The pass rate for school pupils in Scotland has fallen for the third successive year from the “generous” grades of the Covid-19 era, but remains above pre-pandemic levels.
Separate figures show that nearly three-quarters of Scottish students have been accepted by their first choice of university after a significant drop in the number of applicants.
Statistics from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) show that 77.1 per cent of Higher pupils achieved an A, B or C in 2023 – down from 78.1 per cent last year, and the peak of 89.3 per cent in 2020, but above the rate of 74.8 per cent in 2019.
Similarly, 79.8 per cent of entrants passed Advanced Highers this year – down from 81.3 per cent in 2022, and 93.1 per cent in 2020, but slightly above 79.4 per cent in the last pre-pandemic year.
