National 4 students need exams say teachers

Most teachers say pupils should sit an exam at the end of National 4 courses, according to research by the Scottish Qualifications Agency.

Currently the qualifications, introduced three years ago, rely on coursework and assessment by teachers.

N4s are usually obtained in fourth year by students who may have studied for a Standard Grade at foundation or general level under the old system.

But some critics have described them as “worthless” because they lack exams.

The research found a clear majority of teachers and senior management teams felt N4 students needed an exam to motivate learners and many felt there was a need for differentiation so candidates received more than a simple pass or fail.