When is A-level results day 2024 - and how to to help your child prepare?

Both parents and students want to know when A-level results day is in 2024, and it's not surprising given that waiting for exam grades can be stressful.

Finally, it’s here. After two years of studying for A-levels, pupils across the UK have now found out whether their hard work has paid off - while parents will be seeking tips on how to support your child on A Level results day. This year, Results Day fell on August 15th. It's a day for pupils to start making lots of exciting decisions about their next steps – whether it’s taking up a university place they’ve been aiming for, choosing a new place to study, deciding to retake or asking for a remark or deciding to train to enter the workplace instead.

"Exam results day is a milestone, not a verdict," says Lauren Bayliss-Fuller, Head of Futures at the Royal Hospital School in Ipswich, Suffolk. Both parents and children must see it as a step in a lifelong journey, not the destination.

"Encourage your child to celebrate their efforts and recognise that every outcome is a new opportunity. Let them know their worth is not defined by grades alone. And for those navigating the UCAS Clearing process see it as a chance to discover new opportunities and pathways - it’s not a fallback, but a fresh start. Every setback is a setup for a comeback."

"If you don’t get the results you’ve hoped for, it’s important to remember that there are other people who are in the same boat, and that grades aren’t everything," agrees Nicola Anderson, Chief Customer Officer at MyTutor.

With this in mind, here's when A-level results day takes place in 2024 and everything else you need to know about finding out the grades.

When is A-level results day 2024?

A-level Results Day 2024 is on Thursday 15 August. This is the same for schools across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and is also the day that results for AS Levels, T Levels and Level 3 VTQs - such as BTECs - are released.

What can we expect from A Level grades?

Although examiners are now marking A-levels in the same way they did before the pandemic, UCAS chiefs have been reassuring that they are doing all they can this year (2024) to support pupils in finding places which best suit them.

UCAS chief executive Dr Jo Saxton says: "Most people get their first university choice, your UCAS ‘firm choice’."

If not, she has this advice for 2024 students: "If you don’t, or you change your mind, there are plenty of options available, with around 30,000 courses in Clearing offering you choice and flexibility. Make the most of the support network around you – speak to your teachers, university admissions staff, or UCAS’s team of expert advisors who are readily available to answer any questions you may have. UCAS advisors will also be standing by ready on the telephone, website, and social media channels.

"Whatever your results, this is an exciting time, and we want to make sure you have the best possible experience of transitioning to university.’ With a few days to go, Jo’s other tip is to suggest students do a bit of research and even try out online taster guides for courses which are new to UCAS this year. These include real-life lectures, seminars, and interviews with academics."

What time will A-level results be released?

A-level results are usually available to collect from schools and colleges from 8am. However, some sites will stagger the times that students can pick up their grades.

Your school or college should let you know in advance what time you can arrive on results day, but if you're not sure it's best to check with them directly.

For those who have applied to university through UCAS, the system will also be available to view from around 8 am. In the days leading up to A Level results day UCAS is 'frozen' until the grades are released, so make sure you've made any necessary changes and your details are up to date in advance. If you need to update your information after UCAS has been frozen, you will have to contact them directly.

When you log in to your UCAS Hub on A-level results day, you will be given one of the following offers:

• Unconditional: your place on the course has been confirmed
• Unsuccessful: you’ve not been accepted by your choice(s) and you are eligible to enter clearing
• Unconditional Changed Course (UCC): you haven’t met the grades for your course, but the university has put forward an alternative

If your UCAS Hub doesn't update by mid-morning, try calling the university, as it may mean they haven't made a decision yet.

How do I find out my A-evel results?

This will come in two separate stages. Your school will release their A-levels results at around 8 am online. Or your teen can go in person to collect them, depending on the school’s opening hours.

At around the same time, your teen should get an email from UCAS to let them know whether these results were enough for the universities they applied for - and what other colleges and courses might work for them, if not.

Another possibility is that UCAS shows an offer from a university for a slightly different course. They will also be offered the opportunity of going into the Clearing system to apply for other degrees.

Don’t be afraid to encourage your child to pick up the phone if they are confused on Results Day. Both UCAS and the universities have hired lots of people to take calls and queries, although there could be lots of waiting.

Remember, it also may feel like it all has to be decided on the day - but Clearing is open until October 21.

While it will help to move quickly this week if your teen wants to nab a high-demand course, they still have time if it’s not decided straight away.

What happens if you miss A-level results day?

If your child isn’t around on the day – maybe they are away travelling - remember that UCAS can’t speak to anyone else about their application – even you. If they can’t access a computer or easily call universities the only way to help when they are away is to get them to give you ‘nominated access.’

Your child can nominate you, a teacher, or another person when they log into their UCAS application.

You may also be able to send someone else in your place to collect your results, but this will need to be arranged in advance. To do this, you will need to provide a signed letter of consent naming the person you have elected to collect your result, and they will need to take along ID.

Nicola Anderson from MyTutor says getting organised for results day is a key way to help with nerves. She explains, "It can be easy to only focus on the things you can’t control - like grades - or what you’re going to do if you don’t get into your first choice uni. Worrying about things that have already happened Isn’t helpful because they are out of your control.

"It helps to focus your energy on what you can control– like what you’re having for breakfast, what time you’re going to pick up your results, and what you’re going to do after, always remembering there’s a plan B if things don’t go exactly as you expected."

Nicola also shares some ways students can cope with the pressure of A Level results day, saying: "If you’re feeling overwhelmed and are having trouble relaxing, we suggest trying to get your feelings out on paper. Writing your train of thought is a good way to let go of anxiety, and it can also be a relief to think that in a few weeks, ‘future you’ will be reading that entry back knowing how it all went – especially if you did better than expected."

Nicola offers some advice if you find yourself in any of the above situations. She says, "If you don’t get the results you’ve hoped for, it can be a great idea to stay off your phone or check how your friends have done. It’s important to remember that there are other people who are in the same boat, and that grades aren’t everything.

"Once you’ve had a bit of time to take in your results, it helps to have a chat about things that you can do to achieve your goals and have plans in place instead of focusing on the past."

The National Career Service Helpline is the official free service available for both parents and young people alike to seek advice and support following exam results. It can be reached on 0800 100 900 and is available 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 5pm on Saturdays and bank holidays.

If you are planning on heading off to university, the next steps are to get your accommodation sorted and make sure your student finance details are up to date. You may also want to start researching the area your university is in if you will be moving away from home.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you take some time to reward yourself for getting through it, no matter the outcome.

Tanith Carey

Tanith Carey is a parenting writer and award-winning journalist. She is the author of 11 parenting and psychology books, which analyze some of the most urgent issues for today’s parents and offer practical, research-based solutions. Tanith’s books have been translated into 35 languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, German, and Chinese and have received widespread global media coverage. She has two children and holds a Certificate in Therapeutic Skills and Studies from London’s Metanoia Institute, where she is training for her Masters in Gestalt psychotherapy.

How to support your child on results day

• Offer calm support: "However nervous you're feeling, act as if you are calm and open to any outcomes," says Dr Angharad Rudkin, clinical child psychologist on ‘What’s my Teen Thinking? Avoid endlessly speculating too before the big day comes. View your role as being on hand if your teen wants support or admin help to make any decisions.
• Make a plan together: To help your teen feel more grounded, it may be helpful to create a plan for results day together. "Ask your teen how they would like to structure the day," says Dr Rudkin. "Do they want you there when they get their results or not, what would they like to do afterwards? Developmentally, they are more likely to want to spend the day talking to or being with peers, and if that is the case, your job is to then feed, water and facilitate this."
•  Help them mentally prepare: If they do go through Clearing, warn them upfront could be a lot of waiting for unis to answer the phones and status updates. Talk about being aware of when they are starting to feel stressed or overwhelmed or when taking some deep breaths, going for a walk, or asking for a hug might help.
•  Take a flexible approach: If your child is worried they haven’t got their grades, have a Plan B ready. Before Results Day, encourage them to think about any universities or make a simple list of courses they might also like to consider. As UCAS point outs out to teens this year: "Your results might turn out differently than you expected. Having a Plan B, such as listing alternative degrees and university choices with their contact details, is something you want to have, so you can swiftly take action once all your feelings have settled." Remember there’s a huge choice of degrees out there  - and they are likely to include degrees with just small variations. "Discussing and having a backup plan can really reduce panic on the actual day," says University counsellor Danielle D'Onofrio at ACS International Schools Egham. "Knowing that there are multiple pathways to their goals - like Clearing and retakes - can reduce fear of failure."
• Reframe the Clearing process: Clearing is a chance for your child to see all the university places still not filled. Point out that going the Clearing process is not a sign of ‘failure’ to get their grades. These days it’s all about giving them more choice and finding the course and a university that truly suits them. Students can also use Clearing to apply to a university they thought was out of their range before they got better grades than they expected.
• Get to know the UCAS website beforehand: Although it sounds daunting, your child’s UCAS Track – which allows them to keep track of the progress of their applications - is personalized for them and will guide them through all the steps, though it will always help to get familiar with the site. Remember UCAS knows this can be a stressful day and wants pupils to be able to navigate their way through easily, so the steps should gradually become clear.

A-level Results Day checklist for your teen

• School timings and logins: If your teen wants to find out their results online, suggest they have the login for their school’s pupil portal if they are being sent out that way. If your teen is going into school to collect them, check they know where their results will be handed out and from what time – and check if they will also need to take their student ID? Suggest they have their phones and laptop charged up in case they want to stay at school and get advice from teachers if they are going through Clearing.
• UCAS info: They will need their UCAS ID. It’s also useful to have the UCAS hotline handy 0371 468 0 468.
• University Hotline Numbers: Having a list of any other universities on your child’s Plan B list will be handy if they think they might need to ring around.
• The NATIONAL CAREER SERVICE Hotline. This is the official free service available for both parents and young people to get advice and support after their exam results, especially if they’d like to think about vocational courses. Keep it handy on 0800 100 900. 
•  Personal Statement: It may have been a while since your teen wrote this. If they might be going through Clearing, it will be handy to have the main points in bullet points so they can tell the universities what they have to offer.

What happens after A-level results day?

If you've met the requirements, your offer will change to unconditional and you will be contacted with details of what you need to do next. If you don't meet the grades, there are a number of routes your child can consider:

• Contact the university: If you only missed the grade you needed by a few marks, you can contact the university and they may still be able to offer you a place. If you are unsuccessful with your first choice offer, but meet the conditions of your second choice, you will be accepted there.
• A Level retakes: You may choose to sit retakes to try and achieve higher grades, and delay your university entry for a year until you receive the results.
• Clearing: If you have been turned down for a place at university, you automatically become eligible for clearing. UCAS will send all eligible applicants a Clearing Passport as soon as A Level results are available, which you will need to send off if you are offered a new place. You can search for course vacancies on the UCAS website and apply for a place by contacting the university directly.
• Do an apprenticeship: Getting paid while you learn might sound too good to be true, but as an apprentice you really will get the best of both worlds. If you want to enter the workplace but don't want to stop studying then an apprenticeship could be the answer. There are now over 180 different apprenticeships available across 80 different sectors, and you could go on to an Advanced Apprenticeship and a Foundation Degree.
• Take a gap year: You may decide you want to take a year out to work travel, or pursue other opportunities, and reapply again the following year.

In related news, here's everything you need to know about A Level and GCSE retakes. Amid the news that A-Levels will be scrapped, here's everything you need to know about the Advanced British Standard.