About the event

The results of A levels, T levels, BTECs and other level 3 qualifications are available at schools and colleges any time after 8am on results day - Thursday 13 August 2026. However, individual schools and colleges will have their own arrangements about when you can view or collect them, so check specific information relating to your institution. 

A level results and applications to university

For those who have applied for a higher education course, UCAS receives your results directly, and will update the status of your application in your UCAS Hub at around 8am. Lots of students will be logging in at the same time to find out if they've met the conditions of their offer, so you may need to be patient. You will not see your actual results in the UCAS Hub - just whether you have been accepted by your firm or insurance choice, or if you have been offered an alternative course. UCAS has produced this guide to what your application status means.

UCAS has also produced this information about what to do if you have been accepted onto a course, but have now changed your mind. 

If you are worried that you won't get the grades for your firm or insurance choice, the advice is to plan ahead before results day. You could:

Start looking at other courses
These could be different courses at an institution you have already applied to or the same course at other institutions, but that require lower grades. You could even go and visit the town or city you are considering, before results day, to see what you think of the place. Then, if on results day you don't get the grades you expected, you will have already identified other institutions you would consider and can contact them about vacancies they have in Clearing. Also, many universities have an option to 'Advance register' for places in Clearing from 2 July. This means if you do contact them on results day, not only will they already have your details, they'll also know that you have done your research about them before you received your grades.

Research your other options
These include getting a job or apprenticeship or taking a year out. Use this UCAS guide for more information.

 What if you don't get the results you need?

If you don't get the results you need for your university or college course, or the job or apprenticeship you have already applied for, then you have lots of options:

  • If you have applied to university and still want to go, you can look at courses that have vacancies and apply for them through Clearing. As outlined above, if you have done your research into courses you would consider before you get your grades, this will really help you on results day.
  • If you have applied to university and still want to go, but missed the grades you needed by a long way, you could consider doing a course with a foundation year at university - you can search for them on the UCAS website. Alternatively, you could do your A levels again, or do a different level 3 course such as a T level or a BTEC. Speak to your school or college, and contact other local colleges to see what is available. Check with them about the costs of doing another course. Also, some universities, for some courses, will only accept your first A level results, so you need to check this too.
  • If you applied to university but are now not sure about going, you could consider taking a year out or applying for other options such as jobs and apprenticeships.
  • If you haven't applied to university before and now want to go, then you can make an application directly into Clearing. 
  • If you needed specific grades for a job or apprenticeship, speak to your employer and see what they say. It may depend on how much you missed your grades by. If they won't accept you then you could look at applying for other jobs and apprenticeships or for college or university courses instead.

UCAS has written this guide for anyone who has received unexpected A level results - whether they have applied to university or not. It provides information about all your options, including applying for courses through Clearing, searching for jobs and apprenticeships, and taking a gap year.

Whatever your circumstances, make sure you get advice about your next steps. This could be from a teacher and/or careers adviser at your school or college. Advisers from C+K will be in local schools and colleges on A level results day, so make sure you go and talk to them if you need help. Alternatively, to speak to a careers adviser at C+K, you can also contact the Chat service which is available Monday to Friday, 10.00am - 4.00pm.

Details of how to contact the Chat team are below, or you can fill in the Chat contact form and an adviser will get back to you.

Looking after your mental health and wellbeing

If you don't get the grades you want, and are feeling a bit overwhelmed, there is a lot of support available. 

  • Try and talk to someone at your school or college if possible.
  • If you have applied to university and need help with understanding the Clearing process, call UCAS on 0371 468 0468 or contact them on social media. 
  • For those under the age of 19, Childline has advice about what to do if you are feeling unhappy with your result and Kooth offers free, safe, and anonymous mental health support online.