How Does A-Level Results Day Work?
Introduction to A-Level Results Day#
Definition of A-Level Results Day#
A-Level results day is the day when final grades are given to students during the summer after exams. The grades are also sent to universities to confirm or reject a student’s place on their chosen course.
Importance of A-Level Results for Students#
Students will have been anticipating this day ever since they completed their A-Level exams. Knowing their results helps students to plan ahead for university, further education or employment. For some students, they need certain grades to confirm their place at university, hence this day finalises if they will be studying at a university in the autumn.
What's on this page?
★ When is A-Level Results Day?
★ Preparing for A-Level Results Day
★ What to Expect on A-Level Results Day
★ Handling Different Outcomes on A-Level Results Day
★ Appealing A-Level Grades and Procedures
★ Understanding the University Clearing Process
★ Receiving A-Level Certificates
★ Additional Options Post A-Level Results
★ Addressing Common Concerns and Queries Related to A-Level Results
When is A-Level Results Day?#
If you are planning your holidays or time after exams, make sure to add this date into your diary for 2024.
Official Date of A-Level Results Announcement#
A-Level Results Day is on Thursday 15th August 2024. This is the day that final grades are announced and given to students.
Scottish Highers Results day is on Tuesday 6th August 2024. This is when students in Scotland receive their grades.
Timeframe for Receiving A-Level Results#
Students can access their results from 8am on Thursday 15th August 2024. The UCAS Hub will also update from this time. Most schools will open to collect results in person from after 8am, but this varies between schools.
Students will receive an email to their school email address with their results attached. A-Level results cannot be viewed through the UCAS Hub, but the status of university applications can be.
From 8am, students can contact universities through clearing. Most universities have a clearing ‘hotline’ you can call or email.
Preparing for A-Level Results Day#
Tips to Mentally Prepare for the Outcome#
Try to distract yourself from the upcoming results day by getting outside, travelling, working or spending time with your family and friends. Keeping busy will make the time between completing your exams and getting the results go so much faster!
The more time you spend worrying about the outcome, the more anxious you will become on the week coming up to the big day. You can only find out your results on results day, so allow that day to come and don’t feel worried until you know the outcome.
A-Level results day can be stressful and overwhelming, so make sure to chat to the people around you about your worries. Your classmates are also going through the same experience, so talk to them about it and reassure one another.
You may find it helpful to create a plan for results day. This could include what time you will wake up, when you will travel to school, or how you will check your emails and UCAS Hub. Perhaps you want to go for a run or to the gym in the morning to keep your mind and body at ease.
UCAS Clearing opens from 5th July, so you can start exploring alternative options for universities before results day. Make a list of all of the courses and universities which interest you, as you may find on results day you need it as a backup list. This is good to do while you have more time, as results day may feel fast paced and stressful.
Practical Steps to Get Ready for Results Day#
Make sure you know your school email login and password - There is nothing more stressful than trying to reset and obtain your password when you want to see your results!
Save your UCAS login and password - Again, this will just make your results and offer checking much quicker on the day.
Write a list of clearing universities - Just in case your results are different to what you expect, it can be good to have a list of options you are happy with, so you can get straight to calling them, and save time researching.
Set an alarm in the morning - While you will almost certainly wake up on time, setting an alarm will allow time for you to process the results and take action on the day.
Make travel arrangements to your school - If you are hoping to collect your results in person, figure out how you will get to your school or college on time. Perhaps you need to ask for a lift with a friend.
What to Expect on A-Level Results Day#
You will have a basic understanding as you will have had GCSE results day a couple of years before. But A-Level results day can feel more intimidating, so let’s break it down.
Understanding the Process of Receiving Results#
There are two ways you can receive your A-Level results. Firstly, you will receive an email with your results attached. Secondly, you can go to your school in person to collect your results envelope.
Also on results day, your UCAS Hub will update to show if your offer on the university course you applied for is confirmed or rejected. You will need to either accept or decline your offer.
Procedures at Schools/Colleges on Results Day#
The procedure for collecting your results will vary depending on how your school chooses to run the day. But most schools will have a process for students like this:
★ Find the room or hall where they are holding the results hand-out
★ Look for a desk area where a staff member is handing out envelopes
★ Give the staff member your full name so they can find your results
★ Open the envelope in your own time/space and read your results
★ Chat about your results or next steps with teachers or fellow students
★ Stay and chat to your friends, or go home to process the outcome and figure out your next steps.
Handling Different Outcomes on A-Level Results Day#
There are a variety of outcomes you could encounter on A-Level Results Day, so let’s run through your options.
Meeting University Offers with Expected Grades#
If you meet the offer for your firm choice, the UCAS hub will update to show the university has offered you a place, make sure you confirm this via UCAS. Sometimes universities accept your place even if you have not met the grade requirements, this varies every year and is dependent on the applicants they have given offers to.
Dealing with Missing Required Grades#
If you don’t meet the offer for your firm choice, there will not be an option to accept the course place on the UCAS hub. In this scenario you can:
★ Call your firm choice university to see if you can join the course through clearing
★ Opt for your insurance choice university if they give you an offer
★ Explore other university options through UCAS clearing. Read our guide to clearing here.
★ Consider retaking your A-Levels - we have a guide on how to do this here.
★ Look into alternative routes such as degree apprenticeships, further education or employment.
Exploring Options through Clearing Process#
If you have decided you would like to apply for university through clearing, make sure to research your options through the UCAS clearing hub. This updates regularly on results day.
Read our guide to UCAS clearing here
While looking for somewhere to study, you can also read university and accommodation reviews here on StudentCrowd. This is a great way to find out what current students think of the university. We also have a variety of league tables, so you can find the best universities, accommodation and cities according to students!
Appealing A-Level Grades and Procedures#
If you are unsure that your grades are representative of the result you thought you could achieve, there is the option to appeal or remark your A-Levels. Though remember, just because you get your paper remarked, doesn’t mean it will always go up, sometimes remark grades stay the same or even go down!
Reasons and Process for Appealing Grades#
If you are a couple of marks off the next grade boundary, it may be worth getting the paper remarked.
If your A-Level subject is more essay based, there could be more potential for bias in the marking, as opposed to a subject which has multiple choice or 1 word answers.
Speak to your teachers to discuss putting your exam papers forward for remarking and appealing - they will be able to offer the best option for you. In some schools, teachers take care of the remark process, while in others it is the students’ responsibility, so find out which applies to you.
“An appeal will only be successful if either an error is found or the grade awarded or the selection of evidence are found to be an unreasonable exercise of academic judgement.” - Department for Education
How much does it cost to get an A-Level remark?#
The cost of requesting post-results services such as a paper remark will depend on the exam board, priority level and type of check. An exam remark costs around £50+, with the price increasing if you would like your remark returned to you faster.
Find the remark fees for different exam board below:
★ AQA
★ CCEA
★ OCR
★ WJEC
Understanding the University Clearing Process#
To make sure UCAS Clearing isn’t a panic process that you take as a last resort, it can be helpful to understand how it works before results day. UCAS Clearing is open from the 5th July, so you can start viewing university options before you get your results.
How Clearing Works for Students#
From researching universities, to adding your choices into the UCAS Hub, we have written a comprehensive guide on UCAS clearing which you can read here.
Steps to Take during the Clearing Period#
Clearing begins on July 5th, so you can explore your university options ahead of results day, as well as on the day. Find out more about clearing here.
Receiving A-Level Certificates#
Distribution of A-Level Certificates on Results Day#
You may be wondering where your official certificates are in your results envelope. You do not collect your final A-Level certificates on results day. This is because many students send their grades back for remarking, so the final certificates are not sent out until autumn.
The sheet of paper in your results packet is called a ‘Candidate Statement of Provisional Results’. You can still use your Candidate Statement of Provisional Results as proof of your qualifications in the meantime.
Certificate Collection Procedures and Timelines#
Your official A-Level certificates will either be posted to you or presented at a school awards evening in the autumn following results day.
Additional Options Post A-Level Results#
Going straight to university is not the only option after finishing your A-Levels. Many students choose alternative paths or don’t go to university at all.
Retaking Exams or Courses After Disappointing Grades#
If you are disappointed with your A-Level results, you have the option to retake your exams the following year. This is especially good if you found studying for your A-Levels and balancing personal circumstances difficult.
Read our guide to retaking your A-Levels
Guidance on Taking Gap Years or Alternative Paths#
Some students choose to take a gap year before going to university. This can either involve deferring your place at your firm choice university, or reapplying for university in the following January. Gap years are popular for students who want to travel, gain work experience, earn money or have a break from education.
Addressing Common Concerns and Queries Related to A-Level Results#
Guidance on Deferring University Places#
Deferring your place at university means you are choosing to start the course the following year. Many students do this to take a gap year, or spend time away from education before going to uni.
You can defer your place at university through the UCAS Hub, or by contacting the university. Not every university will allow students to defer their place, and you can usually only defer to the following academic year.
Reactions to Unexpectedly Good or Poor Grades#
Unexpectedly good - Reconsider your university options and see if there are top performing universities you could get into!
Unexpectedly bad - Don’t panic! You can still go to university through clearing, or consider retaking one or more of your exams the following year. Even if you don’t go to university, you can still apply for apprenticeships, employment or further education.
Additional Resources and Support Systems#
★ Read reviews of universities
Exam board websites:
★ AQA
★ CCEA
★ OCR
★ WJEC
Conclusion: Recap of Key Points and Encouragement for Students#
A-Level results day can feel overwhelming and long overdue, but with the right plan, expectations and attitude, you can make A-Level results day worth it. If you are currently waiting for the day to come, relax and focus on enjoying your summer. If it’s A-Level results day for you today, stay calm and follow our guide to get on track!
