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Further education

You'll find discussions about A Levels and universities on our Further Education forum.

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

864 replies

SilverBlue4 · 19/05/2026 19:55

Here we go

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11
scandinavianyellow · 26/07/2026 21:08

Gazelda · 25/07/2026 18:49

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!

Omg I completely agree on the yearning for the paddling pool days.

bluefineliner · 27/07/2026 07:13

It is reassuring to see others are going through the same thought processes around results as we are here.

DD is being quite pragmatic atm, which is very unlike her as she is a massive drama llama. I think underneath she is terrified of not getting her grades and not getting in. Unfortunately both her firm and insurance are AAA (all her offers were the same for med) so if she misses a grade it is very likely she will have to reapply. She doesn't want a different course so will have to resit UCAT (already booked a back up test date in Sept) and do the whole thing again as well as resit whichever A level necessary. She is now willing to discuss this though and we have even talked about how her gap year would pan out and her doing something like Camp America next summer so we are trying to see the positives in all options 😂.

DD is working which is really helping with the nerves and bank balance and as it was a new job in June she is enjoying meeting new people. She would continue this work too if she doesn't go to uni in Sept.

This is my second time going through A level results (the first was years ago with my DD1 though) and I can clearly remember going for runs and my mind whirring through all the potential outcomes on results day. Things didn't go to plan then so we do have experience of results day disappointment but that DD is now thriving and very successful in her career so I know things work out. Doesn't take away that feeling of dread in the run up though!

Fabfabfab · 27/07/2026 16:58

DC is now away travelling and back a few days before results day. Think I'm more nervous than he is...I also felt worryingly emotional when we dropped him at the airport which doesn't bode well for when it comes to leaving home to go to Uni!

@bluefineliner good to hear it works out even if it doesn't always go to plan.

@scandinavianyellow oh how I miss those days when they were little and cute!

@MamOfTwo your post really made me laugh ('could be anything from an A to an E'). Seems a few of them are catastrophising and others are really calm and accepting at this stage. Can't actually believe how quickly the summer has gone and how we are getting close to 13th of August...

CatkinToadflax · 27/07/2026 17:40

I agree about the feeling of dread!

DS is keeping busy working in a coffee shop and rehearsing for two different productions. If his A levels are a complete disaster he should be able to carry on working at the coffee shop, and he could probably do some drama tuition too. He’s a lifelong carer to his disabled older brother though and it would do them both good for him to go and spread his wings.

@bluefineliner thank you for sharing your elder DD’s experience - it’s reassuring to hear. There will be new paths and new routes if needed.

Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine and the waiting isn’t too stressful!

ArchitectureMum · 30/07/2026 10:32

Just 2 weeks to go!

DD has booked her 2nd MenB vaccine through the NHS. Hoping there won’t be any issues with the first one having been done privately.

Onthesofawithmydog · 31/07/2026 08:04

So my daughter came back from interrailing a few days ago, so nice to have her back!! And now we have two weeks till results day, she is away camping for 5 of those days and working for 4. Today we had arranged to go and visit Cardiff which is her insurance choice as she has never been to an open day or even to visit. She’s now said she doesn’t want to go and feels she knows all she needs to know, and that the uni will be closed anyway so what’s the point? I’m slightly worried that she’s pinning everything on her first choice and will be gutted with Cardiff. I thought a visit might open her eyes to see that it’s another good option. Gah! I know it’s late in the day and we should have seen Cardiff sooner but she had a change of heart when accepting offers and suddenly didn’t want to go too far from home so went with Cardiff even though she’d not been. It is an excellent uni for her course, and of course a great city so I’m sure it would be great. Trying to bring it up in the conversation so we can have a think about accommodation etc just in case but it’s so hard to get the balance right!

jamimmi · 01/08/2026 17:27

Just reading all these brings back.memories of last year. Its very hard for them all and results day if things dont go as planned can be very difficult especially if they are the type not to make instant decisions. As a bit of reasurance, Dd failed her exams badly last year should have been AAB got CCC not due to lack of effort. Results day was hard she knew she only had an alternative offer course , foundation year, from her 1st choice before she saw her results. She refused to go into college and was unable to cope with the pressure of clearing. She had basically burnt out. On the day we gave her space and just sat with her, she decided to accept the alternative offer, but with the understanding she could then think and change her mind, resit or take a year out. She chose herself to then do the foundation year, she has had a ball, worked hard , got amazing results and has learned how not to burn out and become more independant. Somtimes plans change and its not always bad thing. If you find yourself in this situation on results day hold on to that, its hard.

hels71 · 02/08/2026 12:58

DD has her first men B vaccine tomorrow. I had surgery last Monday to remove an unidentified object from my lung, which thankfully turned out to be benign. This means I can't go with her, as still struggling to walk. She says she'll be just fine..... She's growing up!!

Onthesofawithmydog · 03/08/2026 08:31

jamimmi · 01/08/2026 17:27

Just reading all these brings back.memories of last year. Its very hard for them all and results day if things dont go as planned can be very difficult especially if they are the type not to make instant decisions. As a bit of reasurance, Dd failed her exams badly last year should have been AAB got CCC not due to lack of effort. Results day was hard she knew she only had an alternative offer course , foundation year, from her 1st choice before she saw her results. She refused to go into college and was unable to cope with the pressure of clearing. She had basically burnt out. On the day we gave her space and just sat with her, she decided to accept the alternative offer, but with the understanding she could then think and change her mind, resit or take a year out. She chose herself to then do the foundation year, she has had a ball, worked hard , got amazing results and has learned how not to burn out and become more independant. Somtimes plans change and its not always bad thing. If you find yourself in this situation on results day hold on to that, its hard.

@jamimmi wow that sounds so hard and well done you for getting her through it. I think it’s all us mum’s worst nightmare but glad to hear that it has all worked out in the end. I guess the finding out from ucas about uni offers before the results has its benefits doesn’t it, and it means that they can decide not to go in and watch others celebrate if they don’t want to. I think it’s just so tough if this has been their first experience of massive disappointment in life… but sadly not the last! Was your daughter expecting those results after exams or was it a total shock?

ArchitectureMum · 03/08/2026 16:32

Meningitis B 2nd dose done. The pharmacist was fine with the 1st dose having been done privately so all good.

BlackBean2023 · 04/08/2026 07:21

Good luck to any Scottish families awaiting results today.

I’m feeling more and more nervous as the days tick (slowly) by. DD seems quietly confident which is actually making me more stressed as I’m worried how she’ll handle the disappointment if it’s not the outcome she wants…

hels71 · 04/08/2026 12:22

To add to the stress here, DH broke his leg yesterday and is currently undergoing surgery....

BlackBean2023 · 04/08/2026 13:06

Oh Jeez @hels71! That’s one what to distract from the wait…

what happened?

hopefully the surgery goes well and the recovery is quick - aka in time for freshers!

jamimmi · 04/08/2026 16:06

@Onthesofawithmydog it was a shock, she new maths had not gone well as it was a mess with Aqa last year but had hoped for minimum bbc, I hope the messge helps others , we had sombody on last years thread who had had similar issue the year before and posted a positive out come for her dd for us, it did help amoungst all the postive friends and news story results to know others had been there.
edited for spelling!

Countrylife2002 · 04/08/2026 20:17

BlackBean2023 · 04/08/2026 07:21

Good luck to any Scottish families awaiting results today.

I’m feeling more and more nervous as the days tick (slowly) by. DD seems quietly confident which is actually making me more stressed as I’m worried how she’ll handle the disappointment if it’s not the outcome she wants…

Exactly same situation here. She’s planned everything for her firm and talks about it all the time and I’m in a state of denial at the moment

hels71 · Yesterday 08:33

BlackBean2023 · 04/08/2026 13:06

Oh Jeez @hels71! That’s one what to distract from the wait…

what happened?

hopefully the surgery goes well and the recovery is quick - aka in time for freshers!

Stupid man was rollar skating. ( And that's me outed to anyone in here who knows me!) He's 68 for goodness sake!! He's not going to be fixed till take DD to uni, and I can't drive. So that's another puzzle to sort out!!!!

ArchitectureMum · Yesterday 09:08

@hels71 oh no! Maybe buy things once DD arrives and get it delivered to the uni accommodation.

BlackBean2023 · Yesterday 09:09

@hels71 I had read your OG post wrong and wondered why/how you had 68 year old son 😂

breaking your leg roller skating at 68 is much better than ‘having a fall’.

I’m sure someone nearby has a car to do the uni run. DH is driving DD to Exeter (hopefully) and I’m catching the train to meet them there as three of us plus belongings won’t fit in the car but I had FOMO on not being there to drop her off!

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · Yesterday 10:40

Hope you DH recovers quickly @hels71 roller skating at 68? He's braver than me!!

DS gone on holiday today at 4am he won't be back for a week so I hope he's keeping himself distracted until results day. Just hope his flight doesn't get cancelled!! 😬

hels71 · Yesterday 11:36

Braver? Or just dafter? He has to recover quickly, he's meant to be looking after me as I've had lung surgery!!
DD is being a superstar, and it's certainly keeping her mind off results at the moment!!

Hope everyone else is doing ok xx

Gazelda · Yesterday 12:27

Oh gosh @hels71what a nightmare! I hope you are recovering ok from your surgery and he’s ebayed his roller skates!

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · Yesterday 18:05

To be fair I was being polite! 😂

lung surgery sounds awful, I hope you’re recovering well. 💐

hels71 · Yesterday 18:39

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · Yesterday 18:05

To be fair I was being polite! 😂

lung surgery sounds awful, I hope you’re recovering well. 💐

Made me laugh! I'm recovering ok, and thankfully the mass was benign.. Just didn't need the added issue of damaged husband!!!

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · Yesterday 19:13

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Fabfabfab · Today 09:00

@hels71 hope you are recovering well and that DH’s break doesn’t take too long to heal up. I also read it as meaning DC initially!

@Countrylife2002 @BlackBean2023 DC is the same, think he will be really upset if he doesn’t get his firm. I hope that will only last a short time though if there are good clearing options and that it will work out.

One Week to go now! I had a dream last night I was trying to convince his firm to take him but to no avail!

DC is back from his holiday and so are we. He’s exhausted after travelling around with his girlfriend but has had a great time.

Hope everyone is doing ok and not getting too anxious about results.