A-Level Results Day
What to Expect, What to Do, and Why It’s Not the End of the World
14th August
It’s been circled on your calendar, looming quietly in the background all summer. Whether you’ve tried to ignore it or counted down the days, A-Level Results Day has a way of showing up with a mix of nerves, hope, and adrenaline.
And that’s okay. It means you care. It means you’ve worked for something.
Whether the envelope brings you relief, excitement, or a gut punch - this post is here to guide you through every step of the day. What to expect, what to do, what it really means and how to take the next step with your head held high, whatever that step may be.
Before the Day: Preparation Is Power
Here’s something most people don’t realise you can prepare for results day - and you should.
At this stage you can’t control the grades. But you can control how you respond. You can show up with a plan, rather than panic.
Things to Do in the Days Before:
Make sure you’ve got UCAS login details ready - you’ll need them.
Read up on Clearing: how it works, how to apply, and what unis are still open - we have set out some tips for clearing below.
Talk to someone you trust: a teacher, a mentor, even us. Sometimes saying your worries out loud is enough to shrink them.
Write out your options on paper - if things don’t go as planned, it’s easier to stay grounded when your next steps are already in front of you.
The Morning of Results Day
When & Where
Most schools and colleges will open around 8am on Thursday, 14th August for students to collect results. Check with your school ahead of time - some send results electronically, others hand them out in person.
What You’ll Also Want:
Your phone (charged)
UCAS details
Any university Clearing numbers saved
Notes on your insurance/university preferences
Something to eat. Low blood sugar and big decisions are not a good mix.
When You Open That Envelope
If You’ve Met Your Firm Offer
Massive congratulations. Enjoy this moment. You’ve done something remarkable and not just the grades. You committed to something and saw it through. That’s rare.
Now? Celebrate. Get your accommodation sorted. Join those Freshers group chats. But also take a moment to thank yourself. You earned this.
If You Missed Your Firm Offer
Take a deep breath. This part can feel like your whole world is crashing - but it’s not. You’re going to be okay.
You have options - real, powerful ones. Let’s walk through them…
Your Options If You Didn't Meet Your Firm Offer
1. Check Your Insurance Offer
If you missed your firm offer but met the conditions of your insurance offer, then congratulations - you’ve got a university place secured. It might not have been Plan A, but it could turn out to be exactly what you needed.
2. Apply Through Clearing
Still want to go to Uni this year? Clearing opens immediately on results day, and thousands of students find brilliant opportunities this way.
Here’s how to navigate Clearing:
Check your UCAS Hub
Log in on results day. If you're eligible for Clearing, UCAS will show a message and give you a Clearing ID. You’ll need this to apply.Start researching courses
Use the UCAS website or university Clearing pages to look for courses. Filter by subject, entry requirements, and location.
Tip: Don't rush - look at course content, support available, and whether it feels like the right fit for you.Pick up the phone and call universities
Speak directly to admissions tutors. Be ready to give:Your name and UCAS ID
Your grades
Your Clearing ID
A short explanation of why you’re interested in their course
Stay calm. It’s not a formal interview, but enthusiasm and clarity help.Receive a verbal offer
If they offer you a place, they’ll usually hold it for 24–48 hours while you decide.Add your Clearing choice in UCAS
Once you’re sure, log into UCAS and add the course.
Tip: You can only add one Clearing choice at a time, so choose carefully.
3. Retake Your A-Levels
If you know you didn’t reach your potential - and your dream course depends on it - retaking can be a powerful move.
But don’t do it alone. This is where having a tailored tutor and a strategy matters. Whether it’s gaps in understanding, exam technique, or mindset - you don’t just need more study time, you need smarter study. That’s what we do best.
4. Take a Gap Year & Reapply
A year out can be a gift, if used wisely. You can:
Gain work experience in your field of interest
Travel, grow, and reflect
Reapply with a stronger personal statement, improved grades, and maturity
Many students reapply to top universities after a gap year - and succeed, often with better offers than before.
5. Explore Other Pathways
University isn’t the only route to success. Depending on your goals, you might explore:
Degree apprenticeships
Professional certifications (especially in tech and finance)
Starting your own business or side project
Work and study options in STEM industries
You don’t have to follow the traditional route to build a fulfilling and high-earning career.
After Results Day: What's Next?
No matter what happens on the day, life goes on. And it can go up, in ways you haven’t imagined yet.
Here’s what we recommend:
Reflect: What did you learn about yourself? What do you want next?
Plan: Whether it’s freshers, reapplying, or exploring new paths, take the next step with intention.
Reach out: Talk to someone who’s been through this. Ask for help. You’re not supposed to know it all.
For Parents Reading This
This is a big day for your child - and a fragile one.
Whether they got the grades or not, the most powerful thing you can do right now is be a calm, steady presence. Let them speak. Let them cry. Let them feel everything without rushing to fix it.
Avoid comparisons. Avoid panic. Avoid lectures.
Instead, be their anchor. Remind them of their worth. Remind them that there are always options. Remind them that they’re not alone.
They’ll remember how you made them feel on this day far longer than they’ll remember their grades.
Final Thought: You’re More Than a Number
A-Level Results Day is a milestone. But it’s not a measure of your worth, your intelligence, or your future success.
Whether you smashed it, missed it, or landed somewhere in between - this is your life. And your life isn’t over. It’s just getting started.
This is one day. One moment. One snapshot. It doesn’t define your future - it just informs your next move.