learners are still able to sit the exam.
We’ll publish EECCS guidance for centres and update our exam exceptional circumstances web page by the end of March. This will include further information on the additional options for exams in 2025. If you have any questions in the meantime, please email Assessment Arrangements at eec.enquiries@sqa.org.uk.
Grading
There is no change to how National Qualifications are being assessed in 2025. We’ll therefore use our well-established processes when it comes to grading.
We’ll share more detailed information on our approach to grading when we issue the 2025 results in August.
Appeals
In keeping with last year, learners will be able to appeal their final grades by requesting a review of their SQA-marked assessment components. The service will continue to be free and available for learners to access directly. Alternative assessment evidence will not be required – ensuring fairness for all learners. The Appeals Service will include a priority service for learners with proof of a conditional offer for college, university, training or employment. As in previous years, priority requests must be validated by centres. We continue to work closely with UCAS to ensure the outcome of priority appeals will be released ahead of their deadline. Stay up to date on the latest information by visiting www.sqa.org.uk/appeals
Communicating with learners and their parents/carers
Over the next few months, we’ll share information about the above services with learners, parents and carers using social media and our website.
In March, we’ll publish the Your Exams booklet on our website. This booklet will include information on EECCS, appeals, exam rules and general tips and advice on revising for and sitting exams. Centres will be given a presentation to help share this information with learners – especially those learners who are sitting exams for the first time.
We’ll also supply centres with hard copy SCN cards to hand out to learners as well as posters that show exam rules.
Dedicated results information will also be published on our website from June.
We remain committed to protecting the standard of Scotland’s National Qualifications while supporting learners and the wider education community. Thank you for your continued support in delivering qualifications for Scotland’s learners.
