(I haven't got my results back yet, and I sat Advanced Highers instead of A-Levels)
I was really worried about me putting in effort would mean that I'm unworthy of a place, because I don't just know things. But I suppose a lot of it's about aptitude. I was told I could get an A in my AH English "standing on my head", but that didn't discourage me from trying as hard as I possibly could, memorising all 20 poems verbatim for my exam, spending ages over my folio - because just getting an A wasn't enough, I'd still rather have earned it. And I think overall, that counts for more than just 'getting' the grades.