FOI25/26 099 Information on 2025 Grading Processes, Transparency and Access to Papers

Date published: 10/12/2025

FOI reference: 25/26 099

Date received: 25/08/2025

Date responded: 22/09/2025

Information requested

Freedom of information request- this year’s grading processes, transparency and access to papers. I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act Scotland (2002).

1) Grading and assessment for the last academic year. -Please provide all documents detailing the official methodology used to determine final grades in the last academic year, including: Marking guidelines, grade boundaries, standardisation/moderation processes, and any adjustments related to the phase-out /reform of the SQA. Any internal or external audit or quality assurance reports assessing the accuracy and fairness of the grading process for that year.

2) Predicted vs actual grades data Provide datasets (machine-readable preferred) showing: Predicted grades vs final grades by school type (state vs independent) and by geographic area or deprivation index, for the last academic year. Any disclosures about how predicted grades were derived.

3) Access to examinations materials and marking materials Please provide information on what examination papers, marking schemes, and marking scripts for the last year are accessible to pupils, parents, and the public, including: The policy governing access to papers and marking materials and any limitations or exemptions. The process and timeline for requesting access to papers and marking materials, and any decisions/outcomes from such requests.

4) Disbandment-related transparency Please supply all documents about the decision to disband the SQA and related transparency measures, including: Rationale, timeline, risk assessments, and communications to stakeholders. Any published guidance on data transparency post-disbandment.

5) Related data and disclosures If available, please provide any public-facing summaries or statistical releases that cover the above topics, with accompanying methodology notes.

Format preference: I would prefer the data in machine-readable format (CSV or Excel) with clearly labelled columns and definitions. If full release is not possible, please provide the maximum available data and indicate any redactions with the specific exemptions used. If any part of this request is refused, please provide the grounds for refusal, applicable exemptions, and the right to an internal review.

Response

Grading and assessment for the last academic year. -Please provide all documents detailing the official methodology used to determine final grades in the last academic year, including: Marking guidelines, grade boundaries, standardisation/moderation processes, and any adjustments related to the phase-out /reform of the SQA. Any internal or external audit or quality assurance reports assessing the accuracy and fairness of the grading process for that year.

The information you have requested is publicly available and is therefore exempt information under section 25(1) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). Please see below links:

Code of Practice - SQA Awarding Body Code of Practice
Awarding Policy - Awarding grading national courses policy
2025 question papers and marking guides are available via: SQA - NQ - Past papers and marking instructions
Guide to Setting Grade Boundaries - A Guide to Setting Grade Boundaries
Grade Boundaries – Grade Boundaries - SQA
Grade Boundaries Background Information - Grade Boundaries Background Information - SQA
Chief Examining Officer’s Report – Chief Examining Officer’s 2025 National Qualifications and Awards Results Report
QA process for NQ - National Qualifications: Overview of Quality Assurance - SQA
External Verifier Handbook – Handbook for NQ External Verifiers

The following documents/excerpts of documents have been attached in answer to this section of your request:

Awarding Meeting Checklist
Daily Awarding Brief
Chairs Introduction Guide
Agenda for Awarding Meeting
Appointee Procedural Handbook (Section J)
Awarding Training 2025 - Internal training PowerPoint presentations (1. Awarding 2025, 2. How we make decisions)

Predicted vs actual grades data Provide datasets (machine-readable preferred) showing: Predicted grades vs final grades by school type (state vs independent) and by geographic area or deprivation index, for the last academic year. Any disclosures about how predicted grades were derived.

Please find attached FOI25-26 099 Part 2 Information spreadsheet. Under section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I must advise you that SQA does not hold the information regarding how predicted grade were derived – this information is held by individual centres.

Access to examinations materials and marking materials Please provide information on what examination papers, marking schemes, and marking scripts for the last year are accessible to pupils, parents, and the public, including: The policy governing access to papers and marking materials and any limitations or exemptions. The process and timeline for requesting access to papers and marking materials, and any decisions/outcomes from such requests.

In 2023, a pilot access to scripts project was undertaken. This involved a free service, which involved nine centres with access to National 5 Geography and Media marked exam papers. While valuable as a proof of concept, the 2023 pilot’s small scale meant that relatively limited information on the functioning of the service was gathered. In 2024, the Access to Marked Exam Papers (AtMEP) trial was expanded to include all centres delivering National Qualifications. The following subjects and levels were included:

Geography: National 5 and Higher
Graphic Communication: National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher
Media: National 5
Music: National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher
Statistics: Advanced Higher (paper/component 1 and 2)

As part of the process of AtMEP, all marking schemes, for the subjects noted above, were provided to all centres where requests were made. This allowed centres to conduct conversations with learners when reviewing their marked exam papers. These marking schemes can now be found on our public website; alongside all published question papers for 2024.

The evaluation of the 2024 AtMEP trial was designed to enable further development of the service and evidence-based policy development. The evaluation gathered the views of stakeholder groups to evaluate the 2024 AtMEP service and an analysis of AtMEP data was also undertaken.

In general, the different stakeholder groups were supportive of the AtMEP service and believe it should be scaled up to include more subjects. However, the findings suggest further consideration should be given to issues such as the administration and workload associated with the service. Findings should feed into the development of future policy and practice.

The findings from the evaluation will feed into discussions on the feasibility and advisability of different options for the AtMEP service in future years.

The full evaluation, including a summary of outcomes can be found on our website, Evaluation of the 2024 Access to Marked Exam paper Trial

We have attached a copy of the guidance that was shared with centres, this contains notes on the process and timelines for requests being made.

Disbandment-related transparency Please supply all documents about the decision to disband the SQA and related transparency measures, including: Rationale, timeline, risk assessments, and communications to stakeholders. Any published guidance on data transparency post-disbandment.

Under section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, I must advise you that SQA does not hold the information requested. Information published by Scottish Government Education Scotland Bill is likely to provide the information requested.

Related data and disclosures If available, please provide any public-facing summaries or statistical releases that cover the above topics, with accompanying methodology notes.

Our estimates analysis can be found at Estimates Analysis with the 2025 version being available in November.

There are no specific or new 'data transparency' guidelines; Qualification Scotland will be subject to FOI and Data Protection legislation, as SQA is. These obligations will not change.

All SQA statistical releases can be found on our website Statistics and information - SQA