How to: Survive Results Day

Hello, Reader!

Only a few days left until results day! It can be quite intimidating - I definitely had a pretty terrible experience - but there are ways you can prepare so that it goes smoothly. Here are some ways you can make results day a little less stressful.

If it’s your A-Level results day and you haven’t been blessed with an unconditional offer from your uni of choice - it might be a good idea to consider having a plan B, just in case you don’t meet your offer. This isn’t to undermine your hard work or intelligence, but rather to be prepared for anything because it can be unpredictable. This can, for example, involve thinking about alternative universities to apply to, through clearing. Another thing to consider is whether you will check your UCAS track first or get your results first, since UCAS shows whether your application was successful at 8am whereas you can collect your results a bit later, depending on your school. Personally, I think that I was keen to know my grades first because I knew that if I checked UCAS first and found that I didn’t get in I would stress much more about what grades I received. However, most importantly, calm down. It’s better to go in to collect your grades with a clear mind and as little stress as possible.

Another thing to consider is whether you want to open your grades in front of people or alone. This is just personal preference, really - it might be a bit less stressful to open it alone, but you might want that support from people around you. The only thing I’d suggest is opening it in school rather than waiting until you get home, just in case you need some help with clearing or adjustment!

Knowing your grades, there are a few possible outcomes; you got into your first choice or insurance uni - yayy! Go post that screenshot of UCAS track on your Instagram story! You deserve to feel proud of yourself! You exceeded the grade requirements for your first choice - well done! You killed it! If you’d like to you can go through adjustment, which means calling up universities you’ve considered but didn’t think you could get into and finding out whether they can still accept you! Your grades didn’t meet the offer for your first or insurance choice - try clearing! There are many universities (really highly ranked ones, too!) that end up with empty spots after results day which you may qualify for. Can’t find any courses you can get into that interest you? Think about taking a year off. Reapply in a few months and retake some exams if you need to - and meanwhile, enjoy a break from education! If you don’t know what you would do during a year off - have a look through my other posts! 

At the end of the day, your grades don’t define you. Whatever happens, it’s not the end of the world. Improvise, adapt, overcome. 

Love,

Agnes xo