Pupils across Scotland will sit existing Highers after teachers called for more time to implement new qualifications.
Schools were given the option to phase in the new Highers after teaching unions raised concerns about how ready they were.
The latest figures suggest almost 45% of pupils will sit the existing exam.
Angus Council confirmed the majority of its pupils will be sitting the new Higher, while in Perth and Kinross one school will sit the old Higher in all subjects, while eight will allow pupils to sit a mix of old and new.
A Scottish Government spokesman said both qualifications held equal weight, with universities and employers making “no distinction” between them.
New figures from the Scottish Qualifications Authority show that of 217,976 provisional Higher entries this year, 120,557 (55%) are for the new exams and 97,419 (45%) for existing Highers.
All pupils will study for the new qualifications, brought in as part of the Curriculum for Excellence reforms, from the 2015-16 school year.
Education Secretary Angela Constance welcomed the 5% year-on-year rise in the overall number of provisional entries for Highers and said the figures showed the introduction of the new exams was progressing well.
She said: “We listened to schools who requested flexibility and we acted and I have seen how schools are making good use of this flexibility to phase in the new qualifications in a sensible way.”
She added: “Scottish education now offers more flexible learning opportunities for our young people and new national qualifications, which were introduced at the beginning of the 2013-14 school year, are now well established. In August last year we saw a substantial increase in the number of both Higher entries and Higher passes, and I am very pleased that we are again seeing a substantial interest in provisional entries for Higher.
“It is very positive to see greater numbers of young people aspiring to higher levels of qualifications in our schools.”