Bill Morton: "Unresolved cases"

The Scottish Qualifications Authority said it is well on track to delivering the results on time and that printing of certificates is already well ahead of schedule.

But the exams body admitted that just over 1,400 students - most of whom attend colleges - could receive incomplete exam results

On Friday, the results of this year's exams were emailed to 400 schools and 40 colleges across Scotland.

Last year, schools received the marks on the same day as pupils.

Anomalies detected

It is hoped that this will give schools and colleges the chance to analyse the information over the weekend and answer any questions candidates have when they receive the results on Tuesday.

Last week, uncertainty surrounded some results after the authority admitted that its new system had detected anomalies relating to some 2,500 students.

By Friday that figure had fallen to just over 1,400 after further checks.

Pupils should receive results on Tuesday

SQA chief executive Bill Morton admitted that a "handful" of pupils might be posted incomplete certificates on 14 August.

The revelation prompted Mr McConnell to say that it was important that "everyone continues to work together in the run up to Tuesday and beyond".

The minister's comments riled SNP education spokesman Mike Russell who said he should be issuing a "guarantee" that any disruption would not affect students' university chances.

Mr Russell said that he had written to Mr McConnell asking him to "provide clarification over this issue".

A Scottish Executive spokesman said every effort was being made to deal with university candidates' results as quickly as possible.

'Outstanding queries'

He added: "The SQA identified a list of all Ucas applicants who had outstanding queries. They focused their efforts on resolving as many as possible of these cases by today.

"They will send updated results for these candidates to Ucas and Ucas will forward these updates to universities and colleges.

"SQA will clear up any remaining cases as quickly as possible, but in some cases this will not be possible until teachers return at the start of term.

"In many of these remaining cases, the outcome may be no change to the original result."