Examination Results in Scottish Schools 1997-99

Part 2: National and Education Authority Data

1. Standard Grade

1.1 STANDARD GRADE LEVELS AND AWARDS

Examinations are offered at three Levels: Credit, General and Foundation. Credit Level is the most difficult in terms of the coursework offered and the examination questions asked. Awards are made in grades as shown in Table 1. Pupils who do not do well enough to get a Grade 5 or 6 award, receive a 'Course Completed'. Pupils who do not complete the course or do not sit all parts of the examination get 'No Award'.

Table 1: Standard Grade Levels and Awards

1.2 NATIONAL DATA

In 1998 in Scotland the total S4 roll in education authority schools was 58613. These pupils were presented in 1999 for a total of 460299 Standard Grades, an average of 7.9 Standard Grades per pupil.

Graph 1 shows the overall number of awards at each grade as a percentage of presentations.

Graph 1: Percentage of Standard Grade presentations resulting in each grade of award, 1999 (pre-appeal)

Graph 2 shows this same information by Level of course and examination. Remember that Credit Level equates to Grades 1 and 2, General to 3 and 4 and Foundation to 5 and 6.

Graph 2: Percentage of Standard Grade presentations resulting in awards at each Level, 1999 (pre-appeal)

Point to remember
	'No Award' is given if a pupil does not complete all the coursework or does not sit all parts of the examination.

Graph 3 gives information on the percentage of all pupils in fourth year who gained five or more awards at 1-2 (Credit), 1-4 (Credit/General) and 1-6 (Credit/General/Foundation). It shows that 31% of Scottish pupils gained five or more Standard Grades at 1-2, while 91% gained five or more at 1-6.

Graph 3: Percentage of S4 roll gaining 5+ Standard Grade awards, 1999 (pre-appeal)