A-level Results Day 2018: What if I don’t get the results I need?

The class of 2017 at Thurston Sixth Form celebrating their A-level results Picture: Archant (Image: Archant)

At 8am today the months or revision, exams and coursework will all come to a head as students across the UK will be able to see whether they were accepted to their university or college of choice.

The panic will have settled in by now but don’t worry - here is everything you need to know about that dreaded results day.

When and where do university and college decisions come out?

The ‘Track feature’ of the UCAS website will update at 8am today (Thursday, August 16).

Last year's pupils from Culford School celebrating their A-level results Picture: Archant (Image: Contributed)

The exact exam results will not be made available here but students will be able to see if they’ve been accepted to the university of their choice.

If UCAS Track says that your place is ‘unconditional’ then you do not need to make any further checks - you have been accepted, enjoy your day.

On the other hand the university or college might offer you an alternative course offer if your grades fell slightly short of the mark.

This is a ‘changed course offer’ which you will need to accept or decline. You may have applied for a history course but they will offer you modern history or politics.

What if my application was unsuccessful?

Firstly: don’t panic. Just because your application was unsuccessful doesn’t mean you aren’t going to university you could still get a place if you enter clearing.

Last year over 60,000 students found a place at university through clearing. You may even get into the university you were rejected from on a different course.

You can’t enter clearing until both your university offers have been confirmed or rejected. You will also need to register and make an application through UCAS to enter clearing.

What if I don’t want to go to my firm or insurance choice universities anymore but I was accepted?

We get it, you made a quick decision last year to do a particular course at a particular university that you are no longer interested in.

If this is true you will have to ring up that university and negotiate with them to release you into clearing, once they do this your details on the UCAS site will be updated and you will be able to apply for courses through clearing.

Where can I go to get my exam results?

UCAS has updated and told you which universities have accepted you - brilliant, but what did you actually get in your A-levels?

Results will be available at your school or college and they will have their own release times. A breakdown of your full results will be available there on paper.

If you can’t physically go to collect your results in person, then you can arrange to collect them on a different day or get them posted to your home address. You should contact your school or college to arrange this.

I got my grades and I over-achieved, do I still have to go to my firm choice?

You needed AAB and you managed to achieve the magic AAA. If you’re happy with your university choice then great, but you might want to look for another university now that you have better grades.

If you are in this situation then you can apply for UCAS Adjustment. Unlike clearing it doesn’t have available list of courses to apply for.

Luckily you can hold onto your firm offer whilst you shop around.

Simply apply for Adjustment on UCAS Track and then contact the universities you are interested in directly.

Make sure you have your Ucas Personal ID to hand, they will ask for it.

I still need help!

If our expert advice is not answering your questions there is still help available.

The Exam Results Helpline offers free, independent advice on 0800 100 900 7 days a week from 8am-10pm. UCAS is also bristling with information and you are advised to contact them here if you need more advice. Good luck.