If you or your child have recently sat the National 5 exams in Scotland, then you might be wondering how are National 5 exams graded? The Scottish Curriculum for Excellence grading system issues grades A to D, with anything below a D being a fail.
- A = 70-100% (good to very good);
- B = 60-69% (more than sufficient);
- C = 50-59% (sufficient);
- D = 40-49% (insufficient).
The Nationals was introduced in Scotland between 2013 and 2016, they replaced Access, Standard Grade, Intermediate, Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications.
If you are looking for a tutor for National 5 in Scottland for Maths, English, Physics, Biology or Chemistry, get in touch with Central Tutors today.
We have tutors all over Scotland including tutors in Glasgow, Edinbourgh, Greenock, Pirth, Stirling, Inverness, Aberdeen and more. If you are looking for the latest Exam Time tables and learner apps please look here on the SQA website.
How does the Scottish National 5 compare to English Qualifications?
Scotland has their own educational and exam system and thus, different grading. They are different to the rest of the United Kingdom (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). State schools in Scotland follow the Scottish System (National 5’s) while some private/independent schools, follow the Scottish system and some follow the same system as the rest of the UK, and some do both.
The National 5 exams in Scotland are basically equivalent to the UK’s GCSEs. The Scottish National 5 exams graded A to C are equivalent to GCSE’s 4 to 9 with 9 being the highest.
This image shows the grading scale for the National 5 exams
National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher Courses have units marked with the school. In order to pass a course at National 5 or higher, students need to pass all Units and a Course assessment. These assessments are marked externally by SQA, the examination board.
There are a few different types of assessments that are normally carried out using one or two of the following seven methods, depending on the subject:
- Case Study
- Practical activity
- Project
- Question paper or test
- Assignment
- Performance
- Portfolio
How are GCSEs graded?
As of 2017, the UK’s grading system changed from alphabetically grading, to numbers. The new grading system uses numbers 9 – 1 with 9 being the highest/best grade and 9 being the lowest, not including U which is ungraded. The numbers 9, 8 and 7 correspond to the grades A* and A, with 7 being on the lower end of A.
How Are Scottish Students Performing in Exams? A 2024 Overview
At Central Tutors, we closely monitor educational trends to better support our students. The 2024 Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) exam results offer valuable insights into student performance across Scotland. You can read more here.
National Performance Highlights
In 2024, Scottish students achieved the following pass rates (grades A-C):
- National 5: 77.2%
- Higher: 74.9%
- Advanced Higher: 75.3%
These figures represent a slight decline from 2023 but remain comparable to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
Subject-Specific Concerns
While overall pass rates are relatively stable, certain subjects have seen notable declines: you can read more about it here.
- Higher History: Pass rates dropped from 78.7% in 2023 to 65.7% in 2024.
- STEM Subjects: Pass rates among S4 pupils were particularly low in:
- Mathematics: 40.1%
- Biology: 25.9%
- Chemistry: 22.5%
- Physics: 17.9%
- Computing Science: 9.8%
- Read more here.
These statistics highlight challenges in key areas essential for future academic and career opportunities. (Source)
Regional Disparities
Exam performance varies significantly across Scotland:
- East Renfrewshire: National 5 pass rate of 88.1%
- Angus: National 5 pass rate of 70.7%
Only 13 out of 32 local authorities met or exceeded the national average for National 5 exams, indicating a “postcode lottery” in educational outcomes.
Widening Attainment Gap
The attainment gap between students from affluent and deprived areas has widened:
- Higher Exams: 17.2% gap in A-C pass rates
- National 5 Exams: 17.2% gap
- Advanced Higher Exams: 15.5% gap
These disparities underscore the need for targeted support to ensure all students have equal opportunities to succeed.
Positive Developments
Despite challenges, there are encouraging signs:
- Vocational Qualifications: A record 90,045 vocational and technical qualifications were awarded in 2024, a 24.8% increase from the previous year.
- East Dunbartonshire: Students achieved pass rates of 84.7% (National 5), 81.6% (Higher), and 77.8% (Advanced Higher), outperforming national averages. Source
The 2024 exam results reveal both areas of concern and progress within Scottish education. At Central Tutors, we’re committed to addressing these challenges by providing personalized support to help every student achieve their full potential.
What is the National 5 pass rate?
In 2021 the pass rate for National 5’s was (a grade between A and C) 85.8 per cent, compared with 89 per cent in 2020, and 78.2 per cent in 2019 (Statistica). But it’s worth noting that the conditions for these exams were very different due to the coronavirus.
Would it be beneficial to get a tutor for the National 5 exams?
The National 5 exams are tough and a huge step up from previous challenges in school, so it’s important to get ahead of the game. Having a private maths tutor will give you or your child dedicated time and attention. Many students we have spoken to say that they feel the teachers at their school don’t teach in a way that suits everyone’s needs. As a result, many students don’t learn as well as they should. With a dedicated private maths tutor for National 5, you can get tailor-made teaching methods that suit the individual rather than everyone.
If you are interested in tutoring for the National 5 exams please get in touch today.
