Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Countdown to A level results day - 2023

967 replies

HereWeGo2023 · 14/06/2023 07:10

Following on from the A level support thread I thought I would create one for results day.
Hopefully you will all join me for the long nail biting wait and the big day at the end of it!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
tribpot · 08/07/2023 10:20

@Forestfriendlygarden I think DD should find out from UCAS whether or not she has got in to her firm or insurance choice first thing? So at least you will roughly know what to expect when going into college, although it's a pain if you have to hoof it all the way there and back just to get the exact results to start the clearing process if it comes to it. DS' school is just up the road but we already know clearing isn't for him, so have a different backup plan in mind if it comes to it.

Forestfriendlygarden · 08/07/2023 10:30

tribpot · 08/07/2023 10:20

@Forestfriendlygarden I think DD should find out from UCAS whether or not she has got in to her firm or insurance choice first thing? So at least you will roughly know what to expect when going into college, although it's a pain if you have to hoof it all the way there and back just to get the exact results to start the clearing process if it comes to it. DS' school is just up the road but we already know clearing isn't for him, so have a different backup plan in mind if it comes to it.

Thanks tribot. DD was having an albeit minor meltdown yesterday, so I'm doing my homework on clearing day on this one. Read that about UCAS which if it works is helpful - but people say the website crashes often and you can't get through...

Just trying to work it out. No doubt we'll go in together it is in the middle of nowhere so perhaps we will take phone, computer with us just in case..or else ask to get them by email. Don't know at this point, think I've been in denial so far somehow...and the prep for spain two weeks today. Her first time flying.

AfingeroffudgeisNOTenough · 08/07/2023 10:36

We’re in NI, so DD has 40% already in hand as it were from AS last year (60% in English Lit with the addition of coursework), and I definitely didn’t wake at 3am the other night and search online for 2019 raw mark/UMS tables to work out how badly she could do this year and still get the grades she needs. Blush (It was pretty reassuring, but I can guarantee I’ll still have plenty of 3am wake ups between now and August 17th!)

Forestfriendlygarden · 08/07/2023 10:45

AfingeroffudgeisNOTenough · 08/07/2023 10:36

We’re in NI, so DD has 40% already in hand as it were from AS last year (60% in English Lit with the addition of coursework), and I definitely didn’t wake at 3am the other night and search online for 2019 raw mark/UMS tables to work out how badly she could do this year and still get the grades she needs. Blush (It was pretty reassuring, but I can guarantee I’ll still have plenty of 3am wake ups between now and August 17th!)

Oh heavens that is what is was here more or less.

DD needs one A star (english lit) and two As. (Biology and Psychology)

It had faded from my mind but she was going over it yesterday - i.e how badly she could do etc...as you said ....that thing...

She's got twenty per cent in English covered by coursework, did an EBQ as well her teacher said she will get an A star in that but she for some reason didnt include it in her application..

So it looks like on so many other occasions motherhood in this case is going to be another 'military' operation. Heavens - thought there might be some respite...

I hestitate to say this as I might tempt fate but was hoping for a bit of a rest when she goes to Spain....there is more potential for losing suitcase again though between Bristol - Frankfurt and Valencia heavens above...I was a nervous wreck before...

lastdayatschool · 08/07/2023 12:58

@AfingeroffudgeisNOTenough well done to you if you understood the CCEA A/S Raw mark/UMS tables.

We're also in NI with AS levels done in Y13 - I found trying to decipher those marking tables similar to the FM A level I did many years ago.

Forestfriendlygarden · 08/07/2023 13:05

lastdayatschool · 08/07/2023 12:58

@AfingeroffudgeisNOTenough well done to you if you understood the CCEA A/S Raw mark/UMS tables.

We're also in NI with AS levels done in Y13 - I found trying to decipher those marking tables similar to the FM A level I did many years ago.

Yes don't think I would have managed that at all. I have to manage these days by DD explaining things to me very slowly.

AfingeroffudgeisNOTenough · 08/07/2023 13:21

I used to work in a grammar school @lastdayatschool - I’ve looked over them many, many times before Wink

Forestfriendlygarden · 08/07/2023 13:47

Right.
I've got a (very draft) plan for Results Day.

Up early
Book taxi for us both as public transport difficult
Phone college beforehand to see when they open

Be there hopefully at 8.30

Let DD go in.

Hope for good news

If not straight back home having done the prep - DD phones first choice and negotiates re EPQ etc.

She doesn't want insurance choices - any of them she says, so we will have to find different back up choices.

That's it. I've declared it on here so makes me feel slightly less panicked...

GivingItAWhirl · 08/07/2023 13:56

39 days and counting….

lastdayatschool · 08/07/2023 15:36

@Forestfriendlygarden I don't think there'll be much point in trying to negotiate with your firm choice if they've said no. Universities get the results up to a week before results day so will have had plenty of time to make qualified decisions.

Far better IMO to have prepared a list of clearing options in advance and, if firm says no, start calling those in order of preference

Forestfriendlygarden · 08/07/2023 15:38

Thanks. They haven't said no yet though the results aren't out...

DrMadelineMaxwell · 08/07/2023 15:38

I'm in! Dd can get them online but says she wants to go in anyway.

Forestfriendlygarden · 08/07/2023 15:39

Not sure if that is right that the unis get the results a week before students...can't be right surely?

toomuchlaundry · 08/07/2023 15:44

@Forestfriendlygarden I was speaking to someone who works in a university and she confirmed it, but there is an embargo on sharing information until 8/8.30 of the morning of 17th

tennissquare · 08/07/2023 15:47

Yes @Forestfriendlygarden they get them a few days in advance and the schools / colleges get them on the Wednesday. They are all embargoed until 8am on the 17th this year (this timing is new this year).
The days in advance mean the uni can consider if they want to offer to your dc and if they reject her the offer go's to her insurance.
I'm sure your dd will do fine, I have friends with dc in U.K. based schools who got their IB results on Thursday and they all did really well and got their uni offers etc despite the exams being extremely difficult this year. For IB the unis got the results on Wed this week.

lastdayatschool · 08/07/2023 15:53

I think they get them before results day so they can:

  1. See how many insurance offers they have to honour.
  2. Once they know numbers of firms/insurances they have to honour, are there any spare places for firms who just missed offers.

Will result in a fair bit of back and forth between unis, i.e. if those with missed firms get accepted, they free up a space again in their insurance place etc.

Forestfriendlygarden · 08/07/2023 15:57

Thanks people for explaining that I didn't know it is really useful info ! Takes the stress out of it a bit if we can ask quesitons on here. Really appreciate it!

drivinmecrazy · 08/07/2023 15:58

It's not my first rodeo but a completely different experience to first time round.
DD2 is so unfazed by it all.
We've just had a lovely four days in Athens, three in Madrid and currently chilling by the pool at my mums in souther Spain for a few weeks.
She has an unconditional as her insurance choice but not sure if she wants to go there cos it's so far from home.
Just want to reassure all the first timers than if it doesn't go according to plan it will often work out for the best.
DD1 got her insurance before we found out her results (what a crazy way of doing it!). Then had to consider accepting it or going through clearing. She chose to stick with insurance and graduated last summer after an amazing three years.
Likewise many of her friends went though clearing and it all worked out well.
This time round I'm taking DD2 lead and just chilling until results day.
I've done the driving yourself mad thinking of scenarios that may never happen.
Good luck to all our DC, hopefully they'll all end up where they're meant to be Flowers

tribpot · 08/07/2023 16:50

@Forestfriendlygarden at DS' firm choice uni, the admissions tutor said if you get rejected, it's worth phoning them to have a convo. So I think it may vary a bit by uni. I'm glad we know this in advance as I wouldn't want to tie up a phone line phoning them if the answer was definitely still going to be no. In reality DS' firm and insurance are two flavours of the same course, so there would be no point phoning to say 'can he have the firm' if he's got the insurance.

kackle · 08/07/2023 19:59

Forestfriendlygarden · 08/07/2023 15:39

Not sure if that is right that the unis get the results a week before students...can't be right surely?

Ucas get the results around 4th Aug

They match them to applications and notify the universities on the Friday before results day so on 11th Aug.

Most universities work the weekend confirming or rejecting candidates via ucas. My son was accepted a few years ago at hh:mm on the Saturday before results day. If your dd is accepted, you will see the date/ time the uni made their decision when ucas updates on 17th Aug.

clary · 08/07/2023 23:19

lastdayatschool · 08/07/2023 15:36

@Forestfriendlygarden I don't think there'll be much point in trying to negotiate with your firm choice if they've said no. Universities get the results up to a week before results day so will have had plenty of time to make qualified decisions.

Far better IMO to have prepared a list of clearing options in advance and, if firm says no, start calling those in order of preference

Yes agree with this @Forestfriendlygarden

If firm has rejected her, there's not much point calling just to hear it again, sorry. I speak from experience here.

She will be able to see from 8am (?I think?) if she has got her firm place (tho this will obv not let her know grades).

Yy to looking at some possible clearing options ahead of time. We did the clearing work at school on the day which was useful as staff could support (and also friends were there).

NotDonna · 09/07/2023 08:25

When you say ‘do clearing prep’ do you mean finding uni’s that usually offer lower and then what? For DDs course she’s firmed AAB and insured ABB but there doesn’t seem to be anything at BBB, we looked when she was applying. There’s no ABB either - that’s actually AAB with a grade drop for core maths. For her course, most unis are AAA/AAB (or involve stars) then a sudden drop to Cs & Ds. If she ends up with all Bs 🤷‍♀️
If we do miraculously find a BBB prior to results day do we just make a note if it incase needed? Anything else?
UCAS say they’re doing something new this year. IF DC are declined by both their firm & insurance they suggest potential matches that you then click on to say you’re interested and that uni calls you. No idea how many matches but it’s no doubt worthwhile still finding their own.
@Forestfriendlygarden Im a bit surprised the college isn’t emailing out results given it’s so remote. Are you sure they aren’t? May be worth checking.

clary · 09/07/2023 08:51

@NotDonna clearing offers are usually or often lower. Dd's course was ABB online but the clearing offer was BCC. The following year it was CCD IIRC. I think you can check with some unis what they have in advance.

Obviously this is the less popular unis or less popular courses but that's not the end if the world, as dd found. Her eventual uni was a much better fit, she felt

Clearing has been a bit different in recent years (in 2021 there was hardly any; ds2's uni had none at all bc of TAGs) but I imagine will be more back to normal this year.

NotDonna · 09/07/2023 09:15

thanks @clary I keep hearing different things. IE, that many universities don’t drop grades for clearing but keep them the same as want to catch those students who didn’t make their higher offers. So those that needed the stars etc going to AAA/AAB in clearing for example. I’m hoping that if she does get Bs that her insurance still considers her as it’ll only be one grade drop from their offer BUT they already reduced for core maths so I’m not sure. Fingers crossed it won’t come to that!

NotDonna · 09/07/2023 09:16

@clary I also think it’ll be more normal this year.