Before we get into the details of this year's Level 3 exam results, there are two useful things to understand. First, the legacy of Covid still looms - and in quite a unique way for these Year 13s.

For Highers, 75.9 per cent passed with the top bands, up from 74.9 per cent last year, and for Advanced Highers 76.7 per cent of students achieved A to C grades, up from 75.3 per cent last year.