Prelim Exams
Encyclopedia
In Scottish
schools, Preliminary Examinations (commonly known as Prelim Exams) are exams set in high school
s after about two-thirds of a subject's course has been completed, often around December for S4 pupils, and February for S5/S6 pupils.
They are very similar in format to the SQA
Exams, and are designed to give the pupils a mock run, showing them how they would perform had that been exam day. The grade a pupil receives has no bearing on their final result on exam day: a pupil can get 0% in a Prelim, and pass a final exam. Schools use prelims as an early warning system of sorts, to note which pupils need to push harder, or need help. Pupils often look at their prelim results, work in the areas where improvement is needed, and improve their mark in the final exam.
Should a pupil get a better mark in their prelim than their exam, the school can appeal on behalf of the pupil to the SQA. However, not all appeals are accepted.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
schools, Preliminary Examinations (commonly known as Prelim Exams) are exams set in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s after about two-thirds of a subject's course has been completed, often around December for S4 pupils, and February for S5/S6 pupils.
They are very similar in format to the SQA
Scottish Qualifications Authority
The Scottish Qualifications Authority is a non-departmental public body responsible for accreditation and awarding. It is partly funded by the Education and Lifelong Learning Directorate of the Scottish Government, employing 750 staff, based in Glasgow and Dalkeith...
Exams, and are designed to give the pupils a mock run, showing them how they would perform had that been exam day. The grade a pupil receives has no bearing on their final result on exam day: a pupil can get 0% in a Prelim, and pass a final exam. Schools use prelims as an early warning system of sorts, to note which pupils need to push harder, or need help. Pupils often look at their prelim results, work in the areas where improvement is needed, and improve their mark in the final exam.
Should a pupil get a better mark in their prelim than their exam, the school can appeal on behalf of the pupil to the SQA. However, not all appeals are accepted.