With A-Level results day here, the pressure can feel immense. If you've opened your results and they're not what you were hoping for, take a deep breath. It is completely okay to feel disappointed, but this is not the end of the road—it’s just a detour. You have plenty of great options, and this guide will walk you through them.
Immediate actions: Your Results Day Checklist
Here’s a practical plan to help you take control and find your best next step.
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Contact Your First Choice University: Before you do anything else, call the admissions office of your firm choice university or college. Be prepared to give them your UCAS ID and explain your situation. They may be flexible, especially if you narrowly missed your grade. Admissions tutors are impressed by students who take the initiative to call themselves.
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Explore UCAS Clearing: Clearing is a fantastic system that matches students with university places that are still available. Your grades might be perfect for another excellent course. Log in to UCAS to see your options.
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Consider Exam Retakes: You can retake one or more of your A-Levels to improve your grades. Talk to your school or college about the timelines and what support they can offer.
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Look at Alternative Pathways: This could be the perfect moment to discover a different route. Could a Foundation Year, HND, or a degree apprenticeship be a better fit for your goals?
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Query Your Grade: If a grade was a very near miss or seems completely out of line with your predictions, you can ask your school about the process for a review or appeal. An exam board can check for administrative errors or re-mark your paper.
What to Do Next: The Bigger Picture
Remember, your A-Levels are just one step on your journey. These results do not define your potential or your future success. The most important thing now is to make a calm, informed choice about what comes next.
Even if an appeal doesn't change your grade, you can still go on to achieve fantastic results in your next stage of education. To help you move forward, take a moment to reflect on what happened. Was it exam stress, or could your revision strategy be improved next time? Learning from this experience is what will make you more resilient and successful in the long run.
