Education Secretary Angela Constance has rejected a call to run the new advanced higher qualification in tandem with the existing one for an extra year.
The Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, (SSTA) said she claimed the move would be too “disruptive” for pupils.
It claimed the decision would come as a disappointment to thousands of teachers who fear young people following the existing qualification could be disadvantaged in the switch.
A SSTA survey showed that 54% of 915 teachers asked said they were not confident in their ability to deliver appropriate course materials.
A total of 92% of 919 people believed that school working time agreements gave insufficient time to implement the new higher courses/qualifications.
Seamus Searson, SSTA general secretary, and incoming vice-president Euan Duncan held talks with Ms Constance this week to discuss the extension call.
“The survey confirms the view of many secondary school teachers that more time is needed to bring about these important changes,” said Mr Searson.
“However, the minister maintained her position that there would not be an extension of the existing system beyond this year.
“The SSTA is of the view that to allow schools to delay the implementation of the new advanced higher by one year would only be a continuation of the existing situation and would have no impact on schools.
“There could be a small inconvenience to the Scottish Qualification Agency but its role is to support schools and seek the best outcomes of students.”
Mr Duncan said the survey clearly showed that secondary teachers “lacked confidence in their ability” to deliver examination materials for new higher qualifications.
“The minister was of the view that to extend the existing qualification would be too disruptive for schools,” he said.
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said it had provided unprecedented support for the new qualifications.
He added that the advanced higher was generally taken by a relatively small number of learners so there was “no reason” to expect its introduction would create unmanageable extra pressures on teachers next year.