Shambles over ghost exams is terrifying kids

SQA slammed for delay in publishing guide on how pupils can appeal results

- Gordon Blackstock

The national exam body has broken promises over pupil appeals for “ghost exams”, experts have claimed.

The Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) said they would reveal how school candidates could appeal results at the start of May.

But the qualification quango – heavily criticised for its handling of the process last year – has said the plan is still to be set.

Experts have said the exam body is failing by refusing to publish its guide, with students’ mental health suffering.

The SQA abandoned the exam diet earlier this year because of the pandemic.

Instead, schools were asked to grade their own pupils using assessments, with evidence gathered to support the marks.

But many pupils have complained that the internal assessments are all but exams in name, dubbing them “ghost exams”.