What to Do If You Don't Get the Grades You Want on A-Level Results Day

Sabrina Frost
Jul 28
4 min read

Opening your A-Level results and seeing grades that fall short of your university offers can feel like a massive blow. In that split second, it’s easy to panic and feel like your career plans have been derailed.

Take a deep breath.

Missing your target grades rarely means the end of your degree or career ambitions, it usually just means taking a slightly different, and sometimes even better, route. Thousands of students navigate this exact scenario every single year and go on to achieve incredible success.

Whether you’re aiming for university, an apprenticeship, or stepping directly into the working world, you have options. Here are the top steps you can take right now to get back on track.

Two A level students opening their exam results.

# 1. Call Your Firm and Insurance Universities First

Before you assume you’ve lost your place, get on the phone. Universities set grade boundaries, but they also have enrolment targets. If you missed your offer by just a grade or two, or if you dropped marks in a subject less relevant to your degree, they might still accept you.

**Top Tip:** Don't rely solely on the UCAS Hub updating. Call the university’s admissions hotline directly. Be polite, enthusiastic, and ready to explain why you are still deeply passionate about the course. If they can't offer you your original choice, ask if they have an alternative, related course they could place you on.

# 2. Explore UCAS Clearing for Alternative Courses

If your firm and insurance choices are a definite "no," it’s time to enter **UCAS Clearing**. Clearing isn't a bargain bin of unwanted courses; it’s a dynamic system where top UK universities fill remaining spots.

* **Look at combined honours:** If a single-honours degree (e.g., BSc Psychology) is full or has high grade boundaries, a joint honours degree (e.g., BSc Psychology & Sociology) often has slightly lower entry requirements and covers much of the same core curriculum.

**Be prepared:** Have your UCAS ID, Clearing number, final grades, and personal statement in front of you. Universities may conduct a mini-interview over the phone before offering you a place.

# 3. Look Into Integrated Foundation Courses (Year 0)

If you missed the grades for direct entry to a standard three-year degree, an **Integrated Foundation Year** is one of the most effective safety nets available.

Often referred to as "Year 0," this is a four-year degree route. The first year brings your academic knowledge up to speed, and once you pass, you automatically progress into Year 1 of the full degree, no need to reapply.

**Lower entry requirements:** Foundation years accept much lower grades (for example, accepting CCC or DDD when the standard degree requires AAB).

**Full student experience:** You are a full university student from day one, meaning you get access to standard UK Student Finance, university accommodation, and campus facilities.

**Clearing availability:** Universities frequently list foundation courses on Clearing, making them easy to secure on Results Day.

# 4. Request a Remark or Plan to Resit

If you missed a grade boundary by just a few marks, or if you know your results don't reflect your actual ability, you don't have to accept them as final.

**Priority Reviews (Remarks):** Ask your school or college exam officer to request a "priority review of marking." If your university place hinges on a specific grade, this process is fast-tracked before the final UCAS deadline.

**Resitting your exams:** Universities generally view retakes neutrally. You also aren't restricted to your current school. You can resit by:

* Transferring to a new local Sixth Form or FE College.

* Enrolling in a specialist independent retake college.

* Studying online or with a tutor and registering as a "Private Candidate" at an approved local exam centre just to sit the final papers.

# 5. Pivot to a Degree Apprenticeship

If you've decided the traditional university route might not be for you right now, a Degree Apprenticeship allows you to earn a full salary while a company pays for your university tuition.

* **Late Summer Vacancies:** While many corporate schemes recruit in the winter, smaller businesses and companies replacing drop-outs frequently list late vacancies in August and September. Check the UK government's "Find an Apprenticeship" portal daily.

* **The Gap Year Advantage:** If you take a year out and apply during the main recruitment window (Oct-Feb) for the following year, you hold a major advantage. Employers prefer candidates who already have achieved grades (as it removes academic risk), and you won't have to balance difficult assessment centres with A-Level revision.

# 6. Take a Strategic Gap Year to Build Your CV

Taking a gap year gives you the breathing room to re-evaluate your options without making a rushed, panicked decision on Results Day.

Use this year strategically to build a CV that universities and employers can't ignore. Secure internships, take online courses, or take on **voluntary roles**. Real-world experience often makes you a far stronger candidate for future university applications or degree apprenticeships than A-Level grades alone.

# Need to build your experience right now?

At **Degree Decisions**, we connect students and graduates with incredible opportunities to build their CVs. We currently have fantastic, flexible volunteering roles open with amazing charities, perfect for anyone looking to gain hands-on experience in digital marketing, PR, fundraising, and events during a gap year.