A-Level Results Survival Guide | Clearing and Plan B Strategies
A-Level Results Day 2025 is just a month away, and if it's on your mind, it's worth knowing what clearing and plan B strategies are worth having in place before the day
How results day works:
1. Results are published on 14 August 2025 (usually from 8 am). SQA results will be released on 5 August 2025. Check via your school or college portal, or collect a printed statement from your school (some institutions require this for UCAS updates).
2. UCAS updates: If you meet the grades for your firm offer, UCAS will show that you've been accepted by 8 am.
3. If you miss your firm but accept your insurance offer, the University will confirm your place.
4. Missed both offers? Don't panic. See clearing below.
5. Remark requests: If you're 1-2 marks off a grade, ask your school to request a remark (the cost is approximately £50-£100; priority service takes 2 weeks).
What if you get your grades?
If you get your grades, UCAS will confirm this. Your next steps are to book accommodation and register for Freshers' Week.
What if you don't get your grades?
Contact your University of choice:
If you miss your grades by a few marks, consider calling your University of choice and seeing if they will still accept you even if the course is complete, ask if there's another course you can take or a joint honours course.
For example, if you want to do Maths and you don't meet your grade requirements, the following joint honours may work for you:
Mathematics & Finance (BBB-BBC) Unis: Liverpool John Moores, Coventry, Bournemouth.
Mathematics & Business Management (CCC-BBB) Unis: Brighton, Westminster, Staffordshire.
Accept your insurance choice:
If you receive your grades for your insurance choice and want to attend, accept the offer and book your accommodation.
If you have a change of heart:
If you receive your grades but have decided against your first offer or insurance choice, you must decline both offers to proceed through Clearing.
Going through Clearing:
Clearing allows universities to match places still available with students holding the required grades for these courses. Many students apply through Clearing for various reasons. This might be because you have changed your mind about the course you want to study, didn't receive the results you expected or have only just decided you want to go to University. Clearing is open from July 5 to October 20, 2025.
You can apply through Clearing if:
• You haven't met the conditions of your firm or insurance offer. Your UCAS Track status will state 'You are now in clearing'.
• You don't hold any offers from any universities.
• You want to decline an offer and try elsewhere.
How it works:
1. Check UCAS Hub for your Clearing number (unique ID).
2. Search vacancies on UCAS or university websites (e.g., "Clearing 2025 Maths courses").
3. Call the universities directly (have your grades and personal statement ready).
4. Receive an informal offer—if you're happy with this, add the choice in the UCAS Hub.
Pro tip: Prepare 2-3 universities/courses via Clearing before Results Day to secure a place quickly. There's no harm in seeing what's available before results day. Official Clearing vacancies are only available in the UCAS search tool and are updated based on the places universities and colleges have available.
What if you do better than expected?
Adjustment was previously available for students who performed better than expected and achieved higher grades than required for their firm. It's no longer available as students use Clearing. This means if you exceed your offer conditions and want to apply for a different university or course, you will need to do the following:
1. Decline your original offers:
If you have met or exceeded the conditions of your firm offer and wish to consider other options, you will need to decline your original offer through your UCAS Hub.
Last year, UCAS reported an increase in the number of students, including a significant rise in those who voluntarily declined their original offer to explore new options through Clearing. While not all universities use Clearing, many of the top UK universities do, and you'll find courses in Clearing from Loughborough, Durham, Bath, Warwick, Lancaster, Birmingham, Exeter, Edinburgh, Bristol and UCL, to name but a few.
2. Register for Clearing:
Once you've declined your offers, you can register for Clearing through your UCAS Hub.
3. Research courses and universities:
Applicants in Clearing can also click the 'My matches' button in their application to see a list of courses they've been personally matched to.
4. Contact universities:
If you find a course that interests you, contact the University directly to discuss your options.
5. Accept an offer (if you find one you like):
If you find a suitable course, you can accept the offer through your UCAS Hub. Ensure that you add it as a Clearing choice in their application, as it needs to be confirmed on the hub.
Plan B strategies for results day:
Retake your A-levels:
Retaking A-Levels is a smart move if you haven't performed as well as you needed to or if you need higher grades for University or a course. Most universities do not penalise retakes, but some (e.g., Medicine at Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, and LSE) may view them less favourably.
When retaking work to address the root cause of your marks (working with a tutor can help here), be ready to explain why you are retaking on your UCAS form.
You can retake A Levels at your current school or college, or as a private candidate through various exam centres or online providers.
Take a gap year:
Taking a gap year presents numerous opportunities to work, travel, or pursue personal growth.
A gap year also allows you to gain real-world work experience and develop skills, making you a stronger and more focused university candidate. Studies show that students who take a gap year often perform better academically, as the time away from education helps reduce burnout.
Beyond practical benefits, a gap year is a chance to work, volunteer, travel or earn money for tuition. If you already have an offer and have met the conditions, be sure to defer entry (see below).
Defer entry:
If you wish to defer for a year, review your offer letter and the university's website for details. Most universities will agree, but competitive degrees, such as medicine, may be more selective. Be aware that you need to meet the conditions of your offer and request a deferral, often at least 8 weeks before the term starts.
Send referral requests to admissions (it's helpful to call them first) and ensure they have your name, student ID, and the course you are deferring from. Be sure to obtain and keep confirmation that you have been accepted to defer your entry to 2026.