SQA Results Day

Waiting for that 8 AM text message from the SQA containing your exam results is an experience many young people in Scotland will know all about. That feeling of worrying about whether you have passed and what grades you have achieved is a pretty stressful experience. For people whose place at university/college depends on SQA results, the panic can be extremely overwhelming.

Try to get to sleep the night before. I know it’s easier said than done but staying up all night worrying will not do you any good.

You’ve passed and got the grades you wanted

Congratulations! You’ve done it! Passing your school exams is a fantastic achievement in your life and you should be proud of yourself. Be sure to celebrate your achievement. You have worked hard so you definitely deserve to reward yourself. Have a special dinner, visit your favourite restaurant or even have a day out somewhere!

Whilst you are probably in a mood for celebrating you should also be mindful that other people in your class may not have performed as well as they had hoped. Please be sensitive especially if you are going to share your results publicly.

What if you haven’t done as well as you had hoped?

It is natural that you will feel disappointed, sad or even angry. All of those feelings are perfectly understandable. Allow yourself some time to digest what has happened. Talk it over with your parents, siblings, family, friends, teachers or someone else you trust.

Don’t worry about what other people will think. Remember you do not need to share your exam results with anyone. It is common nowadays for people to share their results on social media and want to talk about them when they return to school. However, if you prefer to keep yours private then you are perfectly entitled to do so.

Think about what you are going to do next and come up with a plan. If you are still at school talk to your teachers about your options. Can you retake the subject? Do you need to make some changes to your subject options? The school (and your parents) will be able to support you as you make these decisions.

Even if you have left school, your teachers may still be able to offer help and advice. There are also lots of organisations you can contact by phone, email, social media or live chat who can offer support and advice on your results, career options and university/college applications.

Remember there are many people and organisations out there who can and will support you!