Students in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are gearing up for the release of their AS, A-level, and T-level results on Thursday, 17 August.

Vocational and technical qualification students, including BTec Level 3s and Cambridge Technicals, can expect their results by or before the same date. In Scotland, SQA results (Highers and Advanced Highers) were already unveiled on 8 August, reflecting a mixture of pass rates, a step down from last year but surpassing pre-Covid levels.

In Advance of the Day

Make sure to have your UCAS information to hand and be available to speak with UCAS or your school on the day
Ensure you know how results are being posted
Re-familiarise yourself with your personal statement, it will help in any conversations you have with universities.

On the Day

Grades – what are your options?

In line with what the charity YoungMinds emphasises, we know that exam results are just one yardstick of success, and if things don't unfold as planned, there are numerous ways to reach your chosen destination. Suppose you narrowly miss the grades required for your intended university or college course. In that case, there's still hope, as admissions offices might consider your application or propose an alternative course that aligns with your interests.

Put simply, there are four potential outcomes:

You have met your firm offer
You have not met your firm offer
You have exceeded your offer
You have not met your offer and do not have any offers

If you are 1) or 3) - well done! The UCAS system will automate to reflect the grades, but you may need to click ‘decline your place’ if you’d exceeded the offer and would like to ‘change up’ to a new university option.

If you are in position 2) it’s possible the university may still provide you with an alternative offer which you will need to accept on UCAS via ‘change course offer’. UCAS track will also reflect whether or not you’ve met your insurance offer.

But what if you’re in position 4) ?

Exploring Options: Resits, Apprenticeships, and Gap Years

Should you find yourself close to the mark but not quite there, the possibility of re-sitting some or all of your exams is worth considering. Engage with your school to discuss this. Alternatively, the world of apprenticeships or traineeships can open exciting vocational pathways. Entry-level jobs provide a direct transition into the workforce for those keen on getting started right away. Taking a gap year also offers time for introspection and decision-making regarding your future path.

Appeals and Reassessments

If you’re still dissatisfied after receiving your results, don't hesitate to get in touch with your school or college. In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, your educational institution can request a review of your marks from the exam board on your behalf. If the situation remains unresolved, you have the option to escalate the matter to Ofqual, the exams regulator. In Scotland, you can directly appeal to the SQA about your final grade. If your appeal is accepted, the exam board will review the marks you received.

UCAS Clearing: A Lifeline for Higher Education

The UCAS clearing process is key for students facing unexpected circumstances. It's a system that connects students with university and college courses that still have vacancies across the UK. Clearing comes into play if you miss the grades for your conditional offer, fail to receive offers you wish to accept, decide to apply after 30 June, or outperform your expectations and wish to switch universities. In the previous year, almost 67,000 students secured university placements through clearing, showcasing its effectiveness.

Conclusion

A Level exam results are undoubtedly significant, but they are not the sole markers of success. If your results don't align with your aspirations, remember that there's a wide spectrum of opportunities waiting. Resits, alternative pathways, appeals, and UCAS clearing are all avenues you can explore.