Qualifications Scotland publishes 2027 exam timetable following consultation

• More than 95% of learners have only one exam scheduled per day

• Exams will begin on Monday 26 April and finish on Thursday 3 June

Qualifications Scotland has today published the 2027 National Qualifications exam timetable, following a new approach to timetable development in which a provisional version was shared earlier in the year with learners, parents, carers and education professionals for their feedback before being finalised.

In total, 390 people responded to the consultation, including 164 learners, 45 parents and carers, and 175 teachers, lecturers and assessors, including principal teachers and heads of department.

Qualifications Scotland's timetable advisory group, which includes parent and carer representatives, teaching unions, local authorities and educators from schools and colleges across Scotland, were also part of shaping the final timetable.

Having listened to feedback and the advice of the advisory group, improvements made to the final timetable include:

• Increasing recovery time between exams for some of the subject combinations learners most commonly take together, in response to feedback about exams falling on the same day or with short gaps between them, including an increase in the recovery gap across English, Maths, and Biology, placing Politics and Psychology three days apart rather than on the same day, and an increase in the recovery gap between Drama and English.

• Moving Administration & IT and Applications of Maths earlier in the timetable, reflecting concerns that learners may not have access to specialist software at home during study leave.

• Separating Modern Studies and Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies (RMPS), in response to concerns about concentration and late finishes for an essay-heavy subject.

• Observing religious celebrations.

The full summary of consultation feedback can be found on our website.

Reducing how many exams learners sit in quick succession was also a priority. For the 2027 timetable, more than 95% of learners have only one exam scheduled per day. The number of coincident exams, where learners have more than one exam in the same session, is similar to the 2026 timetable.

The timetable reflects improvements to current assessments, including reduced exam duration and fewer papers in some subjects. A high-level summary of these changes is available on the relevant subject pages of the Qualifications Scotland website.

Donna Stewart, Chief Qualifications and Exams Officer said: "Publishing a provisional timetable and asking learners, parents, carers and education professionals to tell us what they thought has given us a clearer picture of what matters most to those affected by these decisions.

"We’ve listened carefully to feedback and made meaningful changes as a result, from moving key exams earlier in the timetable, to protecting the space between related subjects. I want to thank everyone who took the time to respond. Their input, together with the ongoing advice of our timetable advisory group, has helped us build a timetable that represents the fairest balance we can achieve for learners in 2027."

We also reached out to faith groups to better understand how religious observations are observed by learners within the timetable. We are grateful to the Jewish Council of Scotland for sharing their feedback on this matter. This gave us the opportunity to work with them on a solution for Jewish learners sitting exams across Scotland.

Carmen McPherson, Director of the Jewish Council of Scotland, said, “We were delighted to engage with Qualifications Scotland on the exam period 2027. We were especially pleased that our concerns around the impact of timetabling during Pesach 5787 were heard, understood, and resolved with an outcome that is workable for all concerned. We’re thankful for the collaboration in ensuring these important celebrations can be enjoyed by Scottish Jewish learners without fear or consequence.”

Stewart Nicolson, Association of Directors of Education Scotland (ADES) said, “I know how complex creating the exam timetable is and welcome the new approach taken by Qualifications Scotland. Issuing the provisional timetable enabled more voices to be heard and it’s clear that effort has been made to respond positively and to adjust the timetable where possible.”