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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:
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12
hellsbells99 · 16/08/2023 10:07

Perhaps they should bring AS levels back and universities make offers / requirements based on those grades - a bit like Scotland with their Highers?

HelenWinchester · 16/08/2023 10:08

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DrMadelineMaxwell · 16/08/2023 10:16

It certainly helps dds state of mind knowing that she got really good grades last year in AS. Stressful to have to have formal exams and a results day last year, but it helps those who know they are on track. It also allows those who made the wrong choice to drop or resit the year again.
My niece wanted psychology A level because she thought it was interesting. Was told by the college that she might find it too hard. Her mum and my niece pushed for her to still go ahead with it. And then did drop it when it was too much for her. So she will have 2 a levels and her welsh bacc in hand for applying but knew midway it was the right decision for her.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 16/08/2023 10:19

Out of interest, how many of our students are applying with a set job in mind?

My dd1 chose history as she was passionate about the subject. Not many history related jobs around here that she was initially interested in (museums etc) and has now found her place in an operations dept in a business doing all sorts and enjoying it.

Dd2 has applied for accounting and finance and wants to be a forensic accountant for preference.

V different to each other. Like my teaching course dd2 should come out with relevant quals and experience - she is planning on a year in industry in y3- to help her know exactly what to apply for.

PacificState · 16/08/2023 10:37

DS2 is doing engineering (well, fingers crossed he will be doing engineering) but doesn't actually have much of an idea of an eventual career. I think in an ideal world he'd like to work on supercars or in F1 but it's ultra competitive and he hasn't done any of the necessary volunteering or supracurricular stuff so I think he knows that's extremely unlikely. He also wants to make a lot of money so might end up in finance or some massive corporation. I think he's waiting for something to take his fancy tbh.

I did history, now work in writing and comms. Can't say I've found it specifically useful at work but I think it taught me a lot about evaluating evidence and thinking about viewpoints. Plus I really liked it!

TripleDaisySummer · 16/08/2023 12:04

Out of interest, how many of our students are applying with a set job in mind?

A rough area which will need masters but she may well change her mind both DH and I changed areas after undergraduate.

It helped her though as the post offer day had an interview which they were told could only improve their offer and her having a plan and some other things impressed them enough to considerable drop her offer though she is still worried as some exams went badly.

GMH1974 · 16/08/2023 12:07

@DrMadelineMaxwell Seriously don't work in museums. Super competitive. Some jobs require a master's in Museum Studies and they all require years of volunteering and yet the pay and conditions are still dire. A lot of the interesting stuff prefers you to have a PGCE too.
I know a lot of history graduates who have ended up in Local Government. Law might be more interesting perhaps.

Lowther · 16/08/2023 12:17

DD has not been too bad this week. We have spent a lot of time together and she seems in a better head space. She has had great support from a few friends. It is great to see them support each other through this stressful time, actually still having a laugh and they have planned to go out on Friday, no matter what. No clear plan B, I know she has looked at clearing, but thinks she will take a gap year, work and retake if necessary. It is going to be a very long day/ night. Hope to catch up with you this time tomorrow. Thank you for all your support and advice on this thread. I have not posted much but do read and catch up on posts. Wishing you all the best.

nicky2512 · 16/08/2023 12:44

Dreading tomorrow. Only AS for us but DS wasn’t happy and didn’t feel exams went well at all. Just wish it was over now.

toomuchlaundry · 16/08/2023 12:45

Watching the football to keep our minds off tomorrow!

PettsWoodParadise · 16/08/2023 12:53

Out of interest, how many of our students are applying with a set job in mind?

DD is going to ‘enjoy the journey’ for now. Find out what she most likes about her subject and seek opportunities in the summer holidays.

She went to space school for summer when she was 13 and worked out she didn’t really like science, she apologised for wasting money but I said it had probably saved money due to helping her work out what she preferred.

She hopes to study English Lit if all goes to plan tomorrow. There is a long list of options in the back of her mind for now from writing, editorial, teaching, screenwriting, etc.

stilldumdedumming · 16/08/2023 12:55

My friend was telling me how in her day they got the results, went to the pub and then queued to use the pay phone in the pub to try to find a place ! Her day is my day btw.

Sounds a lot less stressful. It does seem like there could be a better way to do this though. It seems like somehow an unnecessarily stressful system has been created.

TripleDaisySummer · 16/08/2023 13:02

nicky2512 · 16/08/2023 12:44

Dreading tomorrow. Only AS for us but DS wasn’t happy and didn’t feel exams went well at all. Just wish it was over now.

DD1 got worse results than expected last year.

It did make her re-think uni course and where she could/wanted to apply and I think she happier with current plan.

So at time if felt bad it wasn't as bad as first feared - she dropped 4th subject and re-took one subject AS exams this year, along side rest of A2 exams, which she did feel went better though A2 exams in that subject she felt were bad.

MarshaBradyo · 16/08/2023 13:04

Out of interest, how many of our students are applying with a set job in mind?

Yes he’s set on engineering and is applying for mech Eng

legalalien · 16/08/2023 13:12

After losing the argument with DS that he should apply and defer (so as to have a back up plan, although he is taking a gap year), at this point I think he was right, I’m glad not to be angsting over grades for a course which he might not even want to do. He’s spent the last week being the sounding board for his best friend who needs good grades for med entry, which I think has kept his mind off his own results until this morning - I think the stress has now kicked in, but luckily he’s busy all day so can’t sit around overthinking. Me on the other hand… good luck to all your DCs.

littlequestion · 16/08/2023 13:25

Out of interest what are most DC doing first - finding out grades or checking UCAS? DS logs into his school portal to finds out grades so can choose the order. I don't know which he's doing first!

flotsomandjetsome · 16/08/2023 13:46

DS will log onto UCAS before I get to school to get his results, so there'll either be a sense of relief or blind panic when I get there!!

UcasSchmucas · 16/08/2023 14:01

I'm sure this has been mentioned before but what time should UCAS show the final uni places, please? 8am?

AfingeroffudgeisNOTenough · 16/08/2023 14:05

DD and I bingeing West Wing this afternoon to keep ourselves occupied - other DC are all out with friends and DH is working. We’re heading out tonight for our traditional pre-results night dinner.

Tomorrow she has tickets to results night party at a local club. Is that a thing in England? It’s very normal here for clubs to put on special events for results night so the whole place will be filled with 6th years from a massive range of schools. I remember my results night well, and even though I didn’t get the grades I was capable of (but definitely got the ones I deserved due to lack of effort) it was a great night out to blow off steam.

SmartHome · 16/08/2023 14:13

God this is stressful. DS just told me to chill, it's not you going to uni 😃

PhotoDad · 16/08/2023 14:23

I don't want to add to anyone's sense of panic, but just to warn you, that UCAS might be slow or crash first thing in the morning (in theory it updates at 8.00 a.m.). If it does, don't worry (!!!), it's not you. Everyone will be in the same boat.

I estimate it happens about one in four years (based on many, many, Results Days).

I always walk in to school (about an hour) on Results Day to clear my head, and try to get there by 7.30. Setting the alarm now!

MarshaBradyo · 16/08/2023 14:25

SmartHome · 16/08/2023 14:13

God this is stressful. DS just told me to chill, it's not you going to uni 😃

😂 probably the same here

nicky2512 · 16/08/2023 14:37

@TripleDaisySummer I do think it’s a good system in allowing resits of some of the papers etc if things don’t go to plan. I just hate the stress of the run up to results. Ds is very hard on himself and he is worried about tomorrow. I have an older DD who got all As at AS but she has never worried about an exam result in her life and is very confident in herself.
Fingers crossed for your DD tomorrow.

mrsconradfisher · 16/08/2023 14:44

DS is going into school at 8am to collect grades. He is in a weird position of needing to try and apply through Clearing rather than taking his first choice if he gets his predicted grades. So the actual grades for him are more important than what it says on UCAS.

PacificState · 16/08/2023 15:04

I think DS and his girlfriend will check UCAS here before heading in to school - it takes them about an hour to get there and feels like it might not be fun to find out the UCAS outcome on a commuter train.

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