For some families, Thursday 13 August will bring exactly the news they hoped for. University places will be confirmed and the summer can begin properly.
For others, the morning may bring an unexpected result, a change of plan or simply a lot of questions.
Whatever happens, there will be options. This guide explains what to expect on A-Level Results Day, what to have ready beforehand and what to do if the results are not quite as hoped.
What To Expect On A-Level Results Day
Every one of these has a route through it. If you are unsure which applies, call us.
What to have ready the night before
You may not need any of it. But if plans change on the morning, having a few things ready can make everything feel much more manageable.
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UCAS Personal ID and login
Log in the night before and check that it works. Password resets on results day morning go to an email inbox nobody can find, and the UCAS site is under heavy load from 8am.
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Grades and tariff points
Universities ask for both. Tariff points are worth converting in advance so nobody is doing arithmetic while on hold.
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GCSE results
Frequently asked for in Clearing calls, and rarely to hand. Maths and English grades in particular.
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A copy of the personal statement
Useful if a university asks why your child wants the course. It is also a year old by now, so a quick read the night before is worth it.
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Two or three alternative courses
Course names, course codes and admissions phone numbers, written down rather than open in tabs. Researching options while the phone is ringing is the thing that costs the most time.
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A charged phone, and someone free to sit alongside
Universities will only speak to the student, not to a parent. Your job is to be next to them with the list, not to make the call.
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If they have been accepted
There is nothing you need to do. UCAS updates automatically and the university will be in touch directly. The only thing worth keeping an eye on is the administration that follows. Accommodation, enrolment and student finance deadlines come round quickly and the emails have a habit of landing in a junk folder.
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If they have not got the grades
We have seen this many times, and it is almost never the end of anything. Check UCAS before assuming the place has gone. Universities often confirm students who have fallen slightly short, particularly if the shortfall is in one subject. Some offer a place on a related course instead. If the firm offer has gone, the insurance offer stands as long as the grades meet it. It is worth taking a moment before accepting it. An insurance choice made in January, largely as a formality, is not always somewhere your child actually wants to spend three years.
Clearing
Clearing is how universities fill the places they still have available, and it works. Strong universities do release places, and families who have researched beforehand and call early tend to do well from it. UCAS explains the mechanics on its own results day and clearing pages.
Two details parents often miss. A Clearing choice cannot be added to the application until 1pm on results day, so the morning is for calls rather than for clicking. And universities will only discuss the application with the student, not with a parent, so your role is the one next to them rather than the one on the phone.
Do call us if you have any doubt about a course, a university or the process itself. It is easier to think straight about a three year commitment with someone who is not standing in the middle of the day with you.
How To Support Your Child On Results Day
Results day can be emotional, particularly when the outcome is not what your child expected.
In those first few minutes, they do not need every answer. They need to know that you are alongside them and that there is still a way forward.
Try to avoid immediately asking what went wrong, comparing results with friends or siblings, or jumping straight to the next decision.
Instead, start with the options.
“Let’s see what we can do from here.”
A disappointing result can feel enormous at 8am. Often, by lunchtime, the picture looks very different.
If you would rather talk it through with someone outside the family, the National Careers Service runs a free Exam Results Helpline on 0800 100 900, open to parents as well as students from results day until 28 August.
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If you think a grade is wrong
Speak to the school on results day. They will tell you if a review of marking is worth pursuing, which usually depends on how close the mark sits to a grade boundary. Reviews take around two weeks, grades rarely change, and they can go down as well as up, so it is best not to build a plan around the outcome of a review.
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Resits and other routes
If Clearing does not feel like the right option, a resit may be worth considering. For most A-level subjects, this will mean sitting the examination again in summer 2027, although timings depend on the subject and examination board. It can also be a useful point to look more broadly at the next step. A different university, course, subject combination or academic route may ultimately suit the student better than the original plan.
Whatever appears on the results sheet, you do not have to work out the next step alone.
If you are unsure about Clearing, university options, a review of marking, resits or a change of academic direction, speak to the Lionheart team. We are here to help you look at the options calmly and decide what makes sense for your child.
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