Scotland’s 2026 exam results will be released on Tuesday, 4 August, when more than 148,000 learners discover their National 5, Higher, Advanced Higher and vocational qualification outcomes.
Digital results will begin arriving from 8:00am UK time. For many students, the grades will determine their next move into university, college, training, an apprenticeship or employment.
What time will Scotland exam results arrive?
Learners who signed up for and activated a My Qualifications Scotland account will receive their results by text, email or both from 8:00am. Messages are released in stages, so they may not reach every candidate at precisely the same time.
Every learner will also receive an official Scottish Qualifications Certificate by first-class post. Delivery depends on the normal local postal schedule. If the certificate does not arrive after the post has been delivered, the student should contact their school, college or training provider.
My Qualifications Scotland is the service previously known as MySQA. Qualifications Scotland has replaced the SQA as the national awarding body, although both names may appear while websites and services complete the transition.
Which qualifications are included?
More than 131,000 learners sat exams at over 460 schools, colleges and training centres in 2026. Around 17,000 additional learners will receive vocational qualification results.
The release includes National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses, Nationals, Skills for Work Awards, National Progression Awards and National Certificates. These qualifications support several pathways, meaning Results Day is important for students pursuing options beyond university as well.
How will courses be graded?
National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses are graded from A to D. A grade D is an awarded result and generally represents performance between 40% and 49%. Candidates who do not achieve an A-to-D grade may see “No Award” on their certificate.
National 2, National 3 and National 4 courses do not use the same letter-grade structure. Their units are assessed on a pass-or-fail basis.
Final boundaries can differ between subjects and years because assessment difficulty and marking evidence are reviewed before grades are confirmed. The official 2026 grade-boundary tables are scheduled for publication at 9:30am on 4 August, so students should avoid treating unofficial calculators as confirmed results.
Grades provide evidence of attainment but do not show every aspect of a learner’s progress or school experience. That distinction is important when considering how academic performance should influence secondary school comparisons.
How did students perform in 2025?
The proportion of entries receiving grades A to C improved across the three main qualification levels in 2025. National 5 reached 78.4%, compared with 77.2% in 2024.
The Higher A-to-C rate increased from 74.9% to 75.9%, while Advanced Higher moved from 75.3% to 76.7%. These figures offer historical context but cannot predict Scotland’s 2026 results, which will be published on Results Day.
Accurate and timely delivery is especially important for schools and families. The disruption caused by England’s delayed KS2 SATs results demonstrated how processing problems can affect school planning and marking-review deadlines.
What happens after students receive their results?
Applicants holding conditional university or college offers should check their UCAS Hub before assuming that a missed grade has ended their application. A firm choice may still be considering the case, an insurance offer might be confirmed, or another suitable course could be available through Clearing.
Students can also consider returning to school, applying to college, taking an apprenticeship, entering employment or exploring workplace training. Guidance teachers and careers advisers can help compare the available routes.
Can students appeal their grades?
Qualifications Scotland’s free appeals service opens at 9:00am on 4 August. Learners can submit an appeal themselves or ask their school, college or training provider to apply on their behalf.
A senior marker will review the marking of Qualifications Scotland-assessed work. Following that review, a grade can move up, move down or remain unchanged. Students should discuss the possible consequences with a teacher or lecturer before proceeding.
The deadline for an individual priority appeal is 11 August. Centres can submit priority cases until 20 August. Other individual appeals close on 25 August, while schools, colleges and training providers have until 28 August.
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Results Day helplines and opening times
The Qualifications Scotland Learner Support Hub can be reached on 0345 279 1000. It will operate from 8:00am to 6:00pm on 4 August and from 8:30am to 5:00pm between 5 and 7 August.
The Skills Development Scotland Results Helpline is available on 0808 100 8000. It will open from 8:00am to 8:00pm on 4 and 5 August, followed by 9:00am to 5:00pm on 6 and 7 August.
Advisers can provide guidance on college vacancies, university Clearing, apprenticeships, jobs, volunteering and staying at school. Students and families can confirm the schedule, appeal rules and support arrangements through the official Qualifications Scotland Results Day information.
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