Which area has the best grades? Key takeaways from Scotland's exam results
Scottish exam results for 2026 show a slight increase in pass rates across National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher levels. While the attainment gap between wealthy and deprived students has narrowed, it remains a significant concern.
Why it matters
Educational attainment data is a key indicator of social mobility and the effectiveness of government policy in addressing systemic inequality.
Image source, PA Media Image caption, Pupils at Broughton High School in Edinburgh received their 2026 Qualifications Scotland grades
The results are in. More than 130,000 Scottish students have found out how they did in their exams.
From the gender split to council-level trends, BBC Scotland has been digging into the numbers behind the results.
Here are five things we have learned from the 2026 Scottish exam results.
The number of pupils achieving an A, B or C grade at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher has increased slightly on last year.
The figure for the National 5 qualifications, taken by the majority of pupils at 15 or 16, rose from a 78.4% pass rate in 2025 to 79.2% this year.
The rate for Higher increased from 75.9% to 76.7%, and the rate for Advanced Higher rose from 76.7% to 77.6%.
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