What: Scotland will release 2026 exam results for Nationals, Highers, Advanced Highers and vocational awards from 08:00 on Tuesday 4 August. How: Around 67,000 candidates with MySQA accounts will receive texts or emails; others will get first-class post. Help: Qualifications Scotland (0345 279 1000) and Skills Development Scotland (0808 100 8000) will operate helplines; appeals are available with set deadlines.
Scotland 2026 Exam Results — Date, Time, Grades and Where to Get Help
[PA Media]
Key date: Results for Nationals, Highers, Advanced Highers and vocational awards will be released from 08:00 on Tuesday 4 August 2026. Qualifications Scotland, which has taken over delivery from the SQA, will issue more than 148,000 results this year.
What’s being released
Results cover National 2–5, Highers, Advanced Highers and vocational awards including National Progression Awards, Skills for Work Awards and National Certificates.
How you’ll receive your results
Results are dispatched by first-class post, but many students have chosen digital delivery. Text messages and emails will be sent from 08:00 to around 67,000 candidates with an activated MySQA account. If you opted for postal delivery, arrival will depend on your local mail service.
Grades and grade boundaries
National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher are graded A–D. National 2–4 are assessed at unit level as pass or fail and do not receive A–D course grades. Final grade boundaries are confirmed after marking each year; as a reference, initial guidance sets starting points at roughly 50% for a C, 70% for an A and 85% for an Upper A. A D is generally a pass (about 40–49%); scores below 40% usually receive no award.
Support and helplines on results day
Qualifications Scotland’s Learner Support Hub: 0345 279 1000. It opens at 08:00 on results day and runs until 18:00; then 08:30–17:00 Wednesday–Friday. Guidance staff at schools, colleges and training centres will also be available.
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) advice line: 0808 100 8000. Open 08:00–20:00 on Tuesday and Wednesday, and 09:00–17:00 on Thursday and Friday. SDS advisers can help with clearing, apprenticeships, jobs, volunteering and staying on at school.
University offers, UCAS Clearing and next steps
If you have a conditional offer and do not meet the conditions, you can use UCAS Clearing to apply for other places. Talk with your school’s guidance staff or contact SDS for personalised advice on next steps.
Appeals (Result Reviews)
If you think a result is incorrect, first speak to your school, college or training centre so they can contact the awarding body on your behalf. You may also submit your own appeal. Appeals involve a marking review to check totals and whether marking met national standards.
Deadlines: Individual priority appeals must be submitted by 11 August; other individual appeals by 25 August. If your school or college submits the appeal, the deadlines are 20 August (priority) and 28 August (other).
2025 Context
More pupils achieved A–C grades in 2025 compared with 2024: National 5 (78.4% vs 77.2%), Higher (75.9% vs 74.9%) and Advanced Higher (76.7% vs 75.3%). Separate statistics show the attainment gap between Scotland’s richest and poorest pupils remains wider than before the pandemic.
If you need help on results day, contact Qualifications Scotland or SDS early — advisers and school guidance staff can explain options and next steps.
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