A' Level Results Day: Be Prepared, The Check List

Unlike students applying to universities in the US, for those UK bound A' Level results day has a magnitude more importance. Students who have taken SATs will already have their acceptances in place, no matter the outcome. For those going to the UK, and those countries the operate like it, the 14th of August is the day they will know whether their hard-fought for plans remain in tact - or whether a rethink will be required. It is, not to be too understated, a rather big day. 

For those of you about to go through it, Fiona Mckenzie and Paul Kelly from Gabbitas Education in Dubai detail your check list for the day...
 

14th August – 8 am

Have your UCAS user name and password to hand.

Schools will have emailed results to candidates.

Most applicants will receive their first choice firm offer and automatically receive a confirmation letter.

If you have missed your firm offer YOU need to contact the university and ask if you will still be accepted.

Admissions tutors are not interested in talking to teachers or your parents.

If you are not accepted by your firm offer you will be given a place at your insurance offer.

If you miss your insurance offer – YOU need contact the university and ask if you will still be accepted.

Universities may offer alternative courses to those who have not achieved a place on their chosen course. Be wary – unless you are happy that you understand the content of this course and would enjoy studying it.

If you want to have a paper remarked you have until 21st August to apply for a priority remark for a UCAS offer. 20th September for a non –priority remark.

If you applied for a deferred entry place and miss your offers you should now reapply.

Clearing

If you have not been accepted by your firm or insurance offer you will be placed in Clearing via a link to your application on UCAS Track. The UCAS website displays clearing vacancies.

• Check the courses being offered in Clearing.
• The highest drop out rate of students comes from those who went through Clearing.
• It is better to reapply in September than to sign up to the wrong Course in Clearing.

If you enter clearing you need to be aware that:-
• Admissions tutors will want to speak to you, not your parents.
• You need to be quick, clearing places disappear very fast
• If you can get to the University in person this can sometimes help your case.

Adjustment

This is available to those who exceed their firm offer grades. This entitles you to look for an alternative course, which required higher grades. You have five days to explore, confirm, apply for and be accepted onto an alternative course without your firm offer being affected. You are only eligible for this service if your status changes on UCAS Track from CF to UF

You need to be aware of the following:-

• Top quality courses at the better universities are unlikely to have places available through adjustment.
• Be wary of giving up a firm offer at a university that you have researched and accepting one in a place you know little about.
• There is no Adjustment list it is up to you to contact the universities to discuss adjustment places.
• It is not applicable to deferred entry candidates

Reapplying

If you have not made your offers, have not achieved a place through negotiation with Universities or through Clearing then you will need to reapply for courses that match your grades.

You will need to complete a new UCAS application with new log-in details and a new reference from your school. It is sensible to start this early.

Resitting A Levels

If you wish to aim for a higher university than your grades currently allow then you will need to consider resitting some of your A levels.

You need to be aware of the following:

• Not all universities accept ‘resit’ A level grades.
• You can only resit papers the following summer
• You will need to take advice as to whether to resit a whole A level or just one paper, or take a new A level in a year.

By Fiona Mckenzie and Paul Kelly, Gabbitas Education, Dubai.