A level results 2025

[fannieadams]

DS said it could go any way for his biology grade for A level. He's been predicted A* and consistently worked at grade A, but he had a nightmare paper 2. He has an offer for natural sciences that requires a grade A in biology.

He has massively gone off biology and would prefer to do straight chemistry. He thought he should wait for results then transfer which is allowed on his course. However, if he doesn't get an A he loses his place. This is a top 10 uni so chances of taking lower grades are slimmer.

So does he contact admissions now and head off the problem? Wait for clearing? Or will admissions wait for results now?

I would wait and see what his results are. Last year’s a level biology was also very tricky and grade boundary for an A star was around 70%.

Not sure my nerves will hold out. Insurance also wants an A in bio although I think they will allow for a B, but he has decided he no longer wants to go there.

Fingers crossed he gets the grades he needs.

My daughter also struggled with Biology paper 2, and has a uni place for a biology-based subject. Such a stressful time.

Does your son want to stay at the same place to do chemistry? Are they likely to have any places left to go into clearing? I'd be inclined to wait for results day, but in the meantime look at other places that may have the course he wants, if moving is an option.

Wait and see. Students are not always good at saying how an exam went - it was hard / tricky and he was less certain of his results does not mean he did as badly as he thinks. Plus there are 2 other papers.

He said he will take the chemistry place if offered. It doesn't go into clearing though.

Not sure if Bristol or Durham will have clearing places either. Worse case is he takes a gap year and reapplies with grades in hand.

Good luck to your daughter.

Thank you, good luck to your son too!

The other two paper went well, but he doesn't think that's enough to offset paper 2. Fully appreciate that he may be the best judge of this. Doubt is creeping in now.

Yep another one who Biology is the one she doesn’t know if passed or not. Needs a B/C really hoping she doesn’t have to do a retake. Mocks didn’t go well and confidence was low sadly but did work really hard just always struggles under exam conditions yet got A* on coursework part of another A level.

Has he looked in clearing to see what is there?

Hi, OP -

Former Russell Group STEM admissions tutor here. PP are correct - candidates are often poor judges of their results. And the Admissions tutors in a competitive programme can’t offer reassurance at this stage, anyway.

How much flex they will have in August depends on how many have Firmed offers and how many of those end up making their offers. When either number is small, you get more leeway as students who have made the programme their first choice are (to a certain degree, certainly one grade) more desirable than those who come to it from necessity.

I know it is difficult but the best thing you can do for DS is to sit tight regarding the Firm and, if he is positive he will reject the Insurance, help him to prepare a Clearing strategy now (or clarify that he doesn’t want one)

Best wishes to DS