A-Level Results Day: Everything You Need To Know
Updated: 2nd August 2024
So: it’s the big day. Feeling ready? Don’t worry - whatever happens, we’ve got your back. A-Level Results Day means stress, excitement and big life decisions for thousands of 18-year-olds across the United Kingdom, so you’re definitely not alone.
Maybe you got your grades or maybe not. Maybe you even exceeded them! Whatever your situation, you’ve got some choices to make. Accept that offer, or try your luck in Clearing? What about re-marks? Adjustment? And should you commit to uni this September, or would a gap year serve you better?
Read our guide to get your plans A, B, and C in place for whatever Results Day brings your way
Author:
Matthew Dagnall
Now Yipiyap’s Head of Innovation and Marketing, Matthew declined a university offer for a gap year with Yipiyap with no regrets. He shares his advice on Results Day options.
Results Day Survival Guide:
When is A-Level Results Day?
The precise date for exam results day in the United Kingdom changes every year, but A-Level Results Day is usually early-to-mid August. A-Level Results Day 2024 is on Thursday 15th August.
What happens on A-Level Results Day?
The first clue you’ll get to how you’ve done comes via your offers on the UCAS Hub: this officially opens at 8AM on Results Day (so there’s no point in staying up all night waiting for it!) It can take a little while to update, and universities might take a few hours to update your application based on your results, so don’t panic if there’s nothing there yet! And of course, every A-level student in the country will be on there - so don’t be surprised if the website is running a little slow!
UCAS won’t tell you your actual achieved grades via the hub - only if you’ve made your accepted offer. That might be a pretty big hint as to how you’ve done, depending on the nature of your offer. But otherwise, you’ll have to get your results from school or college.
Your school or college will tell you the exact time to show up for your results. If you’re away for A-Level results day, make sure to let your school know in advance so someone can arrange to collect them on your behalf.
And once you’ve got that envelope from school, it’s up to you! Open it up right there and celebrate or commiserate with your friends, or take it home (if you can stand the suspense, anyway…) How did you do? Whatever the result, don’t panic - you’ve got options. But now, the decisions start.
I got my A-level grades! What now?
Congratulations! You did it! If you haven’t already, you’ll receive a confirmation from your firm choice university - be patient, they’ll have a lot of applications to get through.
That might be all you need to hear from us - so get out there and start celebrating! Then, it’s time to plan in a trip to IKEA: you’re off to uni! Our friends at The Parents’ Guide To have a great checklist of everything you’re going to need.
What happens if I got better A-level grades than expected?
Well, it’s cause for celebration - but it’s also a real “what now?” moment! All hands on deck - you’ve got a few options.
Option 1: Get advice from school or college
Step one is to talk to school - they’ve seen it all before, and will be able to advise you on all your options and any alternative courses, subjects, and unis that might be open to you with your new grades.
Option 2: Look for a new placement via Clearing
You can use Clearing to trade up your offer if you received higher grades than expected. Once your conditional firm choice changes to “unconditional” on the UCAS Hub, you’re eligible to start Clearing. You’ll need to register for Clearing - see our advice on how Clearing works below.
You won’t lose your current place if you register for Clearing - that will only happen when you accept a new Clearing offer from a university. You’ve got five days from the moment you register for Clearing to contact other universities and secure a place.
In the past, there was a service called UCAS Adjustment that would take care of this process for you, but as of 2021, all changes to your course go through Clearing, whether you exceeded your grades or missed them.
Option 3: Reapply next year - or take some time to figure it out!
All sound a bit overwhelming? Or maybe Clearing isn’t turning up the place you know you want. Then you might want to sit this round out and reapply for next year with your grades locked-in. That saves you the frenzied panic of trying to sort things out this summer, and the application process will be much smoother with your grades already secured.
You’ve also got a bit of breathing room to think over whether you even want to reapply for next year. Remember, UCAS applications open in September for next year, and you’ve got until January for most courses or October for competitive courses like medicine, dentistry, and Oxbridge to submit your application.
Either of those will mean changing your plans though, so make sure to read our advice on what to do with a gap year you didn’t expect.
What happens if I didn’t get my A-level grades?
First things first: don’t panic. This isn’t the end of the world, and you’ve got tons of options at your fingertips. And believe it or not, a lot of those options can work out really well.
“It is important not to allow the results of your previous application to dampen your spirits. When it comes to reapplying for a highly competitive course, resilience becomes an essential quality to cultivate,” advises Smriti, a former Yipiyap tutor who successfully reapplied to study medicine at the University of Sheffield, “Setbacks are temporary blips in your journey and don’t define who you are.”
Option 1: Check the UCAS Hub for offers
You may still have an offer, even if you haven’t hit your grades. Your firm offer may have accepted you on the calibre of your application, and your insurance university is there for a reason. Now, that’s not a guarantee - but get all the facts together before you start making your plan.
Option 2: Get advice from school or college
You’re hardly the first person to be in this situation, so the next step is to talk to school. Your careers advisor or form tutor will talk you through how you’re feeling and suggest a few possibilities, whether that’s other courses/unis or resitting.
Option 3: Look for a new placement via Clearing
You can use Clearing to find a new placement if you didn’t meet your firm or insurance offer (or actually, even if you did!) Once your offers are formally confirmed or rejected on the UCAS Hub, you’re eligible to start Clearing. You’ll need to register for Clearing - see our advice on how Clearing works below. You’ve got five days from the moment you register for Clearing to contact other universities and secure a place.
Option 4: Resit or reapply for next year
It’s a lot to think about, and you don’t want to make the wrong decision. If Clearing isn’t turning up placements that make your heart sing, seriously consider how you’ll feel if you accept one. If you think you might regret it, then the answer could be to sit this round out and resit or reapply next year.
Yipiyap tutor Smriti successfully reapplied to medicine on her gap year. “The skills I acquired were pivotal in interviews, while the insights gained provided compelling evidence of my suitability for medicine.” Sam had the same experience reapplying to Oxford: “A gap year was justified from a university application standpoint alone - never mind the other perks!”
Shifting the goalposts to next year will save you the stress of trying to sort things out this summer and the risk of jumping into a place you’re not happy with out of panic.
If you’re planning to resit, talk to your school about whether they can help you register for the next exam cycle - and consider whether you’re ready to take on resits in October, or whether you want to wait until next summer. For competitive courses, remember to check whether they accept resits or not - this differs from uni to uni. As a general rule, Oxford and Cambridge only consider grades achieved within the same exam cycle.
You’ve also got a bit of breathing room to think over whether you even want to reapply for next year. Remember, UCAS applications open in September for next year, and you’ve got until January for most courses or October for competitive courses like medicine, dentistry, and Oxbridge to submit your application.
Any of those options will mean a big change of plans, though, so make sure to read our advice on what to do with a gap year you didn’t expect.
What if I’ve changed my mind about my university choice?
That’s okay - plans change, and universities understand that. It’s not too late to change your mind, but it is time to figure out what the plan is.
Are you going to try and change your course or uni for September via Clearing? Or take a gap year while your figure things out? Your university might be willing to defer your place until the following year if you get in touch now. If not, you can plan to reapply - nothing is guaranteed, but with your grades already secured, you shouldn’t have trouble securing your place again.
What is UCAS Clearing and how does it work?
What is Clearing?
Clearing is the way that universities fill any places they still have vacant after A-Level Results Day. Just like you don’t want to end up without a plan in September, unis don’t want half-empty lecture halls, so it benefits everyone to fill up all their slots. It’s best to act quickly though - it’s first come, first served, and you’ve only got five days after you register for Clearing to make your decision.
You can use Clearing if you’re applying late, or if you have a last-minute change of plans. That might mean you missed the grades for your firm offer, or that you exceeded your grades and want to trade up to a different course or uni - or it might be as simple as a change of heart.
Whatever the reason, you can register for Clearing via the UCAS Hub and start exploring alternative uni places.
How does Clearing work?
First, register for Clearing via the UCAS Hub. You can register for Clearing once you’ve got a confirmed result on your application on the UCAS Hub (or immediately, if you haven’t applied yet).
Once you’ve registered for Clearing, you’ll need to contact universities directly and receive offers over the phone. You can use UCAS’s search tool to see the courses available for clearing before you call.
Feel free to get offers from a few universities and consider them together - you don’t need to accept or deny right away. You’ve got five days after you register for Clearing to make your decision.
If you decide to accept a Clearing place, you’ll need to confirm it verbally with the university.
Once you’ve agreed your place with the university, you can then update the UCAS Hub with your Clearing choice - this will secure the university choice (and replace any other successful offers you may have received).
You can learn more about Clearing on the UCAS website.
Can you defer a Clearing place?
Short answer: no. Clearing places are for the current year. But if you’re thinking about deferring a place, you can apply through UCAS again for the following year (and still have a another shot at Clearing that summer too!)
If you’re thinking about deferring your place at uni, make sure you’ve got a plan for a productive gap year, full of professional development. Might we suggest Yipiyap?
What is Clearing Plus?
Clearing Plus is a new feature designed to make finding an alternative course easier. If you are eligible for Clearing, Clearing Plus will automatically match you to similar courses that still have vacancies at other universities. It provides personalized suggestions based on the subject, location or entry requirements of your original choice.
You simply review the matches and contact the university to discuss available places on the courses that appeal most. Clearing Plus streamlines the process so you can quickly find suitable alternative options if needed after receiving your exam results.
What is UCAS Adjustment?
Or rather, what was UCAS Adjustment? As of 2021, UCAS Adjustment is no longer an option. Prior to 2021, Adjustment was a way to explore other options if you end up with higher grades than you’d expected.
This year, you’ll have to do that via Clearing, or consider reapplying next year. You can read our advice on what to do if you exceed your predicted grades here.
Should I reapply to university next year?
A second bite at the cherry is seriously worth considering! You should explore your options before you take any decision. Consider registering for Clearing and seeing what places are available for September.
However, if you decide you’d rather pursue your dream course or university, you can always take a gap year. That will give you time to resit or reapply, and a well-planned gap year (such as tutoring with Yipiyap!) can make sure your application really stands out from the crowd next year. Every year, Yipiyap tutors use their gap year to successfully reapply to Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry, and more - and develop professional skills and maturity that stand them head and shoulders above their peers coming straight from school.
There are no guarantees, of course - but whatever the outcome, reapplying will provide a sense of closure and bolster your next steps with a year of invaluable development.
“I wanted to go to university – wherever that would be – knowing that I put in my absolute best effort to getting my dream place,” writes former Yipiyap tutor Sam, “Even if the place eludes you after the second time ‘round, you will have firmly subdued any niggling thoughts of ‘what if I’d tried again - would I have got in - would I be enjoying it way more?”
What do I do if my A-level grades are wrong?
That dreaded moment when you open the envelope to find a final grade that seems completely at odds with your predicted A-level results can leave you reeling. But before despair sets in, know that you may have valid grounds to appeal if you feel the mark awarded simply does not reflect your true performance. Be aware that costs may be involved if the outcome sticks. But a successful remark could just save your spot at your first-choice university. Act quickly though - priority deadlines for appeals apply in August when university places are on the line.
When to request a remark:
If your final grade is significantly lower than expected based on your predicted grades and mock exam results.
If you are narrowly missing your university offer conditions (e.g. just below a grade boundary).
If you have valid concerns about administrative errors or flaws in the marking process.
How to request a remark:
Speak to your school/college urgently - there are deadlines for priority appeals in August.
Ask your school to file an appeal on your behalf to have your exam paper re-marked.
Provide supporting evidence like mock results, your predicted grades and university offer conditions.
If re-marking upholds the grade, request the school appeals formally to the exam board.
Be aware of the costs involved - you may have to pay if the remark does not change the grade.
Act quickly and take guidance from your school to determine if requesting a remark is the right option based on your circumstances. Try not to let one grade define your future if the appeals process does not go your way. You still have plenty of other options, like finding a new place via Clearing or reapplying next year.
Can I still take a gap year? And should I?
It’s never too late to change your plans and take a gap year while you reassess. If you’ve secured a place at university that you’re unsure about, speak to their admissions department about the possibility of deferring a year.
It’s not a way out of making tough decisions, though - it’s essential that plan a productive gap year to avoid aimlessly drifting and risk stagnating. A well-planned gap year can help you mature and arrive at your next destination with new skills and a new outlook. Yipiyap alumni consistently describe their gap year as a crash course in professionalism that stood them out at work or uni. We wrote a guide for our friends at The Parents’ Guide To on deciding whether a gap year is right for you or not.
So, how can your gap year jump-start your career?
1. Don’t be aimless
Think ahead a year, then work backwards. If you’ve deferred a place at uni or are applying to a course, job, or apprenticeship, consider the skills that will wow once you’re there. Confidence? Interpersonal skills? Maturity?
Now, what gap year will get you there?
Unsure? That’s okay – simply pick a skill to build on and set yourself up for success once you find your path.
2. Focus on your influence
Missing out on competitive courses like Oxbridge, medicine, or dentistry can result in a surprise gap year. Don’t be disheartened – focus instead on what you can pack into those 12 months, and tackle next September with new skills, a new attitude, a glowing CV, and proven resilience.
Yipiyap tutor Smriti successfully reapplied to medicine on her gap year. “The skills I acquired were pivotal in interviews, while the insights gained provided compelling evidence of my suitability for medicine.”
Sam had the same experience reapplying to Oxford: “A gap year was justified from a university application standpoint alone - never mind the other perks!”
3. Knowledge is power
There are options beyond the local supermarket or a savings-busting 10-month backpacking holiday. Research will reveal opportunities you’ve never dreamt of, as gap-year tutor Eszter discovered.
“If not for a call from a distant friend, I may never have heard of Yipiyap. It felt like such a coincidence.”
“This year of experience reassures me of my work ethic and that it was not a mistake to take a gap year before university. This job feels like the start of a career”.
4. It isn’t all or nothing
Besides work, our gap-year tutors have spoken at international conferences, competed for Team GB and in Olympic selections and even performed as drag queens.
Part-timing is also great for supporting volunteering in your chosen field. Remember, you’ve got two summers, plus revision-free evenings and weekends.
Show off that personal and professional development at interview and you’ll be unforgettable.
5. Leave your comfort zone
Whatever you decide, pushing yourself is the only way to grow. If your plans scare you – that’s a good thing.
“I’ve seen confidence grow in both students and myself,” writes Grace, “This gap year has been truly transformational and I couldn’t recommend it enough.”