SQA

SNP ministers are under pressure to speed up plans for the replacement of Scotland's exams agency after it published long-awaited revision support…

It is time the SNP took responsibility for the SQA’s catalogue of catastrophes and reformed their failing quango.” Instead, many of these guides are full of bland platitudes and the kind of basic advice already being issued by schools and colleges. Some with advice such as 'read the question' is insulting & confusion caused by what 'not' to study instead of what will be in the exam Eg.many areas in maths overlap. Once more, the SQA shows contempt for those it is meant to serve.” "Students should have been given the information required to focus both their revision and any catch-up learning still needed after periods of Covid-related absence. Willie Rennie, Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson, called for the SQA's "abolition" to be accelerated. Nuzhat Uthmani, an activist on black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) issues, tweeted: “Looks like new guidance for exams is out from SQA finally but response from teachers is not good. Being ‘Read the question carefully’ and ‘If there are 6 marks, you should make at least 6 relevant points in your answer’. Everyone knows this already. Looks like new guidance for exams is out from— Nuzhat Uthmani (@NUthmani) @SQAfinally but response from teachers is not good. "The Scottish Government’s defence of the leadership of this body is misplaced and misjudged.” Some with advice such as 'read the question' is insulting and confusion caused by what 'not' to study instead of what will be in the exam - for example, many areas in maths overlap.” She added: “Everyone at SQA recognises the professionalism of Scotland’s teachers and lecturers and their commitment to learners across the country.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has been accused of another “unacceptable shambles” after the botched release of widely mocked revision support ...

“Instead, many of these guides are full of bland platitudes and the kind of basic advice already being issued by schools and colleges. It is time the SNP took responsibility for the SQA’s catalogue of catastrophes and reformed their failing quango.” The documents should be withdrawn and immediately revised. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. It is insulting to issue senior pupils with advice as meaningless as ‘try to answer every question you are asked’. Everybody else has basically got nothing.

School guidance designed to prevent exams being scrapped for a third year has been greeted with dismay and derision by teachers for offering “patronising” ...

The Education Secretary has personally sought reassurances from examiners after revision support material designed to ease pressure on pupils was…

Scotland’s young people are to be commended for their hard work and resilience as they overcome the challenges presented by the pandemic.” This includes mitigating the impacts of educational disruption by publishing clear, comprehensive revision materials that are useful to young people who have lost a significant part of their learning due to Covid-19.” The EIS is seeking subject specific feedback from members on the utility of the revision support for their particular subject areas.” Bruce Adamson, the Children and Young People's Commissioner, has added to the criticism. It has now produced what senior figures insist is a “wide-ranging package of support”. SQA bosses also stressed their materials had been produced in collaboration with pupils and teachers across Scotland. ‘Read the question carefully’ and ‘If there are 6 marks, you should make at least 6 relevant points in your answer’. Everyone knows this already.

Long-awaited support materials were published accidentally by Scotland's exam body last night – but many teachers say the study guides add nothing.

Scotland's young people are to be commended for their hard work and resilience as they overcome the challenges presented by the pandemic." For other subjects, the SQA said the support would entail study notes that could be taken into the exam or the provision of study guides. For some subjects, the SQA said, students would be given advance warning of what would - and what would not - be assessed in the exam. "These are candidates who have faced significant disruption and anxiety throughout this academic year." There is *nothing* in it which is of use. We have waited months for this patronising document that does nothing already done by thousands of teachers to prepare students for exams. This year I'm the ONLY one that's attended 100% of the lessons.— The Home Ec Teacher (@TheHEcTeacher) March 7, 2022 The SQA said its approach to developing the revision support materials had been informed by learners and subject specialist teachers across the country and that a total of 126 items of revision support were available for National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher courses that have an exam. This should not have happened in this way and means the support materials have not been communicated and shared in a way that learners or teachers have a right to expect.— SQA (@sqanews) March 7, 2022 I'm trying to laugh rather than cry but I'm angry. It said that "this should not have happened" and that the mistake means the support materials have not been "communicated and shared in a way that learners and teachers have a right to expect". Publication of the materials last night follows the announcement on 1 February that the "scenario 2" contingency for assessment this year had been invoked and that a "substantial package of additional support" would be provided because of the "disruption to learning and teaching" caused by the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

THE Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has been accused of an “unacceptable shambles” after the early release of exam revision support for…

“Instead, many of these guides are full of bland platitudes and the kind of basic advice already being issued by schools and colleges. The documents should be withdrawn and immediately revised. Everybody else has basically got nothing. “Maybe the thing to do is try try to equalise that, but that would involve trusting the SQA doing their job and they have demonstrated that they are not a competent organisation. In subjects where pupils will sit tests, the support includes some detail of content that will or will not be in the exam and details of “significant modifications” to exams and assessments. Revision guidance for National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher exams was made available on Tuesday and was described by SQA boss as the “fairest and best way” to help children in the tests while “maintaining the integrity, credibility and standard of the qualifications”.

SQA revision support guidance for Higher maths candidates. For some courses there are study guides with hints and tips on approaching questions and gaining marks. Pupils can also create personalised study plans based ...

“The measures are the fairest and best way we can help support all learners, while also maintaining the integrity, credibility and standard of the qualifications.” The measures are the fairest and best way we can help support all learners, while also maintaining the integrity, credibility and standard of the qualifications.” For example, revision support for the Nat 5 English exam sets out the extracts of Scottish prose, drama and poetry in the critical reading paper.