A-Level results: what to do

 

TO ALL 'A' LEVEL CANDIDATES AND UNIVERSITY APPLICANTS

 

The A level results will be available to you after 9.00 a.m. in the Sixth Form Centre on Thursday 19th August.

 

UCAS will be sending confirmation letters to students on Wednesday 18th August which you may receive before you get your A level results.  This does not necessarily mean that you have been awarded the grades that you require – only that the university has accepted the grades that you will receive.  If you do not receive a confirmation letter it does not necessarily mean that you have been unsuccessful, as the university or college may not have made their decision in time or the postal service may be slow.

 

Please be aware that universities may take several days to reach a decision about your place if you have missed the offer conditions. You can ring the department to check on progress.

 

It is possible that you have changed the qualifications that you put on your UCAS form – the subject or level, for example, or you may have withdrawn from an examination.  If you have, you MUST inform UCAS. If you do not do this, it may delay the process of confirming your place at university and, at worst, you may lose the place.

 

1.         If you have met the condition of your firm offer you will be placed there. You will be sent a letter confirming your place.  If you have narrowly missed the offer you should check via UCAS Track to see if you have been accepted, or ring the department.

Each year some applicants pass their exams with better results than expected and that they therefore exceed the conditions of their first choice..  This year, applicants in this position will have the option of trying to find an alternative place whilst still holding the conditional firm (CF) place.  This is called Adjustment.  Go to UCAS Track on results day to see if you are eligible and for details.  However, the pressure on places this year is such that very few of the highly regarded universities expect to have any places available for adjustment.

 

2.         If you are rejected by your firm offer but have met the condition for your insurance place you will be placed there.  Again, it is worth using UCAS Track if you narrowly miss, to see if you have been accepted with the grades you have got, or ring the department.  You will be sent a confirmation letter.
 

 

3.         It is possible that, if you miss the grades required, you will be made a changed course or year offer.  You are NOT obliged to accept this and may enter Clearing.  Again, Track has the details of the options open to you – but note that you only have five days to reply to a changed course offer.

 

4.         If you are unsuccessful and are rejected by both Firm and Insurance institutions you become eligible for Clearing.  Clearing is also available to those with no offers.  From mid-July onwards, if you are eligible for Clearing, an ‘add clearing choice’ will appear in Track.  When you get your results, you can start to contact universities  and colleges about possible vacancies.  If you are made an offer that you want to take up, or want to be considered for a course that you have been told by the university has vacancies, you must tell the institution your Clearing Number (it is on Track) and enter the institution and course codes on to Track.  To avoid rejection it is far better that you get the university to be as definite as possible about the offer of a place before you enter the codes onto Track.

 

If you missed the grades that you need for both your firm and insurance place and are waiting for a decision, you should check Track regularily to see if you are eligible for Clearing.

 

If you have to enter Clearing you may have to be more flexible about your choice of subject or university.  However, remember that any decision made now will affect you for the next three or four years so do not accept something that is well outside your preferences and requirements.  Approach Clearing in the same methodical way you did the main application.

If you are in this situation, don't panic or despair.  Many students will find suitable courses over the next few weeks, indeed vacancies will still crop up as late as mid-October, BUT you must show drive and initiative and may have to be patient.   Seek advice; my contact details are below.  UCAS has a helpline – 0871 468 0 468 – you must have your personal ID ready. 

 

Official lists of vacancies will be published on the UCAS website, in The Independent and The Independent on Sunday from 19th August onwards.

 

You can see if you are eligible for Clearing by looking on Track.  When the ‘add clearing choice’ button appears, you can immediately start to ring around institutions to ask if they are likely to have vacancies and what grades they will require so that you can act more selectively when you know your results.  Remember that universities and UCAS will be communicating with you by email – make sure your address is up-to-date and that you check them regularily.  You may be made several ‘offers’ but you can only add one choice, so think about it carefully.

Clearing is not normally intended to be used by those who are deferring entry.  If you ARE using clearing and have applied for entry in 2011 you must get an assurance from the university that they are prepared to accept you.

 

5.         Please note that applicants are expected to honour their commitment.  If you are placed at an institution in the UCAS scheme you are expected to either take up that place or withdraw from this year's scheme.  You have no right to turn down the offer and enter Clearing or deal with any other institution, unless through the Adjustment process.  However, requests for changes of course or date of entry should be made direct to the institutions. 

 

I will be available to help and offer guidance from 19th August onward and will be in school on the mornings of the 20th and the 23rd between 9.30 and 12.00.  You can also ring me – get the number from the school.

You can also seek guidance from ‘Connexions’.  Their telephone numbers are

 

Truro	01872 277993
St Austell	01726 61833
Falmouth	01326 313193
Newquay	01637 876596
Camborne	01209 714136
Liskeard	01579 43727

It is possible that the grade you are awarded will be below that which was expected.  If you want to consider having all or part of an examination script re-marked the first person to talk to is the relevant Head of Department, who will advise you. I suggest you ring the school office to find out how best to make contact.  However, do be aware that re-marks seldom result in higher grades, are quite expensive and can take considerable time.  It is also possible for your grade to go down.  There is very little point in re-marks if your grades are sufficient for your firm university choice.  However, it is possible to get a fast re-mark if university places depend on it, but you must contact the school  by Monday 23th August at the latest.

 

Finally, please

 

• Be around, or at least have accesss to a telephone, when the results come out.  Preferably, don’t be away on holiday; you may have to attend a university for an interview if you are in Clearing

 

• Change your address at UCAS if you have put down the school address as your postal address or if you have changed your home address.

 

• Let the student finance authority know if the university you are going to attend has changed.  If you don’t, the fees may be sent to the wrong place.  More information can be found at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance

 

If I don’t see you in August, I wish you all the very best for the future.

 

Jeremy Worthington

Head of Careers