The Scottish Qualifications Authority has today published the new exam timetable for 2021.
The SQA said the timetable took into account the decision to scrap the National 5 exams and to start the exams later in the year to allow for more teaching time.
The exams will now start on Monday 10 May and run until Friday 4 June. Originally they had been due to start two weeks earlier on Monday 26 April and finish on Thursday 3 June.
News: National 5 exams cancelled amid coronavirus fears
Background: Heads call for cancellation and shortening of SQA exams
Long read: Were the SQA changes worth the wait?
Quick read: How do we avoid an avalanche of SQA assessments?
Opinion: Why we need to make the SQA listen to teachers
The SQA said in a tweet that the timetable had been “compressed, allowing for more teaching time” and that, as far as possible, it had tried to minimise the number of learners “with exams on the same day, or close together”.
Coronavirus: SQA exam timetable announced
However, some teachers questioned whether the changes would actually buy them more time. One teacher pointed out that next year’s Higher English exam was on 13 May and that in 2019 the same exam was on the 8 May; in 2018 it was the 11 May.
There have been calls to scrap the exams entirely next year, amid fears that the coronavirus could make it impossible for large numbers of students to come together and sit the papers.
There are also concerns that interruptions to learning could make it difficult for teachers and students to cover the necessary course content.
In a bid to address this, the SQA announced last month long-awaited changes to Higher and Advanced Higher courses and assessments.
This means, for example, that the Higher maths exam will be shorter next year and that teachers will have a degree of choice about which topics they cover.
Other subjects have had coursework removed but some teachers have expressed concerns about this, given that it will reduce the pool of evidence available if, like this year, the exams have to be cancelled.
Some teachers have also said they have already covered some elements that the SQA removed in a bid to save them time, because the changes were announced too late.
Physics exams delayed in 2021 until 12th May to allow for more teaching and learning time.
2020 No exam
2019 15th May
2018 8th May
2017 17th May
2016 24th May
2015 5th May
2014 22nd May
2013 27th May
2012 28th May
2011 23rd May
2010 28th May
2009 26th May https://t.co/qi8Tbw3BoN
- Andrew Bailey 👨🏫 (@andrewkbailey13) November 5, 2020
