If your teenager didn’t achieve the grades they were hoping for on A-level Results Day —or if they’ve changed their mind about what or where they want to study—here’s your ultimate guide including information on what time Clearing opens and how to appeal A-level results.
It’s hard to know what to expect on A-level results day, and for those who didn’t get the results they were hoping for, it can seem like the end of the world. But there are plenty of options available for those who have just missed out on a place at their first choice university.
They might hope to achieve better grades by doing A-level retakes or appealing their A-level results, but your child can still get into university with the grades they’ve been given if they apply through Clearing.
First things first: it will help everyone if you and your teen approach A-level Results Day with an open mind. "Results Day is just the beginning,” says Ruki Heritage, Director of Student Experience at the University of Bedfordshire. “It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, but with the right preparation and support, you can navigate this important time successfully. Remind your child that there are many routes to success. It’s all about exploring options and finding the best path forward. The most important thing is to stay positive and keep moving forward."
How to appeal A-level results in 2024
- Stage 1: Request that the school or college conduct a review to find out if there have been any administrative errors. If an error is found, then the centre must contact the exam board and as a result, the grade may go up, down or it could stay the same.
- Stage 2: If the centre conducts a review and they don't find any administrative issues, then the student can appeal to the exam board. The centre does this on behalf of the student.
- Stage 3: If you think your appeal wasn’t handled properly by the exam board, you have the option of requesting a review from the exam watchdog. This can again be done through your school or college and the request must be made within 21 days of receiving the appeal outcome.
You might have to pay a fee if you ask for a review and your grade isn’t changed, and remember that grades can also go down (and not just up) as a result of a review.
When does UCAS start on Results Day?
Students can log into their UCAS account from 8am to check their status. They will also receive an email from UCAS at 8am confirming their application status.
UCAS support lines will open at this time as well.
However, as UCAS handles admissions for over 750,000 students each year, the system can be slow. Advise your teen to be patient with the website and to keep trying if they experience issues logging in.
But as UCAS takes all the A-level grades across the country and updates the Track website, the system is always busy with anxious students waiting to know if they’ve got into their chosen university. So it’s important to be patient with the website and if you can’t get in, take a deep breath, make a fresh cuppa, and keep trying.
What happens if you don't get the grades for your first choice university?
If you haven’t been accepted into your firm or insurance choice university, and you don't want to appeal your results or resit exams, then you might have to go through Clearing.
Always call the admissions office for the university of your choice to make sure first, as you might be able to change course or make other arrangements and still gain a place.
Chris Rea, a student careers expert for Prospects.ac.uk—the UK's largest student and graduate careers platform—agrees that if a student has narrowly missed the grades, they should contact the university directly to see if there’s any flexibility.
“If they’ve missed the grade by just a few marks, it’s worth talking to the university. While places are competitive, the university may be more accommodating if you’re planning to appeal any grades.”
What is Clearing?
Clearing is how universities and colleges fill remaining places on their courses. This year, there will be around 30,000 courses available, according to UCAS, the organisation that oversees the process.
Clearing often has a bit of a bad reputation, but it’s important to remember that missing out on their first choice doesn’t mean the end of the road—far from it. In fact, it’s an opportunity for a fresh start.
Many teachers and education experts believe it’s time to see Clearing as an opportunity for students to take more control over their choices.
If your child hasn’t achieved the necessary grades, Clearing offers a straightforward way to explore the range of courses still available at other universities or in related fields.
Students who have exceeded their predicted grades can also use Clearing to apply to more competitive universities.
Clearing FAQs
How to apply to university through Clearing
If you didn’t get your place at university confirmed on UCAS Track, there will automatically be an option to ‘Add clearing choice’ on your Track screen. This will also give you your Clearing number, which you will need when you phone universities.
Phone the admissions office at your chosen Clearing university yourself, as soon as possible. On the phone call, they may ask some questions as they read through your UCAS applications you already submitted. They may ask some questions or even ask you to do a formal interview. Then if they ask you to apply, this means that they are offering you a place.
How to add your Clearing choice to UCAS
Head back over to UCAS Track and enter the university and course details under ‘Add Clearing choice’. This means you are making a formal offer to take the place.
Can you go through Clearing before Results Day?
Yes, you can go through Clearing before results day. Although Clearing - the process of matching university applicants with institutions that still have places - is famously used on results day for those who haven’t got confirmation from their first or second choice universities, it actually starts in July.
Clearing is used by many students who either applied to university after the UCAS deadline or missed out on securing any offers initially. However, there are limited places available in Clearing before results day.
Can you go through Clearing if you have an offer?
If you got an offer from your first or second choice university, you can still go through Clearing. But you do have to get in contact with the university to inform them that you’re rejecting your place and going through the Clearing process.
While this might sound unusual to some, many students enter Clearing voluntarily. Especially if they think they’ve made the wrong choice of university or if they’ve got higher A-levels than anticipated and want to go to a different university.
What time does Clearing open on Results Day?
If your teen wants to enter Clearing on Results Day, they will have a few hours after receiving their results before Clearing officially opens at 1pm.
Your child can only enter Clearing if they didn’t receive any offers (or any they want to accept) or if they’ve decided to decline their firm offer and pressed the ‘decline my place’ button in their application.
Encourage them to use the time between 8am and 1pm wisely.
They’ll need to research alternative universities and courses before making any calls. They should be prepared to convince the person on the other end that they are genuinely committed and interested in securing a place.
It’s important that they handle this process themselves. If they feel daunted, remind them that the people they’ll be speaking to are there to help.
Help them stay calm by reminding them there are many places available and that university is not the only path to success.
If their grades suggest they’re not quite ready, they could consider options like foundation years at the same institution, which would prepare them for their chosen course.
Remind them that there are many routes to the same destination. For example, if they didn’t get into a business studies degree, they could consider marketing or accounting instead.
These days, there are also other options, such as apprenticeships and BTECs, which provide specific career training.
What will you need for Clearing?
To ensure everything goes smoothly, it will help if your teen has the following at their fingertips:
- Their UCAS Personal ID number
- Their Clearing number
- Their grades/UCAS Tariff points
- A fully charged phone with good signal and a computer
- Pen and paper to list the universities they want to contact and to jot down any new course codes
- Some bullet points and ideas about what to tell universities about themselves
It may feel like a rush on the day, and it’s true that the most in-demand courses will go quickly.
But in reality, it doesn’t all have to be decided on the day.
Students can apply to courses through Clearing until 21 October this year, as long as places are available and they don’t have offers from elsewhere.
Re-marks or re-takes?
What happens if your teen didn’t get the grades they were hoping for but is still determined to secure a university place?
Ask for a Remark
If your teen just missed a grade that prevents them from going to their first-choice university, they might consider asking for a remark.
To do this, they’ll need to contact their school or college and discuss it with their teachers.
They can obtain more information on the mark and see a copy of the paper, so you can decide together whether it’s worth requesting a full remark.
Bear in mind that this can be expensive, as many schools won’t cover the cost.
For example, the AQA board charges £57.85 per paper for priority marking if your teen needs it to secure a university place—though the fee will be refunded if the grade changes.
And as A-level exams can involve three or more papers, the costs can add up.
Both the exam board and a second examiner will review the paper to ensure it was marked correctly and that all marks were counted.
Bear in mind too that if your child does receive a new grade, it could be higher or lower than the original, and they’ll have to accept the lower grade if that’s the outcome.
They could also receive a higher mark that still doesn’t change the overall grade.
Deciding to Retake
If your teen is still set on a specific course or university but didn’t get the grades, they may want to consider reapplying the following year and retaking their exams.
If your teen feels they have supportive teachers, it will help to discuss with them how this can be managed.
If their current school doesn’t offer this, your child may need to attend a different college—either a sixth form college or a private institution. They could also retake their exams online.
However, be aware that there will be tuition costs involved, and you may also need to cover the cost of the exams themselves, which can be substantial.
James Kidd, Principal of DLD College London, says: "If there are no suitable options for what your child is looking for in Clearing, retakes are a viable option. It may feel tough to redo another year of A-levels, but if the only way to get on a specific course is to improve grades, it’s one year of extra study to achieve their goal."
For more exam results content, check out our parent's guide to what to expect on A-level results day or for some light relief, find out the shocking amount parents spend on exam results gifts.
