SCOTTISH high school pupils sitting National 5s and Highers have told The Ferret that mismanagement by the SQA has left them facing a “marathon of assessments” at short notice, which they claim are “exams in disguise”. Many pupils, who started sitting exam papers last week, said they felt let down and “unfairly disadvantaged” by the lack of notice given. Deputy First Minister John Swinney cancelled formal exams in December. But the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) led plans for an “alternative assessment model”, announced in March and described at the time by pupils, parents and opposition politicians as “exams by another name”.