Study time

With the SQA and Education Scotland being scrapped and replaced with a new qualifications body, we asked readers if they thought exams need a rethink – or indeed if they are still required.

No, not at all. Abolish them. Exams are an unfair system that advantage children from stable and supportive back rounds over those who come from tougher circumstances. Abolish all school exams and private education.

Alain Traynor

There are many different kinds of exams, often geared to a particular subject. It's not all about sitting in an exam hall at the end of the school year.

Callum Macleod

Why do we need to measure our children's academic achievements at all? The academic goals are completely arbitrary. Furthermore, I don't see why schools should do the dirty work for universities. If they need to see proof of academic achievements they can do entry exams.

Andrea Gute Marke

I don't understand your argument – exams are in your opinion wrong for senior pupils yet OK as a means of testing for university level? That's surely the point of final year exams and if pupils don't need university entry they can stay at N5 level. If they have no exams in school then the university entry exams would be their only experience of formal exams! The current S5/6 pupils have had the misfortune of missing out on that experience thanks to Covid and I think most would agree that is a negative. Ability is not equally divided and everyone’s ability and suitability for work has to be judged at some point. It has worked satisfactorily to date. Everybody has a worth and we are grateful for good

tradespeople – but I might not want some of them carrying out brain surgery.

Morag Mitchell Yes we need exams, particularly for the more able children. I would also like a measure of school-marked coursework to supplement the final grade.

Alan Hedges