Today, Thursday 13 August 2026, students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland receive their A-Level results.
For many students and their families, Results Day will bring confirmation of university places, apprenticeships or other plans for September. For others, the results may not be quite what they had hoped for and there may be decisions to make about Clearing, alternative courses, reviews of marking or resitting an A-Level.
Whatever the outcome, it is worth taking a little time to establish exactly what the results mean before making any decisions. There are often several options available, and schools and colleges can provide advice about the most appropriate next steps.
If you’ve received the grades you were hoping for, congratulations.
For students who have applied to university, check your UCAS application to confirm the status of your place and look out for further information from your university about enrolment, accommodation and the start of term.
If you’re moving on to an apprenticeship, employment or another course, check whether there are any further requirements to complete before September.
After a busy period of examinations and waiting for results, there should also be time to enjoy the remainder of the summer before starting the next stage.
If one or more grades are lower than expected, try not to assume immediately that your original plans are no longer possible.
If you’ve applied to university, check the status of your application first. A university may still be considering your application or may have accepted you even if you have narrowly missed the grades specified in your original offer.
If your place hasn’t been confirmed, speak to your school or college and consider the alternatives available.
Depending on your circumstances, these might include:
- Looking for a university place through Clearing
- Considering a different course or university
- Exploring a foundation year
- Asking whether a review of marking may be appropriate
- Resitting one or more A-Levels
- Considering an apprenticeship or alternative qualification
- Taking a gap year and applying again
It is worth looking carefully at the different possibilities rather than feeling that you have to make an immediate decision.
If your results aren’t what you hoped for, it can help to talk things through before deciding what to do next.
Speak to your parents, family or someone else you trust, as well as your school or college if you need advice about your options. You may need a little time to take in your results before you’re ready to think about Clearing, resits or alternative plans.
For parents, it can be helpful to listen first and give your son or daughter time to process their results rather than immediately trying to find a solution. Once the initial disappointment has settled, you can begin looking at the available options together.
Considering University Clearing
Clearing gives eligible applicants the opportunity to look for university courses that still have places available.
Although Clearing opened earlier in the summer, A-Level Results Day is when many students begin considering it following confirmation of their results. On 13 August 2026, students can access their UCAS applications, with eligible applicants able to add a Clearing choice.
If you’re considering a course through Clearing, look beyond the availability of the place itself. Consider the course content, entry requirements, location and accommodation, as well as whether the course is suitable for what you hope to do afterwards.
Your school or college may be able to help you consider the options, and you can check the latest Clearing information and available courses directly through UCAS clearing.
What If an A-Level Grade Is Unexpected?
Occasionally, a student receives a grade that is significantly different from what they or their teachers anticipated.
If this happens, speak to your school or college as soon as possible. They can explain the options available, including whether a clerical re-check or review of marking may be appropriate.
A review of marking checks whether the mark scheme was applied correctly and it is not simply a complete re-mark of the examination paper. It is also important to understand that a review can result in a mark or grade going down as well as up.
Where a university place depends on the result, ask your school or college about a priority review of marking.
Students and schools are also advised to tell the university or college if a review has been requested, as it may be possible for the place to be kept open while the outcome is awaited.
There are specific procedures and deadlines to follow, so it is important to seek advice promptly.
Should You Resit an A-Level?
Some students decide that resitting an A-Level is the best way forward, especially where a particular grade is needed for university or another chosen course.
Before deciding, it is useful to consider why the original result was lower than expected.
There may be gaps in subject knowledge, particular topics that caused difficulty or problems with exam technique. In other cases, a student may understand the subject well but need a more structured approach to revision and examination preparation.
Identifying these areas can help students make better use of the additional study time available before a resit.
It is also worth considering whether improving the grade is essential for your future plans or whether another route could lead towards the same goal.
Finding a Tutor for an A-Level Resit
One-to-one tuition can be particularly useful when preparing for an A-Level resit because lessons can be tailored to the individual student.
Rather than simply working through the whole syllabus again, an experienced tutor can concentrate on the areas where additional support is needed. This might include revisiting difficult topics, strengthening underlying knowledge, working through past examination questions or improving exam and revision techniques.
Personal Tutors can help students find experienced tutors across a wide range of A-Level subjects, including English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
We provide a free list of suitable tutors for your consideration, allowing you to compare tutors and decide who you would like to contact. There is no obligation to arrange lessons unless you decide a tutor is right for you.
Both local in-person tuition at home and online tutoring are available. Simply start your search by entering your postcode in the Search Box.
Moving on to University
University study generally involves considerably more independent work than A-Levels. Students are expected to organise their own workload, read more widely around their subject and take greater responsibility for keeping up with their studies.
There is no need to spend the remainder of the summer studying intensively, but some students find it useful to complete any preparatory reading suggested by their university or revisit important areas of their A-Level subjects before their course begins.
Looking Ahead After A-Level Results Day
A-Level Results Day marks the end of one stage of education and the beginning of another.
For some students, today’s results will confirm the plans they have already made. Others may need to reconsider their options or take a different route.
If your results are not what you expected, take advice and look carefully at the alternatives before deciding what to do next. A disappointing result may affect your immediate plans, but there are often other ways of progressing towards the same longer-term goal.
Personal Tutors has been helping families and adult students find experienced one-to-one tutors since 1970. If you’re considering an A-Level resit or looking for additional academic support, you can request a free list of tutors for your consideration, with no obligation to arrange lessons unless you decide a tutor is right for you.
a-level results day
What should I do if I haven't achieved the A-Level grades I needed?
If you've applied to university, check the status of your UCAS application first. You may find that your university has accepted you even if you have narrowly missed the grades in your original offer.
If your place hasn't been confirmed, speak to your school or college about your results and the options available before making any decisions.
Can I still go to university if my A-Level results are lower than expected?
Possibly. Your chosen university may still accept you, or you may be able to find a suitable alternative course through Clearing.
Take time to consider the course and university carefully before accepting an alternative place.
What is Clearing?
Clearing is part of the university admissions process and allows eligible applicants to look for courses that still have places available
Clearing for 2026 opened on 2nd July. On A-Level Results Day, eligible students can add a Clearing choice through their UCAS application.
For the latest information and available courses, check UCAS directly.
Can I ask for an A-Level result to be reviewed?
If you have concerns about a result, speak to your school or college. For students entered through a school or college, requests for reviews of marking are normally made through the centre rather than directly by the student or parent.
Your school or college can explain whether a clerical re-check or review of marking may be appropriate and advise you about the process, costs and relevant deadlines.
Remember that following a review, marks and grades can go down as well as up.
Is there a faster review if my university place depends on the result?
Yes. A priority review of marking is available for eligible A-Level examinations where a university or college place may be at stake. Speak to your school or college promptly.
You should also let your university or college know that a review has been requested.
Can I resit an A-Level?
Resitting an A-Level may be an option. The arrangements will depend on the qualification, awarding body and where you intend to take the examination.
Speak to your school or college in the first instance about the options available and consider whether improving the grade is necessary for your future plans.
When should I find a tutor for an A-Level resit?
If you have decided to resit, it can be helpful to start looking for a tutor early rather than waiting until closer to the examination.
Starting tuition in good time allows the tutor and student to identify the areas that need attention and work through them gradually. It also provides time to develop stronger revision and examination techniques before the resit.
