Markers Grading

I’m interested to understand what proportion of SQA markers mark to the expected standard and how this has changed over time.

The Higher History Review 2024 published by the SQA on 6 November said: “All markers are graded following their marking, reflecting their ability to consistently mark to the standard reflected in the marking instructions.”

For the 10 most popular subjects at Higher in 2024 based on entries (English, maths, PE, history, chemistry, business management, modern studies, physics, geography, human biology) could you please set out for the past five years when there were exams (2024; 2023; 2022; 2019 and 2018):

• how many markers there were for each subject
• the proportion and number of markers graded ‘A’; ‘B’; ‘C’ etc.

I would also like to understand for which subjects the quality of the marking at Higher was highest and lowest.

Therefore, following the 2024 exams, could you also set out which Higher subject(s) had the highest proportion of markers graded ‘C’ and which Higher subject(s) had the highest proportion of markers graded ‘A’. This should not be limited to the 10 most popular Higher subjects; please include the total number of markers for the subject if this figure has not already been provided.

For each Higher subject with the highest proportion of ‘A’ and ‘C’ graded markers please also include the proportion of markers that received the other grades used by the SQA. So, for instance, if maths has the highest proportion of markers graded ‘A’ please also set out the proportion that fell under the other grades used by SQA to rate markers.

Could you please also include any analysis carried out by SQA of marker recruitment and quality in the wake of, and the lead up to, the 2024 exams.

The information requested is contained within the attached spreadsheet.

We can confirm that there was no analysis carried out by SQA in the wake of and lead up to the 2024 exams.

Information sheet (20 KB)