Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to cancel Higher exams in Scottish schools amid concerns about the impact of covid on young people.
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said the decision on scrapping exams should be made before the Christmas holidays.
Willie Rennie, the Scottish Lib Dem leader, echoed the call.
Education Secretary John Swinney has already cancelled exams at a National 5 level and is under pressure to make the same decision for Highers and Advanced Highers.
Critics believe there would not be a level playing field for pupils from poorer backgrounds if an exams diet went ahea.
The Scottish Government is considering the matter.
Harvie, whose party wants exams replaced by a "robust system of continuous assessment", raised the issue at First Minister's Questions.
In a statement, he said: “This week the education secretary told parliament that one in four S4-6 pupils have already experienced a COVID-related absence, so it makes no sense to delay the decision on the exam diet any further.
“Young people have experienced enough stress and anxiety this year to last a lifetime. And, as is so often the case, those from the most deprived communities are being disproportionately affected.
"It’s long past time the First Minister gave teachers and young people the clarity they need and accepted that Higher and Advanced Higher exams cannot go ahead in the coming year. They deserve to know before they break for the holidays.”
Rennie also said an "effective alternative" is needed to exams.
Sturgeon said: "The Deputy First Minister has made clear that a final decision on Higher and Advanced Highers will be taken no later than mid-February, but it will be taken sooner than that if the evidence suggests that is the right thing to do."
