Pupils across Scotland received their much-anticipated exam results on Tuesday (August 5) - with a 0.8 per cent rise in National 5 passes.
That meant that students achieved a record 269,115 Nat 5 passes in 2026, with pass rates also up in Highers and Advanced Highers.
It was good news for Education Secretary Màiri McAllan, who only took on the role earlier this year, who said: “This is testament to the breadth and strength of Scotland’s education system, the professionalism of our teachers and school staff and the hard work of our young people.”
However, the percentage of pupils passing their Nat 5s varies considerably between council areas, with East Renfrewshire having the highest pass rate of 90.6 per cent and Fife having the lowest at 73.1 per cent - a difference of 17.5 per cent.
Here are the 10 worst performing council areas for Nat 5 pass rates.
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1. Fife
Fife, including the town of Kirkcaldy, is the worst performing area when it comes to National 5 exams, with a pass rate of 73.1 per cent. | Canva/Getty Images
2. Angus
Second worst, with a Nat 5 pass rate of 73.5 per cent is Angus, including the town of Arbroath. | Canva/Getty Images
3. Glasgow City
Pupils in Scotland's biggest city of Glasgow had a Nat 5 pass rate of 74 per cent in 2026. | Canva/Getty
4. Moray
Moray, including the town of Elgin, also had a National 5 pass rate of 74 per cent. | Canva/Getty Images