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Higher exams 2027

Higher exams in 2027 run from Monday 26 April to Wednesday 2 June. Results arrive on Tuesday 10 August 2027.

Higher exams 2027Mon 26 Apr to Wed 2 Jun

82 papers. 206 days until the first one.

What a Higher is

A Higher is a course at SCQF level 6, worth 24 SCQF credit points. Most pupils sit Highers in S5, and some add more in S6. Qualifications Scotland says Highers are taken in S5 and S6.

Qualifications Scotland describes Highers as the standard entry requirement for higher education in Scotland.

Assessment is an exam, coursework or both. Qualifications Scotland marks most of it. In some subjects a teacher marks the coursework.

Grades A to D and No Award

Each course is graded A, B, C or D, or No Award.

GradeCourse assessment score
A70% or more
B60% to 69%
C50% to 59%
D40% to 49%
No Awardbelow 40%

A grade D still means you have been awarded the course. Below 40% is a No Award. The A, B and C lines shown are the notional starting points. Your certificate shows the grade, not the band within it.

How grade boundaries move

Boundaries start at 70% for an A and 50% for a C. They are adjusted each year after marking, so the same total can earn a different grade in another year.

Higher Chemistry shows how far they can move. The C boundary was 65 out of 150 in 2024, 77 in 2025 and 70 in 2026. In Higher Maths, an A needed 84 out of 120 in 2024, 86 in 2025 and 83 in 2026.

Higher exams in 2027

The first Higher exam is Applications of Mathematics on Monday 26 April 2027. The last are Italian and Sociology on Wednesday 2 June.

  • English: Friday 7 May 2027
  • Mathematics: Friday 14 May 2027

There are no exams on Monday 3 May, a bank holiday. Thursday 3 June is a contingency day.

Results

Results day is Tuesday 10 August 2027. Certificates come by post. Learners signed up to My Qualifications Scotland also get results by text or email.

Subject guides

AccountingFri 28 MayApplications of MathsMon 26 AprBiologyWed 12 MayBusiness ManagementThu 13 MayChemistryFri 21 MayComputingThu 27 MayDramaWed 5 MayEconomicsTue 11 MayEngineering ScienceFri 28 MayEnglishFri 7 MayFrenchTue 18 MayGeographyThu 6 MayHistoryWed 19 MayHuman BiologyWed 12 MayMathsFri 14 MayModern StudiesWed 26 MayMusicTue 11 MayPhysicsTue 4 MayPsychologyThu 27 MayRMPSTue 27 AprSpanishTue 25 May

Quick answers

When do Higher exams start in 2027?

Monday 26 April 2027, with Applications of Mathematics. The last Higher exams are Italian and Sociology on Wednesday 2 June.

When is the Higher English exam in 2027?

Friday 7 May 2027. Higher Maths is on Friday 14 May 2027.

What year do you sit Highers in Scotland?

Most pupils sit Highers in S5. Some take more Highers in S6.

When are Higher results in 2027?

Tuesday 10 August 2027.