Well done. You’ve made it this far. You’ve worked hard and you’re ready for the next step, university. Here are our tips for making the day you receive those all-important exam results as stress-free as possible.
By Cara Fielder. Published 7 August 2019. Last updated 24 March 2023.
Make a plan, and then make a back-up plan
Preparation is the key to avoiding panic. Set your alarm, find out where you need to be and when (some 6th Form colleges are open from 6am on results day), and save those all-important links for checking your offers.
You’ve worked hard and you’re confident you’ll get the grades you need, but it doesn’t hurt to have a back-up plan too. Consider selecting three to five universities as back-ups and note their clearing hotlines before the day. UCAS open their clearing from 3pm, but that doesn’t mean you can’t call Universities’ clearing hotlines prior to this.
Remember, your results can be more than you expected. So if you had a few universities in mind but didn’t think you’d make the cut, note them down too. The question to ask yourself is would I have chosen the same universities and courses if I knew I would do better? If the answer is no, then clearing is also for you.
Panicking and not preparing will put you in a negative mind-set. Having a back-up plan will save you time, and most of all it’ll save you stress.
Prepare your tech
Technology is now a part of our lives which means it’s a part of your results too.
Make sure you’ve bookmarked UCAS Track so you can log in to check your offers first thing. Your offers will be updated at 8am on the 15th and UCAS Track will be offline for the days before results day to allow for updating. UCAS Clearing options will be available from 3pm on results day, so don’t worry that you can’t access this feature until the afternoon.
You also need to make sure all your devices are charged. You’ll be reaching for that phone to let your loved ones know the news, or posting your celebratory jumps on social media.
Mental Preparation
It’s important to not forget your mental health on results day. Remember that the hard part is done, and your results are the reward.
A lot of A-level students will want to share the highs and lows of their life on their social channels. Try to avoid social media today as watching your peers celebrating, or commiserating, can heighten your results day anxiety.
If you suffer with a mental health condition anyway, make sure you talk to someone prior to results day. Whether it be a friend or a family member, sharing your concerns goes a little way to feeling relief. It’s also great to open your results with your friends, but it’s also ok if you don’t. However you want to do it, remember that this is your decision.
Having a good night’s sleep will also help the nerves along with having a good breakfast. Protein, fruits and grains have been linked to brain productivity and focus.
Post Results
Organise an activity with your friends. You will remember this day for a long time to come, so make the most of it. Some of your friend’s dreams may have come true, and some may be disappointed. Being there for your friendship group will allow you to share the emotional highs and lows, and help it seem less daunting to all of you.
Whatever the outcome of result’s day, the key thing is to stay positive, and be proactive about your future. You worked hard for your grades, now is the time to make your grades work for you.
For everything you need to know about clearing, visit our page here: www.law.ac.uk/clearing and if you want to talk to one of our friendly admissions team about Clearing at ULaw just call 0808 253 8276.
