The SQA said it would embark on a review of the marking arrangements after this year’s diet is over. Brian Naylor, an SQA director, told the parliamentary education committee that the flow of information to schools was one of the issues to be examined. The latest figures showed that the authority was 93 markers short of its 9,200 target on Thursday of last week. This reduced to 55 by Monday and to 32 by mid-week. Computing an business management were the only subjects causing concern. The total number of markers is 34 per cent up on last year.

Dennis Gunning, the SQA director, said the marking position had been exacerbated by the unpredictability of the numbers likely to sit the Intermediate 1 and 2 exams. These were optional this year and the take-up had been greater than expected.

SQA watch: ScotlandPlus, page 6