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Higher education

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

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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:
Thread gallery
12
Forestfriendlygarden · 18/06/2023 21:26

Isn't it all completely a weird process? No matter how much you plan there are curve balls...

Selok · 19/06/2023 00:35

Just joining in- last 3 exams left next week for my DD she is absolutely shattered- her last ever exam is on Friday 🥶

Forestfriendlygarden · 19/06/2023 11:22

Selok · 19/06/2023 00:35

Just joining in- last 3 exams left next week for my DD she is absolutely shattered- her last ever exam is on Friday 🥶

General shatteredness here also, bought DD a key ring yesterday:

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.

That is just about the sum extent of it in our house.
Good luck with the three.
One left here Wednesday.
It's all very weird.

Spottydressinggowngirl · 19/06/2023 12:52

Waved dd and her mate off for a few weeks travelling this morning. Felt very weird - almost like a little practice for waving her off to uni!
i just hope she’s more sensible than I was at her age 😉

Gardensaremyworld · 20/06/2023 05:11

I’ll join as I have twins in Year 13. One has their final A level today while the other is still ploughing through their 13 exams. Still has 3 to go and I really feel for them as they’re exhausted

Someone mentioned “bookmarking” this thread- how do I do this please?
It certainly feels like a long wait until results day but we’ll get there

*and having had an older daughter go through Clearing I would REALLY recommend taking the day off work to support them if if there’s the slightest chance they might go into it. It’s a slightly daunting system and having a clear headed adult around can really help

Chickydoo · 20/06/2023 06:49

Joining in
Last exam today. Have been through this with my 3 other children, so this really is the very last day at school (until results)
I've taken 17th August off work, as have supported two of mine through clearing before. Just hope it's not needed this time!

PacificState · 20/06/2023 08:12

@Gardensaremyworld I think there is a technical way of bookmarking, but now you've posted on the thread it will show up in 'Threads I'm On' so you'll be able to access it quickly that way (which is why people post just to say 'bookmarking'!)

clary · 20/06/2023 11:30

Chickydoo · 20/06/2023 06:49

Joining in
Last exam today. Have been through this with my 3 other children, so this really is the very last day at school (until results)
I've taken 17th August off work, as have supported two of mine through clearing before. Just hope it's not needed this time!

AH @Chickydoo I hear you on that! I took the day off for DS2 and was so so relieved we did not need to do more than accept his first choice! Best of luck.

TripleDaisySummer · 20/06/2023 16:09

clary · 17/06/2023 15:39

Not got anyone doing exams here (apart from uni ones haha) but thought I would flag a bit of how it works...

(This assumes an application to uni)

UCAS portal updates at 8am so they can look then and see where they have got in. This doesn't tell grades but tells them if firm choice or insurance has accepted them.

They can then go in to school (or log on) to find their actual grades, which might be higher than hoped or lower (mate of DD's got in to top choice even tho he had much lower grades than offer).

The thing with the UCAS portal is that they know which way it is going to go, so it's not so shocking (as they have found out the main detail at home).

DD missed both her choices and was v upset - but we were at home. She then went in and found her actual grades - I joined her and we did the clearing process together. My main advice with clearing is to be realistic about it - you may need to lower your sights. DD was targeting RG unis but in the end her grades got her into Uni of Leicester, which actually suited her better in the end. It was a stressful day tho (understatement).

DS2 knew at home that he had got in to his first choice - went to school and found his actual grades. All good. Tho after DD I had taken the whole day off work - I would advise this if there is any likelihood of your DC needing to do clearing. At numerous points we and her head of 6th form were all on the phone to various unis! Good luck all.

That's useful information thank you,

DD1 is our eldest and it's a bit of a knife edge if she'll get the grades -last two exams in one subject weren't good.

LaurelGrove · 20/06/2023 16:39

I found my people...dd has one more exam to go on Friday. She's grey and exhausted, and I suspect will just collapse when they are over. She's worked incredibly hard, and will be absolutely crushed if she misses her grades for her firm offer. But she needs AAA which is a lot to ask - she's capable of it, but it doesn't take much to miss it. I have been reassuring her that the 2019 grade boundaries, which the school has continually used to assess them, are likely to be higher than this year, and that her lack of GCSE experience isn't holding her back any more than anyone else in this cohort. But it's really hard, and it's going to be stressful, made worse by the fact she's flying home from Thailand with her dad the day of the results. She's planning to try to access her results using plane WiFi....

Forestfriendlygarden · 21/06/2023 06:26

Oh gosh.
Last one today people.
Grey and exhausted just about covers it.

DD needs one A star and two AAs.

As you say it is easy to miss...

Good luck everyone.

Travelban · 21/06/2023 07:13

Forestfriendlygarden · 21/06/2023 06:26

Oh gosh.
Last one today people.
Grey and exhausted just about covers it.

DD needs one A star and two AAs.

As you say it is easy to miss...

Good luck everyone.

Good luck for today, Biology this morning and then last chemistry on Friday...

PettsWoodParadise · 21/06/2023 07:15

For those whose DC have no more exams are you finding that they are struggling to remember how to not study? DD feels like she went to school in September last year and then it never stopped.

DD spent the day yesterday sorting out her car service, doing holiday insurance and going out for a drink with friends who had their last exam yesterday. She said she felt most comfortable at school chatting to her teachers and talking about returning in September to help with talks about personal statements and Oxbridge sessions. She just couldn’t make the mental switch to stay for more than a short time with her friends, she said she felt guilty like she was meant to be doing something else. I suppose it is early days!

Forestfriendlygarden · 21/06/2023 07:22

That makes sense to me.
In psychology there is a lot to say about transitions.

Takes time for it to sink in.
It's weird because it is not particularly human to expect us all (parents. carers and students) to adjust from one day to the next just because exams are over...

We have been doing this thing for so long...

Glad this thread exists...

Cantonet · 21/06/2023 07:23

DD had her last exam yesterday.
She needs 2×A & B for Architecture at UCL. She's forecast 2×A* & A but who knows. Having had dd1who failed to get into vet school the first time around because two papers were wrongly marked, I'm always apprehensive over these results.

Forestfriendlygarden · 21/06/2023 07:25

Heavens what a nightmare...

lastdayatschool · 21/06/2023 08:20

PettsWoodParadise · 21/06/2023 07:15

For those whose DC have no more exams are you finding that they are struggling to remember how to not study? DD feels like she went to school in September last year and then it never stopped.

DD spent the day yesterday sorting out her car service, doing holiday insurance and going out for a drink with friends who had their last exam yesterday. She said she felt most comfortable at school chatting to her teachers and talking about returning in September to help with talks about personal statements and Oxbridge sessions. She just couldn’t make the mental switch to stay for more than a short time with her friends, she said she felt guilty like she was meant to be doing something else. I suppose it is early days!

No.

My DS finished a week ago yesterday and has had 4 x 8 hour shifts at work already.

On the days he's had off, he's played golf, played football, played tennis and hung out with his friends in the evenings.

Feels like we've hardly seen him except at meal times. I'm quite happy about this too - the summer between school and university should be one of the best of their lives.

ENF · 21/06/2023 11:47

Cantonet · 21/06/2023 07:23

DD had her last exam yesterday.
She needs 2×A & B for Architecture at UCL. She's forecast 2×A* & A but who knows. Having had dd1who failed to get into vet school the first time around because two papers were wrongly marked, I'm always apprehensive over these results.

Dd needs 2A star&A for CS at UCL as well. Good luck.

tribpot · 21/06/2023 11:52

Now moving over from the exams thread as Biology Paper 3 is done and so school's out forever.

Such a bloody relief.

tennissquare · 21/06/2023 11:54

tribpot · 21/06/2023 11:52

Now moving over from the exams thread as Biology Paper 3 is done and so school's out forever.

Such a bloody relief.

Same for me!

Forestfriendlygarden · 21/06/2023 12:02

Us too!
Such a bloody relief, I'm on both threads till Friday, to cheer on those who have exams till Friday. Two more sleeps for them.

In the meantime Yey. yey and Yey

Nugg · 21/06/2023 12:07

Found you! 3 more exams yet - DS has a very fortunate low offer of ABB - predicted A/A but doesnt feel he has achieved A/A. Hoping against hope his hard work has paid off, he has found it very stressful and is naturally a very laid back person.

I WFH but may plan the day off and work if all goes well and he buggers off with his mates instead 😆

SabrinaThwaite · 21/06/2023 13:01

We go into school to collect results and chat with teachers.

I remember my me and my older sisters collected our results by cycling up to school and seeing everyone’s results posted on the front doors.

hornetgirl · 21/06/2023 14:30

Last exam on Friday for DS, then he has a week off and then he has 7 weeks of work, 8-6 pm, Monday to Friday for the holidays. We have both taken a day of annual leave for results day!

I have the following Thursday off for my twins GCSE results day too.