Ultimate guide to A level results day 2025
A-Level Results Day 2025 – Your Complete, Official Guide
This is your step-by-step, factual guide to A-Level Results Day 2025. It covers exactly what happens when, how to read your UCAS Hub status, what to do if your results aren’t where they should be, and your options whether you get in, don’t get in, or are still waiting for a decision. Every detail here is taken from official UCAS, JCQ, and NHS sources — no myths, no guesswork.
Downloadable information sheet
🧠 Managing Stress on Results Day
Prepare a backup plan in advance.
Make sure your phone and internet are working for calls and UCAS Hub access.
Take regular breaks if feeling stressed [15].
Have a supportive friend or family member with you.
Use official helplines if you feel overwhelmed:
NHS urgent mental health help (England): Call 111 (select mental health) or 999 in an emergency [14].
Samaritans (24/7): Call 116 123 (free).
Results day can be emotional. Having a family member or a trusted friend with you can provide comfort and support, whether you're celebrating or dealing with disappointment. They can also help you make clear-headed decisions if you need to consider alternative options.
📅 Key Dates & Times (UK Time)
SQA Results Day:
Tuesday 5 August 2025 — UCAS Hub opens for students at 09:00 [2][3]
You can add a Clearing choice from 10:00 [2][3]
Applies to Scottish qualifications.
A-Level / T-Level Results Day:
Thursday 14 August 2025 — UCAS Hub opens for students at approximately 08:00–08:15 [1][3]
You can add a Clearing choice from 13:00 (1 PM) [2][3]
Applies to A-levels, T-levels, and most vocational qualifications in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Full Clearing period:
5 July to 20 October 2025 [6] — so you do not have to make Clearing decisions on Results Day itself.
🖥 UCAS Hub – What It Shows (and Doesn’t Show)
Important:
UCAS Hub shows decisions from universities, not your grades [4].
You must collect your grades directly from your school or college.
Statuses may update throughout the day because universities process results in batches and may wait for additional information before deciding [10].
🔍 Understanding Your UCAS Hub Status
If your grades are just below the necessary threshold, consider asking for a remark. Deciding to request a remark requires a careful assessment of how close your mark is to the grade boundary, the risks involved, and the potential impact on your university admission. Always consult with your teachers or exam officers, who can provide guidance based on their experience and knowledge of your work and performance throughout the course. Please look in the Appendix after this article for more information on re-marks.
Unconditional (Place Confirmed)
You’ve got your place — congratulations! Follow the instructions from your university for enrolment, accommodation, and finance [5].
You will need to firmly accept your place within 5 days or your place will be withdrawn.
Conditional / “Still Waiting” (In Limbo)
Your university is waiting for more information (e.g., a qualification UCAS didn’t receive, a BTEC result, or another condition like DBS) [9][10].
Check UCAS messages for details [10].
If something is missing, send it directly to the university [9].
If no update after providing everything, contact the university admissions team [10].
You cannot enter Clearing while you still have a conditional offer [7].
Unsuccessful
Your firm and insurance choices have declined your application — you are eligible for Clearing from 13:00 for A-levels or 10:00 for SQA [6][7].
Changed Course / Start Date
The university is offering a different course, start date, or an integrated foundation year. Read the details carefully before accepting [5][11].
📞 Clearing – How to Use It Safely
Eligibility:
You have no offers (all choices unsuccessful) [6], or
You self-release from your current place [8].
Self-Release:
Done through “Decline Your Place” in UCAS Hub [8].
This is irreversible — you lose your current place immediately [8].
Only do this if you have a verbal or written informal offer from another university [7].
Steps to take before adding a Clearing choice:
Research courses using UCAS Search or university Clearing lists [6].
Call the university — have ready:
Clearing number (shown in UCAS Hub)
UCAS Personal ID
Your grades
Your personal statement (open on screen or printed)
Any questions about the course or uni [6]
Once they confirm they’ll accept you, add them as your single Clearing choice in UCAS Hub [6].
Update your Student Finance details with your new course/university (gov.uk student finance guidance).
⏳ Alternatives to Clearing
1. Gap Year / Deferred Entry
Deferring: You can ask your confirmed university if they’ll let you start next year instead — it’s at their discretion [12].
Gap year benefits: Time to gain work experience, travel, volunteer, or improve your application for next year [12].
2. Grade Appeals
Speak to your school/college to request a review of marking [13].
If grades change, send the official result to your universities as soon as possible [13].
Universities often have early September deadlines for receiving appeal outcomes [13].
3. Degree Apprenticeships
Combine paid work with part-time degree study.
You earn while you learn, and graduate with work experience and no tuition debt.
4. Foundation Year vs Foundation Degree
Foundation year (Year 0): An extra year before starting your degree — usually for students who didn’t meet entry requirements. Leads directly into the main course if passed [11].
Foundation degree: A two-year higher education qualification (Level 5) focusing on a particular profession. Can sometimes be topped up to a full degree [11].
5. Access to Higher Education Diploma
Designed mainly for mature students without traditional qualifications. One-year course preparing you for university-level study.
🛠 If Your Results Are Missing
You might need to send results directly to your universities if:
You have international qualifications [9]
You hold qualifications not automatically sent to UCAS (some BTECs, music/performance awards, etc.) [9]
Always follow the university’s instructions for how to send them [9][10].
🏄🏽♀️Plan Something Fun
Regardless of your results, you’ve worked hard and deserve recognition. Plan a relaxing or enjoyable activity for after you collect your results. This could be anything from a meal out with friends to a quiet day reflecting on your achievements and the exciting opportunities ahead.
Results day is a significant milestone, but it’s just the beginning of your next chapter. Whatever the outcome, having a plan will help you stay in control and make the most of the options available to you.
📚 References
[1] JCQ – Key dates for the release of results – Summer 2025 examinations: https://www.jcq.org.uk/exams-office/key-dates-and-timetables/
[2] UCAS – Key dates for the 2025 application cycle: https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-to-university/ucas-undergraduate-key-dates
[3] UCAS – Results day service availability: https://www.ucas.com/applying/after-you-apply/clearing-and-results-day/check-the-availability-of-ucas-undergraduate-applications
[4] UCAS – After you get your exam results: https://www.ucas.com/applying/after-you-apply/after-you-get-your-exam-results
[5] UCAS – Understanding your application status: https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/what-your-application-status-means
[6] UCAS – What is Clearing?: https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/results-confirmation-and-clearing/what-clearing
[7] UCAS – Adviser toolkit – Clearing and self-release: https://www.ucas.com/advisers/managing-applications/clearing-and-self-release
[8] UCAS – Decline your place: https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/results-confirmation-and-clearing/decline-your-place
[9] UCAS – Sending exam results: https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-to-university/after-you-apply/sending-exam-results
[10] UCAS – Still waiting for your university decision: https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/results-confirmation-and-clearing/still-waiting-your-university-decision
[11] UCAS – Foundation years and foundation degrees: https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/what-and-where-study/choosing-course/foundation-years-and-degrees
[12] UCAS – Deferring your entry: https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/what-and-where-study/deferring-your-entry
[13] UCAS – After you get your exam results – appeals: https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/results-confirmation-and-clearing/after-you-get-your-exam-results
[14] NHS – Where to get urgent help for mental health: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/
[15] NHS – Stress in young people: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/advice-for-parents/children-and-young-people-and-stress/
Appendix
Re-marking
Understanding the re-marking process
Re-marking is part of the Post-Results-Services that exam boards supply, along with other things, like access to your scripts. Exam centres/schools can access whole cohort checks if there is some anomaly that extends past just a single student. You will need advice and help on your particular situation before you embark on this route forward.
For A-level Physics and Maths, because answers are so black and white, either right or wrong, it's unlikely your grade will change when you purchase a re-mark.
The exception, is if there has been an administrative error and, for example, a whole page has been missed off. You're not going to know this unless you ask for a re-mark, which is a Catch-22 situation (you can’t know if you need to ask – unless you ask - and you risk your mark going down as well as up!)
The indication that there has been a marking issue like this, is that your grade is very different to what would be expected for your ability; your teachers will be able to help you with making a decision here. If you suspect there has been a mistake like this, ask for help and advice from your school immediately.
For other subjects which are maybe more subjective than Physics (Geography, History, English, Art etc.) there may be more mileage in asking for a re-mark.
a. Check Your Raw Marks and Grade Boundaries
Raw Marks: First, you’ll need to find out your raw marks, which are the actual scores you received on each paper or component of your A-Level exams. These are sometimes included on the results slip, but if they’re not, you should contact your school or exam centre to obtain them.
Grade Boundaries: Grade boundaries are set by the examination boards and determine what raw mark is needed to achieve each grade. These boundaries can fluctuate each year based on overall performance and are designed to standardize grades across different exam sessions. You can usually find grade boundaries on the respective exam board’s website (e.g., AQA, OCR, Edexcel) at 8am or afterwards on the day the results are released.
For OCR go here:
https://ocr.org.uk/administration/grade-boundaries/
For AQA go here:
https://www.aqa.org.uk/exams-administration/results-days/grade-boundaries
For Edexcel go here:
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-for-you/results-for-students.html
b. Evaluate How Close You Are to the Next Grade
Decision Point: If your raw mark is within a few points of the next grade boundary, it might be worth considering a re-mark. Typically, being within one to five marks off the next grade up might warrant a review, as small marking errors could potentially push your score into the higher grade bracket, and they are unlikely to drop you to a lower grade.
Requesting a Remark
a. Understand the Types of Reviews
Clerical Check: The simplest form of review, this ensures all parts of the exam have been marked and the total score has been added up correctly.
Review of Marking: A more thorough check where an independent examiner will ensure your answers were marked consistently with the marking criteria.
b. Consider the Risks and Costs
Potential for Grade Change: It’s important to understand that grades can go up, down, or stay the same after a re-mark. You should consider whether you can afford to take the risk of a potential grade decrease.
Fees: There are fees associated with re-marking, which can vary depending on the type of review requested and the exam board. These fees are typically refunded if your grade changes as a result of the re-mark.
c. How to Apply
Application Process: You apply for a re-mark through your school or college, which will handle the submission to the exam board. There is usually a tight deadline for re-mark applications post-results day, so act quickly if you decide to proceed.
d. Timing and Outcomes
Waiting Period: The turnaround time for a re-mark can vary but is usually within a couple of weeks. This can be crucial time if you are depending on a grade change to secure a university place.
Communication: Keep in touch with your desired university to inform them of the pending re-mark; they may be able to hold your place until the outcome is resolved, especially if the rest of your academic profile fits their requirements.
