Education 'n' Work

A-Level Results - what next?

Welcome to our results surgery.

How did you do?

After many weeks of hard work your A-Level results arrive... what's the next step?

I’ve done better than I thought!

If you do better than expected, you have 5 days to consider your options.

This is called the Adjustment period.

You may wish to look at other courses, universities or colleges. Find out more on the UCAS website: www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/adjustment

I’ve not got the grades I need!

The first thing to do is phone up. You may still be accepted or offered an alternative course.

You can also look on "UCAS Track" to see what's happened to your application. You may have done well enough for your insurance offer, even if you haven't got your first choice!

Try not to leave it too late to talk to someone. Connexions personal advisers are always available.

I’ve lost my uni place!

Don’t panic! If you’ve applied for higher education through UCAS then you’ll automatically be entered into Clearing.

Clearing allows you to look for courses that still have vacancies. Try to be flexible about which courses you’ll consider, to give yourself a good chance of finding a place. UCAS will automatically send you a Clearing Passport, which explains what you need to do.

Find out more on the UCAS website: www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps/clearing

How do I apply through Clearing?

It’s important to act quickly. Make a note of your clearing number from UCAS Track and contact institutions yourself.

An admissions tutor should be able to tell you over the phone if they can offer you a place, or they may want to see you.

Be ready to answer questions about yourself and why you’re interested in the course, and also to arrange interviews and visits at very short notice.

If a university or college is interested in you, they will ask you to send in your application. They will then send you a letter to confirm your place.

This all happens fairly quickly between mid August and early September, but don’t be hasty. If you’re not sure, tell them and keep on phoning.

How do I find out about course vacancies?

All vacancies will be listed on the UCAS website: www.ucas.com and in The Independent national newspaper.

Keep an open mind and be realistic about what you could study. Call institutions or check out their websites and prospectuses for more information.

Courses fill up very quickly; therefore, keep checking the UCAS website which is updated on a regular basis.

My plans are in ruins...

Again, don't panic! There are still a lot of options open to you and the chance to do something that you like.

Talk to a personal adviser, who will have information on a wide range of jobs, courses and training opportunities, and can help you make the best decision for you.

Can I get a job?

Find out first if your results will get you the job you want. If you have the right attitude and personality some employers will offer you training to help you progress with them and gain further qualifications.

I would like to change my mind

Universities and colleges base their final decisions on exam results. If you have met the conditions of your first choice or your insurance choice, you have to accept that place through UCAS or withdraw from the application system for this year.

You will not be able to turn down a place and then go into Clearing, or deal with any other institution that uses the UCAS system. If you're thinking about changing your course, or deferring your entry for a year, you must contact the university or college directly.

Re-takes

You should think very carefully before deciding to do retakes. Were there any special circumstances – illness, family crisis, changing school – that stopped you doing your best this time around? If not, what’s going to be different next year?

For more information…

If you’re between 13 and 19 and you want to talk to a Youth & Connexions personal adviser, you can contact an adviser at school, or college, by phoning our Freephone number 0800 085 4448, emailing us at youthandconnexions@suffolk.gov.uk

Or you could visit one of our centres:

  • Infobar, 37-43 Fore Street, Ipswich
  • Opportunity House, 35 - 37 London Road North, Lowestoft
  • Caxton House, 43 St Andrews Street South, Bury St Edmunds

More information about contacting us: Contact us

For information on university application and the clearing system, see www.ucas.com/resultsandnextsteps

Useful tips

Here are some useful tips from a Connexions Personal Adviser!

Firstly, don’t panic! Whatever results you get there are plenty of options for you to consider.

Secondly, just ask! There are loads of people to get advice from. Speak to your family, friends, teachers or pop into your local Suffolk Youth and Connexions office.

-Rebekah Green

For more info visit the Connexions Direct website


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  • DirectGov: Student Finance
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  • UCAS
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