The Scottish Qualifications Authority has apologised to some students who signed up to receive their exam results online but received blank emails.

The body said it had now “resolved a technical issue” after “urgently” looking into the reports.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) said the issue only affected candidates who signed up to receive their results by email only.

“We have resolved a technical issue that impacted candidates who signed up to receive their results by email only using the MySQA service,” a spokesperson said.

“Texts were not impacted and the vast majority of learners who signed up to MySQA received their results as expected.

“We apologise for any concern caused to learners who experienced a delay before receiving their MySQA email with their results attached.”

Around 145,000 students – the highest number since 2015 – achieved a wide range of qualifications including National 5, Highers, Advanced Highers and SQA Awards, with results published on Tuesday.

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The Scottish government said this past year marked the return of full coursework assessment following the disruption of the COVID pandemic.

This year’s results showed that 77.2% of those sitting National 5 exams passed with grades A to C – down from 78.8% in in 2023.

For Highers, 74.9% of students passed with the top bands, down from 77.1% last year, and for Advanced Highers 75.3% of students achieved A to C grades, falling from 79.8% in 2023.

The SQA stressed “significant caution” should be exercised when comparing results, as changes during and after the pandemic has meant that different approaches have been used in awarding exams every year since 2019.

The body’s free appeals service for students who wish to challenge their grades is now open.

The Scottish government said the data shows the poverty-related attainment gap at National 5 and Higher has returned to levels broadly similar to 2019 – the last year of pre-pandemic results.

A record 90,045 vocational and technical qualifications were also awarded this year, an increase of almost 25%.

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Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth congratulated all those receiving results, but acknowledged Scotland’s education system is “still in recovery from the pandemic”.

She added: “Undoubtedly, that has contributed to some of the variability we have seen in results this year, particularly with the full return to qualifications requirements for the first time since the pandemic.

“I am determined to work with our teachers, school staff and local authorities to drive further improvements in our schools.

“The curriculum improvement cycle is already under way, with mathematics and numeracy being prioritised first, which is being led by the recently appointed new national specialist in mathematics.

“In the coming weeks, I will publish the Behaviour Action Plan, set out new action to improve attendance and confirm the Scottish government’s next steps on qualifications reform early in the new parliamentary term.”

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Ms Gilruth said she was also “conscious” there is a “wide degree of variation in results” between Scotland’s 32 local authorities.

She added: “To that end, I will be meeting with all local authority directors of education, the chief examiner and the interim chief inspector to consider the context of these results and how the Scottish government can work with our councils to drive the improvements we all want to see.”

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Skills Development Scotland (SDS) has set up a special results helpline, with careers advisers on hand to provide support and assistance.

The results helpline can be contacted on 0808 100 8000 and will be open from 8am until 8pm on both Tuesday and Wednesday, and then from 9am to 5pm on Thursday and Friday.

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