Scotlands’ exam board is to consider lowering the pass mark in this year’s new Higher Maths paper after 14,00 pupils went online to protest it was excessively difficult.
Some students were in tears and “extremely” stressed out after sitting Wednesday’s “impossible” exam, it was said.
One online petition said: "The general consensus is that the majority of questions were so hard the students weren't able to solve them.
“Pupils have put so much preparation into this subject and have now been left traumatised.”
One island pupil said: “This exam was far too hard for a start. The questions needed to be problem solved before we could actually solve the equation at hand.
“Nothing prepared us for this as it was nothing like the specimen papers, all of which I did.
“The fact that maths teachers who teach advanced higher maths were unable to answer some questions just shows how inappropriately difficult this exam was.
“This exam was so difficult it has filled me with no hope that my remaining exams will be in a format I am prepared for, therefore having a huge impact on my other exams.”
A SQA spokesman said: “We recognise that the exams period is a stressful time for young people and their parents.
“As is the case every year, we do not set the pass mark or the number of marks required for each grade until the marking process is complete, later in the summer.
“This procedure ensures that we have the necessary statistical information on how the exam performed and whether it was harder than intended.
“Only then will we set the marks required for each grade.
“We would therefore expect someone who got an A, B or C grade last year to receive the same result this year.
“These rigorous processes are in place to ensure that no-
Thousands of pupils protest over “impossible” maths exam
24 May 2015