Year 13 -2025/26 - Support, discussion and looking after each other - thread 2 - exam time

[SilverBlue4]

Here we go

Thinking of you Ventress

As time creeps closer towards results day, I have looked at what courses might be in clearing for DS. According to their website, his insurance choice has his course in clearing with BBC as required grades for entry (his offer is AAB). Can I safely assume then, that if he gets BBC instead of AAB that his place will be automatically confirmed?

I've been doing the same thing. I think most in versities would rather take students who have actively applied for them and who have the clearing grades before they take people from clearing. My DS is the same. His offer is ABB but the clearing offer is BCC. so I'm hoping he gets the grades. He's being very fatalistic but I'm not sure if that's just him!

I think I need to look at clearing courses as my DD is having some regrets, I think, about the university she picked. I tried looking at the UCAS site but must have been in the wrong bit as I didn't see anything about grades. @JustHereWithMyPopcorn I would assume as you have that he would be in with BBC but may be wrong!

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn I think you are reasonably safe to assume that but it’s not 100%.

We have been talking clearing too just in case but DD doesn’t really want to engage. She says she would resit A levels if she didn’t get enough for her insurance.

My DS keeps saying when he gets to Loughborough Uni he will need this and that. Loughborough is his insurance so I think he has assumed he has missed his first choice! I actually now think he will be disappointed if doesn't go there!

@ArchitectureMum my DS is like your DD - will not contemplate looking at clearing - as it's not going to happen!

My DS is refusing to contemplate clearing too. He got a lovely contextual offer from his chosen uni, and his course isn’t widely available, so if he misses his offer he’s a bit stuck and would likely look at resitting. Hopefully that won’t happen though - the course is in clearing at one grade lower than his offer, so everything is crossed!

My DS is also refusing to think about clearing yet, the research is entirely me looking at what is out there - I like to be prepared!

Mine would rather not go than go via clearing I think, too much of a change in plans at the last minute.

He's passed his driving test first time today and I am finding it extremely anxiety inducing so that's a nice distraction from A level results day 🤣

@SilverBlue4 great news on passing his driving test! Will he have a black box or equivalent? I find it really reassuring looking at DC's app where it show you out of 100 what their driving is like.

DC hasn't appeared particularly anxious about results day and is living his best life this summer with a little bit of tennis coaching work and bar work in-between holidays. I think he will be nearer the time though but is just about to go on hols with his girlfriend for 2 weeks. I've looked at clearing options and noticed that it seems to change week by week so pretty pointless at this point probably. Warwick, for instance, had DC's course in clearing with AAB-BBB, that's now gone back up to AAA. So I'm assuming some of the international students, or IB students, have filled some of the places...

Yes, black box and it will annoyingly monitor me as well as he's just going to be a named driver on my insurance/car at the moment and the policy says all drivers have to have the app.

@SilverBlue4congratulations to your DS - I remember the anxiety when DD first started driving; it has got better!

3 weeks until results today and I am definitely more nervous that DD!

Well done to your DS @SilverBlue4 it’s a funny thing when they pass, you’re both overjoyed and terrified at the same time!! 😄

@Fabfabfab og no don’t tell me that! I had just started to relax about results day! 😭

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn I know! I just checked Warwick again though and it's back down to AAB-BBB. Maybe I misread it yesterday. I know Bristol was in clearing very briefly though but tat's no longer the case which is a shame. Will have to wait and see what happens on the day...

@SilverBlue4 hope your own driving goes well! I would find a black box really hard now after many years of driving just above the speed limit 😅

Hopefully it was just an error @Fabfabfab but you're right in that international /IB students and others who get exam results before ours will potentially be taking those places. Bath didn't have DS's course in clearing, I'd have felt better about that!

Edit: I've just looked at Bath again and - if I'm understanding the webpage correctly - they may have his course in clearing but no grades are shown, I imagine then that they will asking for the same grades but for students who were applying at places with higher grade requirements.

@JustHereWithMyPopcorn I think some Universities go into clearing with the original grades hoping to attract those who did better than expected, or not as well as expected but still well enough for that particular university. You can filter clearing for home vs international students and annoyingly some of the best universities are only open to international students in clearing (I understand they need the additional funds but still annoying for UK based students)

Just checking back in and hope all is well with everyone. @SilverBlue4 its so anxiety provoking when they pass their test. We are 4 months in and I’d say it’s getting a bit easier seeing her drive off in my car! My dd is off interrailing at the moment and is currently in Prague. Youngest is 16 and camping with friends 2 hours away for a week. My first taste of empty nest life and tbh I’m struggling to know what else to do apart from constantly track them on my phone. 🫣🫣 if anyone has tips for coping without them do let me know! I know when she gets back I will not be able to mention clearing so good luck to those who are going down that route. I’m barely able to mention the insurance choice but I really need to as she hasn’t even been to visit. I feel like we should probably do that before results day… just in case! Hard to know what approach to take and whether its best to consider all options before the big day or just hope for the best… 🤔 dd was fairly confident after exams so I’m trying to go with it!

I know what you mean @Onthesofawithmydog. I had a long car journey with DD yesterday and took the opportunity to bring up clearing and insurance. It’s always been our best place to talk - no eye contact needed; unspoken agreement not to get emotional while I’m driving; one of us will usually turn the radio up to indicate the conversation is over!

DD isn’t thinking about clearing and says she’d be happy to take insurance if need be. I know she’d be silently gutted.

she’s doing a trial shift in a bar/restaurant right now. Her first ever taste of proper work. I’m sitting in the garden drinking gin and listening to the cricket across the field. Inside, I’m yearning for the days she’d be beside me splashing in the paddling pool before pjs and bed by 8!

This made me laugh (I think!) - as results day draws closer, DD has declared her grades could be "anything from an A to an E" for her uni subject!😬

DS informed me he has been looking at clearing for Geography! He has been settled on business and marketing for bloody ages. Geography was a favourite for ages but got dropped. If he mentions history I will actually kill him!
In happier news, he's 18 on Tuesday and has finally booked a driving lesson for Thursday.
He's been trawling local businesses with his CV too so will hopefully have some success.

@Gazelda yes my dd’s insurance is Cardiff and she has actually booked a gig in November in Cardiff saying that if she gets in to Cardiff it will be very convenient.. but I know she will be totally gutted as has her heart set on Bath, and has done since year 11! @MamOfTwo yes she also does this, I think it’s a mechanism of setting low expectations of herself and then always feeling happy in the end!

DS has been constantly out. After he came back at 3am last night and declared he was exhausted and had drunk too much we had a conversation about his constant need to say yes to every invitation! Then today he went out to buy some new TShirts and ended up at his friend's house gaming! He hasn't had time to book driving lessons, look for work or do any of the things we were going to do over the holidays, like learn to cook, learn to clean the bathroom and clear his room out! He is a journal writer so I don't want to go through his stuff so he has to do it. His brother is itching to move in!

DD is angsting about results. Is thinking she may have missed what she needs for firm. Can't tell if she is being overcautious. Is freaking me out...as I know she'll be devastated if she misses it. Have told her to start looking at positives fir insurance and imagine being there...has been way too focused on firm.

Interesting to hear what the dc are thinking about in terms of results. Dd says that a lot of her friends are having wobbles and don’t think they got the grades they need. We’ve kind of forgotten about results for the last few weeks as she has been away but they are suddenly on the horizon and it’s a bit scary!

Definitely some wobbles here. My DS is a slightly different position in that he is retaking his Maths A level. He took it in year 12 and got an A. So a great grade but is retaking as he wants an A⭐.

But he actually thinks it's Maths that he is most concerned about but at least he knows already that he has an A in the bag. He thinks therefore with that A he has enough for his insurance even if he drops slightly on his other two.

It's going to be a long two weeks!