Results Day: Pass rates rise for Scottish students

The number of students who have passed their exams has risen in 2025, the SQA has said.

On Tuesday, more than 130,000 students will receive their results after sitting exams for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications.

Across the three qualifications, pass rates are up on the previous year, with pupils attaining A, B or C grades.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) said 78.4% of National 5 students passed, up from 77.2% in 2024.

Meanwhile 75.9% of Higher students achieved an A, B, or C grade, compared to 74.9% last year.

A record number of young people in Scotland have also gained a place at university this year.

Statistics from the university and college admission body (UCAS) show that 17,350 17 and 18-year-olds will be admitted this year, compared to 16,650 last year.

Thousands of Scottish youngsters received their qualifications on Tuesday (David Jones/PA)

Scotland

Record number of Scots heading to university following exam results

More than 17,000 students aged 17 and 18 will begin university courses this year, admissions body Ucas said.

Youngsters across the country have received their exam results. iStock

Advanced Higher students achieved a 76.7% pass rate in 2025, up from 75.3% in 2024.

The SQA said 2025 was a “landmark year” of achievement and success.

“Scotland’s learners should be rightly proud today – and we are proud of them,” Donna Stewart, Scotland’s chief examining officer, said.

“Their hard work and commitment has made 2025 a landmark year. The rise in overall attainment at all three National Qualification levels will rightly be welcomed in classrooms and staffrooms across Scotland. Higher entries have also risen beyond 200,000 for the first time since Curriculum for Excellence was introduced.”

Donna Stewart from the SQA with Practical Cookery pupils at Portobello High School SQA

Meanwhile the number of vocational and technical qualifications surged past 100,000 for the first time ever.

There were 110,390 students – a 22.6% increase – taking skills-based qualification awards in 2025.

The awards included a wide range of areas, including leadership, employability, and personal finance, as well as a range of skills for work courses, awards, national certificates, and national progression awards.

The SQA, which will be replaced by Qualifications Scotland in December, also reported that the poverty-related attainment gap narrowed at all levels of national qualifications.

“We welcome that progress towards the shared national mission to reduce inequality,” Ms Stewart said.

“All of those achievements are to be celebrated – and they belong to Scotland’s learners.”

Final year of SQA results

On behalf of the SQA, Ms Stewart thanked all of the teachers across Scotland for the work they do everyday and who make “Results Day possible”.

“Today is the last Results Day for SQA, after three decades of service to Scotland,” Ms Stewart said.

“We are already working hard to ensure that Qualifications Scotland builds upon the best of SQA while delivering positive change that will be felt long before Results Day 2026.”

2025 in numbers

Total number of students waiting for results on Tuesday was over 147,000.
More than 130,000 learners from over 480 schools, colleges, and training providers took National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses in 2025.

This year, 78.4% of Scottish students achieved a grade of A, B, or C in their National 5 qualifications, compared to 77.2% in 2024 and 78.8% in 2023.

In 2025, 75.9% of Scottish students achieved a grade of A, B, or C in their higher qualifications, compared to 74.9% in 2024 and 77.1% in 2023.

And 76.7% of Scottish students achieved a grade of A, B, or C in their advanced higher qualifications this year, compared to 75.3% in 2024 and 79.8% in 2023.
There were 110,390 students taking skills-based qualification awards in 2025 – a 22.6% increase.