Dealing With Your A-Level Results

Results day can be very stressful and overwhelming. Understandably, many people feel this day will decide how their future plays out. Yes, your grades can affect which university you go to, but they aren't the be-all and end-all! Ultimately, your exam results are just one way of measuring your skills, but they are by no means the only way. After all, how can one paper you filled in several months ago even begin to describe you as an individual? 

With that in mind, here are some key things to remember on results day: 

• Your results are less important than they feel:
  For many people, A-level results help decide what university you end up at. If you had your heart set on your first choice, it can be difficult when the grades don't match up. But even if your grades aren’t what you wanted, there are so many options for you such as clearing, retaking or doing a vocational training course. Make sure you explore all of your options and remember that, in 5 or 10 years, your A-level results won't even matter! 

• You don't have to go to uni:
  Whether you surpassed all your expectations or you didn't do as well as you'd hoped, uni isn't the only option. Many people make their uni choices on UCAS feeling certain that that's what's right for them. However, by the time you leave school, might decide that you don't really want to go to uni after all! Even if you got all the grades you needed to go to your first choice uni, you don't have to go if you don’t want to. Perhaps you want to get a job and then study a degree part-time, or maybe you want to take an apprenticeship. There is always more than one way to get to where you want to go in life, so it's worth looking at all your options.

• You don't need to share your results if you don't want to:
  Everyone's first thought on results day is what their grades are. But everyone's second thought on results day is what everyone else's grades are. If you feel like shouting your results from the rooftop (metaphorically) then do it! But even if your grades are excellent you still don't have to share them with your classmates. Simply say "I'm happy with my grades but I don't really feel like sharing them." and they should respect that.

• You aren't the only one getting results:
  Everyone is hoping for good grades, but unfortunately, not everyone gets them. If you're happy with your grades then you have every right to celebrate, but spare a thought for those who didn't do so well. Even if their grades seem good to you, it's important to respect other people's feelings and provide them with support if they want it.

• You worked hard!
  It's very easy to look back and say that you could have done more, but often that's not the case. Exams are very stressful and for a lot of people, simply turning up and sitting the paper is something worth celebrating. Regardless of what your grades are, you worked hard for your exams and you deserve to be proud of your results!

Finally, results day is just one day in your summer holidays, so remember to make the most out of the rest of your days off! Results in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be announced on the 15th August, with UCAS track being updated at 8am on the day.