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Review of Scottish qualifications
17/12/2008
A review of the rating given to Scottish qualifications by UCAS - the organisation responsible for managing university applications throughout the UK - has resulted in an increase in the tariff awarded to Highers and Advanced Highers at grades A-C.
The review which benchmarked the Scottish Higher and Advanced Higher against the new A Level has been welcome by Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop.
She said:
"This review recognises the relative standing of Scottish qualifications. I welcome the higher scores which have been awarded as a result of this review, as good news for hard-working Scottish students and their teachers.
"These changes will ensure that their efforts are more appropriately recognised when applying for university courses, either in Scotland or elsewhere in the UK."
The new tariff scores, with current tariff scores in brackets, are:
Higher Grade: A - 80 (72), B - 65 (60), C - 50 (48), D - 36 (42)
Advanced Higher: A - 130 (120), B - 110 (100), C - 90 (80), D 0 72 (72)
The new tariffs will come into force for Higher Education entry in 2010 and therefore do not apply to current 2009-10 applicants.
The UCAS review also looked at the new ungraded Skills for Work Higher in Health and Social Care. A provisional tariff has been awarded, to be reviewed once a sufficient body of candidate evidence can be provided. This new score will also apply to the ungraded Higher in Personal Development.