TSR Wiki > University > Applying to University > Guide to Results Day

What to do on Results Day

So, you wake up bright and early on the morning of 20 August (the 5th if you're in Scotland). After you've had your breakfast, you set off out to collect your results. But hang on, you need to take a few things with you!

• Mobile phone (charged and topped up)
• Pen/pencil
• Writing paper/notepad
• Calculator (in case something goes wrong and your modules aren't added up)
• Results slips from AS (ditto, and also in case you need to phone a uni and plead you can say "but I got X on these modules")
• UCAS/uni letter (so you've got all your info including UCAS number handy, and also so you don't panic thinking "was my offer AAAA or AAAa")
• Contact details for your firm and insurance
• Copy of personal statement and your reference if you have it
• Contact details for your referee (and if you think it's likely you'll go into Clearing permission from your referee to pass on their details to universities)

I strongly advise buying a copy of The Independent before you get your results. The Independent is the only newspaper that will publish the full Clearing listings, although other newspapers may publish smaller regional guides or run adverts for a specific university. The listings are also available online but if you're entering Clearing it's actually more useful to browse through the newspaper version - you're more likely to notice similar or interesting courses that wont show up on the UCAS course search.

Once you've opened your results, there are a few things that could happen. Try not to panic, no matter what happens to you.

You've made your firm offer!

Congratulations! Go and tell your friends. Phone your Auntie Mabel. Heck, even phone the BBC if you have to. But do not phone your first choice university unless they've asked you to confirm anything in advance. Leave the lines free for those who haven't met their offers and are panicking.

UCAS Track may take a while to update, so don't be too concerned if it hasn't updated straight away. If it hasn't updated by Monday, phone the university to check everything is OK.

The day after Track shows your place is confirmed UCAS will put your AS12 letter in the post. Read it carefully. It usually has a slip on the bottom, which you may have to fill in and send back. Some universities don't need you to send it back, the letter will explain what you are required to do. Either way, keep the letter safe, as you'll need it as proof for bank accounts and things like that.

You can also read the TSR Freshers' Pack to check you haven't missed anything.

New for 2009! The Adjustment Period

If you have exceeded the requirements for your firm offer, you can consider whether to look around for a place at a university with higher entry requirements. This is called 'Adjustment' and is optional. If you do want to consider the Adjustment route, you need to register through Track. You will have up to five days from the date on which your CF became UF (ie your conditional offer became unconditional because you met the offer requirements) in which to negotiate an alternative offer. This time includes weekends, and in any case cannot be extended beyond 2 September. So, if your CF doesn't become UF until 31 August, you only have 2 days to look for another place and have this confirmed by the uni. While you are in Adjustment, your original firm choice place will be held for you. More information about Adjustment can be found here and here

You've missed your firm offer

I hope you're not too disappointed. But never mind, there's still a chance they might accept you. First of all check UCAS Track. If Track says your place is safe then you're fine, relax, celebrate and leave the phone lines clear. If Track still shows your offer as conditional you'll need to phone the university. The phone number for this may be listed on their website, or they might have sent it to you in advance; if you haven't got a special number then just phone their normal number.

Some unis will not allow you to plead your case or will have already rejected you. If Track shows that you've been unsuccessful, you can't really do anything more. However, do be prepared! If you had any mitigating circumstances, then you should ideally get your school to notify the uni now as soon as you read this if you haven't already. But telling them during this phone call is better than nothing. Also, point out any good results you may have had (this is where your AS results slip may come in handy!) and really try to sell yourself.

If your firm offer accepts you with your missed grades

Congratulations! That's it. You'll just need to go home and await your AS12 letter in a few days.

You missed your firm offer, and they won't accept you with lower grades

Well, maybe it just wasn't meant to be. Don't be too sad because you'll still end up going to uni somewhere.

If you meet your insurance offer

This is pretty much like for the first bit, really. You don't need to do anything further now. Again, this may take a while to update on UCAS Track. You may like to phone your insurance uni to clarify that you're going there, but you don't really need to.

At some point you will need to change your student loan using the Change of Circumstances (CO1) form which can be downloaded here, but this can wait a few days so just go home and wait for your confirmation letter.

You can also read the TSR Freshers' Pack to check you haven't missed anything.

If you miss your insurance offer

Then again check UCAS Track to see if you've been accepted with lower grades. If your insurance still says your offer is Conditional then they haven't decided yet - phone them up like you did your firm choice. They may still accept you with the lower grades. If they accept you, then that's great! If they don't, then you'll enter Clearing.

You missed your firm or insurance offer but the uni has accepted you for a different course

This will show up on Track as UCC - ie 'unconditional changed course' - with the new course code. You have five days to decide whether to accept this alternative or not. You will receive a letter from UCAS (the AS12C) which sets out what your options are, though you can accept or decline this offer on Track even if you haven't yet received the AS12C. If you decline the changed course offer, you will either go to your insurance (if applicable and they have accepted you) or into Clearing.

I want to defer my offer!

If you don't already hold a deferred offer, once you have had your place confirmed you can contact the uni directly and ask if they can defer you. Have some reasons handy (eg. what are you going to do in your gap year?) and it should be OK. It's best to do this as soon as you know you want to defer, but you can do it right until the start date.

Your university may not agree to this, although most will. If this happens you may want to consider withdrawing from UCAS and reapplying.

I don't want to go to university after all

There's lots of choice in Clearing, but maybe you just can't find the right course for you. Or maybe you want to have a gap year and resit a few units. Whatever the reason, you don't have to go to uni if you don't want to.

I'm already holding an offer for this year

You'll need to contact the uni and tell them that you don't want to go. The best way to do this is to fill in the appropriate section on your AS12 slip. This will withdraw you from the UCAS scheme entirely, so you won't be able to use Clearing and will not end up at university anywhere.

I've got a deferred offer for next year

Again, you must tell the uni. You cannot reapply through UCAS whilst holding a deferred offer, so if you don't then you won't be going to uni this year or next year. Either fill in the AS12 slip to say that you won't be taking up your place, or contact UCAS by phone.

I don't currently hold an offer

If you missed your firm and insurance offers and they're not accepting you, then this will apply. You'll automatically be entered into Clearing, should you wish to do that. But if you don't want to go, then you don't have to do anything. Just don't apply anywhere through Clearing and you won't be going.

If you want to officially withdraw from the UCAS scheme, you can do so. Simply contact UCAS by phone and explain this. You can also use the withdraw button on UCAS Track.

A note about remarks

If you think your results look a bit odd you may wish to send some units back for remarking. There is a charge for this, although sometimes your school will pay; if your grade does change then you will get a refund. However, remember your grades can go down as well as up! I would advise discussing that with your teacher first, as they may think that you did deserve the results you got.

If you've missed your offers, you will need to tell the uni that you are having a remark when you phone them. If you apply for a priority remark, then you'll get your results back within a few weeks. If you only choose a standard remark, then it will take too long. You normally need to meet the conditions of your offer (even if it is for a deferred place) by 31 August, although for 2009 only this has been extended to 2 September. Some unis may accept you if your remarks come back later than that provided you have informed them first. Ask when you phone them if they are willing to hold your place for you while you wait for the remark, and if possible get them to confirm their deadline date in writing to you.

Also See

• UCAS Track on results day
• Guide to Clearing
• After results day
• Grade Analysis Discussion Thread
• Chat about Your results in the exam forums