With A-level results day approaching on Tuesday 10 August 2021, many students will be considering what to do if they don’t get the results they expect. Here are our top five tips to consider when supporting your students, child, or ward.
Clearing can sound daunting, but it provides opportunities for students to find the best course for them in a range of scenarios, including:
Our online Clearing and Results Day course is a great resource to help students understand the process for each of these scenarios, and include preparations for a range of different scenarios on results day.
Most universities will publish their Clearing vacancies from July, which means students will be able to actively research courses and universities ahead of results day. When evaluating the courses available, it is important to keep a shortlist with key contact details for each institution as a reference point on results day.
Students entering Clearing can also utilise Clearing Plus: a service developed by UCAS. Clearing Plus matches students with a personalised list of available programmes, which they can use alongside their research.
Once a shortlist is determined, it’s worth following university social media channels including Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and Facebook. This will provide students with additional content to help with any final decisions.
Clearing and adjustment can move rapidly so students must keep a clear and well-planned diary during this period. On the morning of A-level results day, students may elect to receive results directly from exam boards or collect them from their school. When planning, it is important to arrange access to the internet and have the ability to make telephone calls. This will ensure they have every opportunity to access the information they need to support their next steps. It is important that students check UCAS Track alongside receiving their results as this will, in most cases, provide further guidance on the status of their place at their chosen university.
When contacting a university, it is worth preparing answers to the following common questions:
In addition, students may want to prepare a set of questions to ask universities. Some examples include:
Students can apply for Student Finance if they are not holding an offer from a University. If they have not yet applied but are considering university and require this financial support, it’s important for them to apply at the earliest opportunity.
If a student has completed a student finance application for a different course or university, they just need to update the course in their online account.