The co-operation we've received so far has been outstanding and should be a real confidence-booster to students and parents alike

SQA director Brian Naylor

The number of markers required rose in 2001 as the SQA strove to avoid a repeat of the crisis which surrounded the previous year's exams, when thousands of pupils received incomplete or inaccurate results.

It was only in June that the then Education Minister Jack McConnell was able to announce that the full complement of markers had been recruited.

At the time, he warned that lessons had to be learned and said a thorough review of the process was required.

However, Mr Naylor said on Friday that this year's recruitment had got off to "an excellent start".

"We are grateful for and delighted with the response from those who have agreed to mark for us this year," he said.

Markers are being recruited earlier this year

"In 2001, we eventually needed a total of just under 9,000 markers, and at this time last year the recruitment process had not even begun.

"The co-operation we've received so far has been outstanding and should be a real confidence-booster to students and parents alike."

Efforts are continuing to fill in the remaining gaps in subjects such as administration, business management, computing studies, history, physical education and English.

Mr Naylor added: "We are still very keen that those who are qualified to mark in these subject areas continue to come forward."

More than 750,000 course entries have been processed from more than 500 examination centres throughout Scotland.