The Higher technological studies exam was “fairly testing”, with 28 per cent of its marks devoted to P-basic programming - a higher proportion than in previous years, felt Ian Bell, principal teacher of craft, design and technology at Boroughmuir High in Edinburgh.
That would have been good news for students who had revised this area of the course thoroughly, but less so for those who were not as secure in it.
Mr Bell’s pupils needed all three hours available to complete the exam, an indication of its level of difficulty.
In Section B, there was no escape from three elements of the course - P-basic programming again, operational amplifiers and structures. “The paper was set in such a way that all these areas had to be tackled,” he said.
His verdict on the exam was that it was a little more difficult than in previous years, but not unfairly so.
