A Guide to A-Level Results Day
One of the most important dates in any student’s life, A-Level Results Day can be both an exciting and nail-biting experience – particularly if you’re waiting to see if you have achieved the grades necessary to proceed to your chosen university.
With so much to absorb, it can be tricky to know what to do once you’ve received your results (especially if these have come as a shock).
In this blog, we’ll give you all the information you need to ensure your A-Level Results Day goes off without a hitch.
What to do if… you exceed expectations
First of all: congratulations! If you receive your grades and have been pleasantly surprised, you should take a moment to feel very happy with yourself. When you’ve had time to digest, it’s worth considering your next move carefully: you may have some new options.
If you’re happy with your firm choice of university, there’s not much to do (see below for more). However, if you missed out on an offer from your top choice university, or would like to see if new doors are now open to you, you might want to try Adjustment.
Our helpful guide to Adjustment has more information about this process; but, in brief, you have a limited time window in which to contact other universities and find out if places are now available on your desired course. You can only accept one adjustment offer, and your UCAS track will need to be updated accordingly.
Remember there’s no harm in exploring this process, as your firm choice offer will be held for you until you receive – and accept – another concrete offer.
What to do if… you achieve your predicted grades
Congratulations on achieving your predicted grades! It’s a huge accomplishment, you deserve to celebrate with your friends and loved ones.
Take some time to bask in your success and feel proud of your hard work paying off. In the immediate aftermath of receiving your results, there are a couple of things you can do to ensure everything is in order:
Keep a close eye on your UCAS track. It should reflect your recent results and confirm that you have met the conditions of your offer. Usually, this information is updated automatically, but it’s a good idea to double-check to ensure there are no glitches or delays.
If you find any discrepancies or if your status doesn’t update within a reasonable time frame, don’t panic. Reach out to UCAS or your chosen university’s admissions department for clarification and assistance.
Keep an eye on your e-mails for a confirmatory letter from your chosen university. This letter serves as official confirmation of your acceptance to the university following the successful achievement of your predicted grades.
It may contain important information about the next steps you need to take, such as enrollment details, accommodation options, and orientation dates. If you haven’t received the letter within a week or so after receiving your results, consider contacting the university to inquire about its status.
What to do if… you don’t get the grades you’d hoped for
If you get a bit of an unpleasant shock when you open your A-Level results, please don’t panic. Even if your grades don’t meet the minimum requirement stipulated by your chosen university, you have plenty of options available to you.
If you really want to go to university, there may still be a way for you to attend this year; if not, you could take a year out and do something exciting whilst you re-apply.
One of the first steps is to contact your first-choice university immediately, even if you haven’t met the conditional offer requirements. Explain why you believe they should still consider you. Be prepared and composed during the call as the admissions department is busy at this time. If your preferred university is not an option, consider clearing, where you can explore other colleges or courses.
Act quickly as spaces fill up fast. Another option is to retake your A-level exams and postpone university entry to the following year. Alternatively, think about studying abroad for a new experience or gaining real-world experience through work, which can also enhance future prospects. Remember to be kind to yourself and seek advice from mentors or family to make a thoughtful decision. The future holds many possibilities!
We put together a full guide on what happens if you don’t get the results you were hoping for.