Your SQC is a complete record of all the qualifications you gain from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) at school, college or elsewhere, during your life.

It does not include university degrees, or music and sports awards made by other bodies.

You get a new, up to date, SQC every time you get a new SQA qualification. It lists all the qualifications, units and courses you have ever passed.

SQA sends the certificate to your home address, so if you move, it's important that you tell them immediately. School candidates normally receive the certificate early in August.

What is the Certificate like?

The certificate comes with a covering letter, both of which are printed on blue paper with special security features that make it difficult to copy or forge.

The letter shows your nine-digit Scottish Candidate Number (SCN) and gives a special phone number you can contact if you don't understand the content of your certificate.

If you failed any of your exams the subjects will be listed in the Dialogue Box at the bottom of the letter. However, the Units you achieved for the subject will be listed on your certificate.  

If you have gained a Group Award this year, such as a National Certificate (NC), Higher National Certificate (HNC), or Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ), a commemorative certificate will also be included.

The Scottish Qualifications certificate has three sections.

1. The Summary of Attainment

• It lists all group awards, courses and units you have ever achieved - qualifications you have gained this year and in previous years.
  
• Information is listed in columns and the column on the right of the page shows the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level of each. (The SCQF level shows how hard it is to achieve. See the separate article on the SCQF for more information).

2. The Detailed Record of Attainment

• It gives more detail about the qualifications you have gained since you last received a certificate. Anything listed on the summary page, which has this year's date will be explained in more detail here.
  
• It lists courses, the units which make them up and exam results. It shows the SCQF level for each and the number of SCQF credits for the units making up a course.
  
• Note that for Highers, credit points for external assessment are awarded only at Grades A, B and C, so if you got a Grade D, you will not have any credit points for the external assessment.

3. The Profiles page 

• It shows two tables, listing your core skills profile and giving a summary of your SCQF profile.
  
• The five core skills (Communication, Numeracy, Information and Communication Technology, Problem Solving and Working with Others) are built into many courses and units, but are not always at the same level as the course or unit. The highest possible level for a core skill is 6.
  
• The SCQF profile shows the number of credit points you have gained at each level. You can see how you gained credit points this year by looking at your Detailed Record of Attainment pages.

When will I get my results and the Certificate?

The 2009 results came out on Tuesday 5 August 2009. You can get your results by post or through MySQA, the SQA's email or text service.

To use the MySQA service in 2010, you have to register and activate your account by 5pm on 24 July 2010. There will be similar deadlines for registering in 2011 at http://www.mysqa.org.uk/

Registration is really easy, but you will need your Scottish Candidate Number (SCN) and an email address. If you don't already have your SCN, ask your school or college what it is.

By post, your certificate should be delivered first class, at your home.

If it does not come then, you should contact your school or college at once. SQA sends results directly to them so they will be able to tell you your results. They will also get in touch with SQA to find out what has happened to your certificate.

If you are at school, you should have received registration details for the online or text service in February or March. If you are at college, you can get details from your college from May onwards.

Internally assessed qualifications (for example HNC or HND)

You will get the certificate when you have completed all the necessary units. If you finish all the units by the end of the summer term, in June, the certificate should arrive in early September.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

If you have a conditional offer for a place at university, your results will be posted directly to UCAS, as well as to your school or college.

What if I get a Certificate I think is not complete?

If you think a course, or some units of a course you have done are missing from the certificate, or you think they are wrong, contact your school or college at once. If there is a problem they will sort it out with SQA. 

SQA runs a dedicated support line every August, where you can get help if you have difficulty understanding the content or layout of your certificate. This number will be on the covering letter sent out with your results. This helpline must not be used to query your results - you must do that through your school or college.

How can I appeal?

Before the exams your school or college sends SQA an estimate of how they think you will do. If your result is not as good as expected, they can appeal to have your work looked at again.

You cannot appeal yourself. Appeals may only be made by the head of your school or college and only if:

• you have attempted all parts of the assessment
  
• your school or college can provide suitable evidence.

If you want to appeal, you should contact your school or college as soon as the new term starts. SQA deals with Higher and Advanced Higher appeals first, usually in September, and Intermediate 1 and 2 and Standard grade appeals in October. SQA will let your school or college know the results of your appeal:

• Urgent appeals, if you hope to go on to college or university, by 20 September.
• Higher or Advanced Higher by the start of August.
• Intermediate 1 and 2 and Standard grade by early November.

If your appeal is successful you will get a replacement certificate at the end of November.

What if I lose my Certificate?

You should keep your certificate safe – you will need it when you apply for courses or jobs. But if you do lose it, you can get a copy from SQA, for a fee (£38 in 2010). You can buy it online from at the SQA website or by email request.

If you have further questions

Ask your school or college. Read the annual SQA leaflet ‘Your Exams 2010’. You can download it from the SQA website.

Or phone the SQA Customer Contact Centre on 0845 279 1000 – they will ask for your name, address, date of birth and SCN.

For general information check the SQA website: http://www.sqa.org.uk/