Results day survival kit: How to handle every outcome

I don't think I can ever forget my A-Level results day back in 2001. While S Club 7 was telling us to "reach for the stars," I was anxiously wondering if I'd earned enough UCAS points to get into my first-choice university. 

Whilst this is a nerve-wracking day, there's nothing quite like seeing your child achieve their goals. Here are the key ingredients to clarify all the misconceptions and hopefully allay any unnecessary fears. 

1. Key terms

But first, let’s start with the basics and what your child’s application status means.  

• Conditional firm/ first choice (CF) - Your child’s first choice, which is dependent on meeting specific grades.  
• Conditional insurance choice (CI) - Your child’s backup choice that typically has lower grade requirements. 
• Unconditional firm/ first choice (UF) - The first choice that has a guaranteed place regardless of grades. 
• Unconditional insurance choice (UI) - The backup choice that has a guaranteed place. 
• Embargo - The confidentiality period that enables universities to prepare for Confirmation and Clearing.  
• Unplaced student - A student who doesn’t hold any university offers or places.  
• Clearing Plus - A free service that automatically suggests course options to unplaced students. If there are matches that a student is interested in, universities contact the student directly.  
• Offer in principle - During Clearing, Universities will give ‘offers in principle’ or verbal offers, which students can then reflect on.   
• Clearing ID - As soon as you are released into Clearing, students will receive a specific identification code that universities can use to access their details. 

2. Variety

Oh, if only we lived in a world where every school, exam board and country did things the same way. But unfortunately this is not the case. 

• Each school decides how to give results. It’s important that you and your child know what the procedure and expectations are before their final exam. If students are expected to attend school, what time? If online, how? Passwords and usernames fall by the wayside at this point, so ensure you’ve got all the details you need plastered onto the front of the fridge. 
• Most students will receive their results on Thursday, 14 August from 08:00 from their school or college. Their UCAS application will also update from this time to show them their most up-to-date status.
• Scottish students receive their SQA results on Tuesday, 5 August, so they have a unique timeline. Many institutions reserve spaces specifically for Scottish qualification holders. Just ensure your child is registered for MySQA to enable their results to be sent by email or text from 09:00. 
• Students undertaking international qualifications will need to send their results directly to their chosen course providers. Some might ask for these results immediately, while others will assess your application first before asking for proof.  

3. Student essentials

Regardless of how students receive their results, all students need: 

• To actually receive them! This is why I recommend they are in the country and able to access school if they need to.  
• A phone with data/credit to make and receive calls. 
• To check their nominated access – if they aren’t able to make the phone call, they must update UCAS with the person who has permission to contact universities on their behalf.  
• Their UCAS ID and Clearing ID. 
• The university and college Clearing phone numbers. 
• Emotional resilience! 

4. Decisions

• Confirmation – If your child’s offer has changed to an unconditional offer, this means your child has met their offer. The chosen uni will direct them as to what to do next. 
• Clearing – If they didn’t get any offers or declined the ones they had, students can then use the course search through Clearing to select a different one.  
• Decline my place – From 5 July, students can decline any offers they hold, releasing themselves into Clearing. However, ensure students only use this button if they’re sure they no longer want the place.  
• Reconsideration – This is an opportunity from Cambridge and Imperial for students to reapply, for students who applied and were initially unsuccessful but did well in their exams. Eligible students would have been previously contacted, but if students want to be reconsidered, they must opt in to reconsideration on results day, having checked their initial course has availability (see the institution’s distinct website). 
• Foundation year – For students who don’t meet the offer to join the course in year 1, certain establishments have a foundation course offering whereby students can start university whilst bridging the gap in their knowledge.  
• Defer – Maybe they’re not quite ready for uni, want to gain some more experience, travel, or re-do some exams. Most unis will defer a place for a year (if the conditions of the offer have been met), but the student must contact the university immediately.  
• Degree apprenticeship – Maybe your child has decided they want a more practical and hands-on learning experience. Applications are rolling and not subject to the academic year, but they can be very competitive. 

5. Re-marking

If your child is close to a grade boundary and has narrowly missed out on their university place, work with their classroom teacher to request a priority remark. Most schools will request that the individual pays for this, and it’s important to note that marks could go up or, indeed down, so this isn’t something to jump into without thought or the expertise of a professional.  

However, if the student has missed their university offer, they must request a priority remark as soon as possible and make immediate contact with the university. It is at each university’s discretion as to whether they put the place on hold until the 7 September, but it’s true what they say: if you don’t ask, you don’t get!