National 5 exams 2027
National 5 exams in 2027 run from Monday 26 April to Wednesday 2 June. Results arrive on Tuesday 10 August 2027.
70 papers. 206 days until the first one.
What National 5 is
National 5 is a course at SCQF level 5, worth 24 SCQF credit points. Most pupils sit National 5 in S4. Qualifications Scotland says the courses are taken from S4 to S6.
Assessment is an exam, coursework or both. Qualifications Scotland marks most of it. In some subjects a teacher marks the coursework.
Qualifications Scotland replaced the SQA on 1 February 2026. The courses did not change.
Grades A to D and No Award
Each course is graded A, B, C or D, or No Award.
| Grade | Course assessment score |
|---|---|
| A | 70% or more |
| B | 60% to 69% |
| C | 50% to 59% |
| D | 40% to 49% |
| No Award | below 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.
National 5 Physics shows this. The C boundary was 60 out of 125 in 2024, 56 in 2025 and 54 in 2026. In National 5 Maths, an A needed 64 out of 90 in 2024 and 2025, and 65 in 2026.
National 5 exams in 2027
The first National 5 exams are Applications of Mathematics papers on Monday 26 April 2027. The last are Italian and Sociology on Wednesday 2 June.
- English: Monday 10 May 2027
- Mathematics: Monday 17 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
Quick answers
- When do National 5 exams start in 2027?
Monday 26 April 2027, with Applications of Mathematics. The last National 5 exams are Italian and Sociology on Wednesday 2 June.
- Is a D a pass at National 5?
A grade D means you have been awarded the course, with a score of 40% to 49%. Below 40% is a No Award.
- What year do you sit National 5 in Scotland?
Most pupils sit National 5 in S4. The courses can be taken from S4 to S6.
- When are National 5 results in 2027?
Tuesday 10 August 2027.