Youngsters across Scotland have been receiving their exam results – with the pass rate rising and the poverty-related attainment gap slightly shrinking from last year.
Around 147,000 students achieved a wide range of qualifications, including National 5, Highers and Advanced Highers, with the results published on Tuesday.
Donna Stewart, Scotland’s chief examining officer, said the rise in overall attainment will be “rightly welcomed in classrooms and staffrooms” across the country.
The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) had earlier warned that mail deliveries in the Outer Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland would be delayed due to the disruption caused by Storm Floris.
However, those who signed up to receive their results digitally via the SQA’s text or email service were expected to remain unaffected.
Headline results for 2025:
• National 5: A-C attainment – 78.4%, up from 77.2% in 2024
• Higher: A-C attainment – 75.9%, up from 74.9% in 2024
• Advanced Higher: A-C attainment – 76.7%, up from 75.3% in 2024
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Although the results mark a slight increase from last year, they remain below the levels recorded in 2023 (78.8% for National 5, 77.1% for Higher, and 79.8% for Advanced Higher).
The SQA said the poverty-related attainment gap – the difference between the A-C rate for those from the 20% of the most deprived areas of Scotland compared to the most affluent – narrowed over the academic year.
In 2016, then first minister Nicola Sturgeon vowed via the SNP’s programme for government that her party would push to “substantially eliminate” the attainment gap by 2026. However, the rate remains substantial.
The National 5 rate dropped from 17.2% to 16.6%, Higher decreased from 17.2% to 17.1%, and Advanced Higher fell from 15.5% to 12.8%.
Scottish Tory MSP Miles Briggs said Ms Sturgeon’s promise “lies in tatters”.
He added: “It should be a source of shame for Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney that those from the most deprived communities are still facing a postcode lottery when it comes to educational achievement.”
The total number of vocational and technical qualifications reached a record high of 110,380 – a 22.6% increase from 2024.
Higher entries also surged past 200,000 for the first time since the new Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) qualifications were introduced in 2014.
Admissions body UCAS said a record number of young people in Scotland had gained a place at university or college, with 17,350 17 and 18-year-olds admitted this year compared to 16,650 in 2024.
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The Scottish government welcomed the improved results.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth added: “These results are evidence of a strong recovery in Scotland’s schools, following the pandemic, with more passes at every level compared to last year.
“They are a testament to the hard work of learners, teachers and parents and carers.
“It is, furthermore, encouraging to see that the poverty-related attainment gap has narrowed at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher levels.
“While there is more to do, each success of every young person from the most disadvantaged areas creates a route out of poverty.”
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Skills Development Scotland has opened a dedicated helpline – 0808 100 8000 – to support all those with questions about their results and potential next steps in their education.
Ms Gilruth said: “I know that some young people will be disappointed with their results. I want to reassure them that there are a wide range of options and routes for success available, with support on hand throughout this week via the dedicated helpline run by Skills Development Scotland.
“Today is a chance for our young people to pause and reflect on the totality of their achievements this past academic year.
“I offer my sincere thanks to Scotland’s hard working teaching profession, who work to support them all, the parents and carers whose encouragement can be so instrumental to success, and to the young people themselves – well done.”
This was the final results day for the SQA as it is due to be replaced by Qualifications Scotland in December.
