What to do if you don’t get the A-level grades you expected

If you don’t get the A-level results you were expecting, don’t panic. Missing out on your first choice is always difficult, but that doesn’t mean you’ve run out of options, far from it. Here is a step-by-step guide for what to do if your outcomes aren’t what you’d hoped for.

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Step 1: Check UCAS

Check your UCAS webpage to see if you have any university offers. You may still have been accepted with a lower grade or you may have made the grades for your insurance offer. You can access your UCAS account from 8am on Thursday 15 August to view your outcomes.

Step 2: Consider Clearing

If you haven’t made the grade but still want to go to university – consider Clearing. In simple terms, clearing is how universities fill available spots on their courses. And before your parents’ protest – the clearing that they may have experienced is not the Clearing of today. Historically Clearing was viewed as a last-chance offer. This couldn’t be further from the truth now.

Nowadays Clearing can be used if:

• You didn’t receive any offers, and you are looking for a university place
• You did better than your predicted grades and want to change universities
• You declined the offers you received and are looking for another university or course more suitable for you
• You didn’t meet your entry options for your chosen university and are looking for other options.

During Clearing, most UK universities and colleges will advertise their course vacancies on the UCAS website. You can then find alternative higher education institutions or courses that suit your interests and qualifications – this is true for those who have overperformed, as well as those who have not met their predicted grades.

Clearing is a competitive process, and available spaces can fill quickly. So, be proactive in researching courses, noting phone numbers and application forms for each university and contacting universities of interest.

It’s important to note that you can talk to as many universities and colleges as you want, and you may receive multiple offers during your Clearing conversations, but once you have made your choice you can add only ONE Clearing choice in your UCAS hub account.

And while Clearing on results day is frenetic, Clearing is open until 21 October 2024 so you don’t have to find your perfect place on day one (although spots do fill up quickly so timely communications is advised!).

Step 3: Think about alternative pathways

Foundation Courses

There are lots of options if your results aren’t as anticipated. Foundation courses, for example, are an excellent alternative (dependent on your subject) and can lead on to preferred undergraduate programmes.

Foundation courses provide students with the required skills for undergraduate study and helps to develop subject knowledge. They are available at a number of universities in the UK (including several Russell Group institutes), and many offer multiple course options and entry points, for example, in September, October and January.

Reapplication for September 2025

Taking a gap year and resitting you’re A-levels is another option. The Department for Education estimates that between 200,000 to 250,000 students take a gap year each year. Many of those students will have deferred entry to university to take a break between school and university, to join the world of work, to travel or volunteer at home and abroad. But if your results aren’t what you expected, taking a year out to do retakes is a very good way to get your education journey back on track.

Step 4: Ask for help

Whilst these different options may seem overwhelming at times, an education consultancy such as Quintessentially Education can help guide you through the process and provide you with expert, impartial advice.

Jess Harris, Head of Quintessentially Education, said: “A calm approach and a helping hand can be priceless at times like these. Receiving disappointing A-level results can be a real blow but it really isn’t the end of your education journey. At Quintessentially Education we are on hand to help find the right course at the right university for you.”

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