What to do on A-level results day 2025

If you're eager to find out what happens on A-level results day, put your mind at ease with our comprehensive guide on securing your place at university for 2025/26

When do A-level results come out?

A-level results day in 2025 falls on Thursday 14 August.

In Scotland, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) publishes its examination results online the same day your Scottish Qualifications Certificate arrives by post - Tuesday 5 August 2025.

What time should I pick up my results?

You can collect your A-level results from schools and further education (FE) colleges any time after 8am on results day, when they're released by the exam boards. However, you'll need to find out the exact opening and closing times, as these will vary.

UCAS receives your A-level results directly and will update UCAS Hub accordingly - typically around 8am. As the system will be busy with students keen to find out if they've received offers, you'll need to be patient.

In Scotland, if you registered for MySQA, you'll receive your results by email and/or text from 8am on the day they're published. Alternatively, you'll still receive your certificate through the post.

When can I add a Clearing choice to my application?

You can't add a Clearing choice using UCAS Hub until 1pm on A-level results day (10am on SQA results day), but you may still want to find out about your offers as early as possible. This gives you more time to consider your options.

Read about how to go through the university Clearing process.

Can I contact potential universities about Clearing once I get my results?

Yes, as soon as you get your A-level results, you can start contacting universities about Clearing courses of interest. While you can only receive a verbal course offer at this point, as your choice can't be added until 1pm, being proactive can pay off in the long run.

By contacting universities earlier in the day, you can arrange an invitation to add a course, so everything is in place for when UCAS is updated with its Clearing option.

Remember that you should only accept one verbal offer over the phone.

The official Clearing list will be displayed in the UCAS search tool.

How can I get in touch with universities on results day?

Many universities have Clearing pages on their websites with details on how to contact them. They may provide phone numbers or interact with students online.

For instance, Leeds Beckett University explains that its phone lines can be busy during the day, so it also offers online services, such as live chats and chatbots, to obtain initial information.

Advisers will be on hand to go through your Clearing options. You can discuss the courses on offer and get help with your application. They may be able to make you a provisional offer.

How can I prepare for results day?

There are a number of things you can do to get ready for the big day. Having all the important information to hand will prove useful, especially if your results are lower than expected and you plan to apply for a place through Clearing.

You'll likely need:

• a fully charged mobile phone (and charger)
• a notepad and pen
• details of conditional offers, university contact numbers, your UCAS number, universities' UCAS and Clearing numbers
• notes from having researched universities and courses beforehand, with a list of questions to ask course tutors
• your personal statement and GCSE results.

For general information and advice on results day, you can call the UCAS exam results helpline on 0808 100 8000.

What if I'm on holiday?

Ideally, you should be contactable when your A-level results come out, so try to avoid booking holidays or working on that day. This is especially important if you've received any conditional offers, and Clearing is a possibility. If you're away, you'll need to ensure that UCAS Hub has the correct personal details before you go.

Your options are as follows:

• You could choose to nominate someone, such as a parent or guardian, who can access UCAS Hub and make changes on your behalf. However, some changes will be time-sensitive, so your nominee may need to discuss your application with UCAS or universities within a specific timeframe.
• If you didn't nominate a person when completing your application, it's best to speak to UCAS and ensure they have access to your UCAS Hub. The person will be able to collect the results from the school/college office, provided they arrive with a completed permissions slip.
• If you can't be there in person but can get online, you can still log in to your UCAS account to discover what your chosen universities have decided.

When do universities get my results?

Only exam office staff can view A-level results before they are widely released to candidates on Thursday 14 August 2025.

Results are available from exam boards such as the AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) and OCR (Oxford, Cambridge, and RSA) from 12.01am the day before, which is referred to as a restricted release day.

However, at this stage, results must be treated as confidential by universities and exam offices.

What time does UCAS Hub update on results day?

As UCAS Hub is where you're kept informed of your application's progress, the UCAS site is the place to go on results day. However, UCAS Hub is 'frozen' in the days leading up to the publication of your A-level results, meaning you won't be able to make any changes during this time. If you have a change or request about your application, you can call UCAS on 0371 468 0468.

The system will be available around 8am on results day, but it can often take a few hours for UCAS to update and allow you to make changes.

What will UCAS Hub show?

If decisions have been made by your university choices, and UCAS have been notified, you can expect to see the following changes to offers on UCAS Hub:

• Unconditional - your place on the course has been confirmed. This may be your firm or insurance offer, or both.
• Unsuccessful - you've not been accepted by your choice(s). You're now eligible to enter Clearing.
• Unconditional Changed Course (UCC) - you don't have the necessary grades for your offer, but the university has proposed a similar course requiring lower grades. They may also offer an alternative start date, such as deferred entry. You have five days to decide and can discuss the opportunity with the university in question.

Bear in mind that your A-level results won't appear in UCAS Hub.

What do I do if I meet my offer?

If you're holding at least one conditional place and you've met the requirements, the offer will change to 'unconditional'. This firm acceptance is confirmed in UCAS Hub, and you'll then receive details on what you need to do next, and when. This will either come from UCAS or directly from the university. For example, some institutions will ask you to provide evidence of your qualifications.

If you've used UCAS Extra to add another choice and have been offered a place, you'll just need to accept it by the date displayed in UCAS Hub. You can also add another choice should you wish to decline the offer.

What if I don't get the grades I need?

Don't panic, as there are a number of options open to you:

• If you've missed the grades by just a few marks, you should talk to the university in question. While they're under no obligation to reconsider their decision, especially with places so competitive, they may listen to you if you plan to appeal any grades.
• Alternatively, you could simply accept the decision and go through the results day Clearing process instead.
• If you feel you could have achieved better grades, you may be able to sit A-level retakes at college. This means that you may need to delay your entry for a year until you get your results.
• If you change your mind entirely and would like to take a break from study before applying for university again the following year, consider exploring gap year ideas or countries where you'd like to spend a year working abroad.
• To enter the world of work while studying towards a vocational qualification, you might wish to consider securing a degree apprenticeship. Make an informed decision by reading should I go to university or do an apprenticeship?

How do I appeal my A-level grades?

Once your exam results have been announced, if your marks don't seem right and your university place is under threat, you could request a review of marking or moderation. This can be done by raising this matter with your school or college.

If you're still not satisfied with the outcome, you can appeal directly to the exam board in question. You'll need to explain why you think your result was incorrect and should be changed. Once they've reviewed your results, you'll be sent a final report.

Follow the process at GOV.UK - Ask for a GCSE, AS level or A level grade to be reviewed.

Your final course of action is to request a review from Ofqual - see GOV.UK - Appeal against a GCSE, AS or A level grade or the result of a qualification.

However, if you do decide to pursue this course of action, it's important to start the process as soon as possible, as your school/college will have set its own deadline for receiving appeals.

What can happen if I appeal my grades?

If you ask for a review of your grades, remember that it can go up, down, or stay the same.

Throughout this process, it's recommended that you keep the university informed of your plans, as there's a better chance that they'll reserve the place for you.

Even if the appeal is successful, you may still not be given a place on your chosen course. However, it's likely you'll be given the option of enrolling on similar courses, or get the chance to defer your university place until next year. Ask for their terms and conditions in writing so you know where you stand.

Can I defer my university place on results day?

You can ask your university to defer your place for a year if you don't already hold a deferred offer. While this can technically be done up until the start date, the earlier you tell them, the better. Be prepared to explain your reasons.

While many universities will agree to this, if they don't, you could choose to withdraw your application for this year and then reapply when the process begins for the next student intake.

What if I get better grades than I expected?

If you managed to meet and exceed the conditions of your firm offer, and you're happy with that, then great. However, if you'd like to explore the possibility of picking an alternative course requiring higher grades, you can now simply do this through the UCAS Clearing service.

Previously, students who achieved better grades than expected could use the UCAS Adjustment process to swap their original university offer for a different one.

While UCAS Adjustment is no longer available, you're able to decline your place and change your course and university through the Clearing process instead.

Find out more

• If you've secured a place on a course, explore university life.
• Discover the 10 things to do before starting university.
• Read how to fund your education through student loans and finance.