TSR Wiki > University > Applying to University > Results Day > UCAS Track on results day
If you are unsure about how to use UCAS Track, please see this page.
What happens to UCAS Track before Results Day?
Track will be frozen from 12 August 2009 until the morning of Results Day, 20 August 2009. This means that applicants will not be able to change any details on their application. Track records will also not be updated to show any changes. So, if you need to clarify any information or make any changes, you will need to contact UCAS direct.
UCAS forwards results it receives from the exam boards for the following qualifications to the universities over the weekend before Results Day.
- AAT NVQ Level 3 in Accounting
- AQA Baccalaureate
- British Horse Society - Horse Knowledge and Care Stage 3, Riding Stage 3, Preliminary Teacher's Certificate
- BTEC
- National Award, Certificate and Diploma
- HNC/HND
- National Certificate and National Diploma in Early Years - Theory/Practical
- CACHE Diploma in Childcare and Education
- Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)
- Special Papers (overseas applicants only, winter results only)
- Advanced Level, Advanced Subsidiary
- Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Diploma
- Higher 1, Higher 2 and Higher 3
- Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CCEA)
- Diploma in Fashion Retail (ABC)
- Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art and Design) (ABC, Edexcel, WJEC)
- EDI Level 3 Certificates in Accounting and Accounting (IAS)
- Extended Project
- Free Standing Mathematics (AQA and OCR Level 3)
- GCE Advanced and Advanced Subsidiary (Single and Double Awards), 9 Unit Awards and Advanced Extension Award (this means A and AS levels)
- Higher Sports Leader Award
- ifs School of Finance Certificate and Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS)
- International Baccalaureate (Diploma and Certificate)
- Irish Leaving Certificate
- Key Skills (Levels 2, 3 and 4)
- Music examinations grades 6-8 (ABRSM, LCM, Trinity)
- OCR
- National Certificates, Diplomas and Extended Diplomas (all at National Qualifications Framework level 3 only)
- iPRO Certificate and Diploma
- Mathematics STEP Papers I, II & III
- Speech and Drama - grades 6, 7 & 8 (ESB, LAMDA, LCM and Trinity Guildhall)
- SQA
- Highers, Advanced Highers
- Intermediate 2
- HNC/HND
- Core Skills
- Skills for Work
- Welsh Baccalaureat
If your qualifications aren't in this list then you are responsible for sending your results to your universities as soon as you receive them.
If the results from the exam boards can't be reconciled with what's on your UCAS application it can cause delays in establishing whether or not you have met your offer/s and confirming your place. Universities process the results and confirm their decision (ie confirmed place/unsuccessful) to UCAS electronically. In cases where the outcome is unclear (eg the offer has been missed but not by much; results are missing or can't be matched up) the university may not have been able to make a decision and so nothing will go to UCAS at this stage. The decisions made by the universities are received by UCAS and collated for uploading on to Track in time for Results Day. This is why Track is frozen in the few days beforehand.
UCAS and the universities only receive AS and A level grades and AS and A level module grades. They do not receive any details of UMS marks.
When will Track open again?
UCAS Track is usually available from around 8am on Results Day, it's often a little (ie an hour or so) earlier but it may be later. There is no point in staying up and checking Track from one minute past midnight, hoping that something will happen; it won't. Instead, you would do much better to try and get some sleep, as you may need to be particularly on the ball if your results aren't what you hope for/expect.
What will Track show me?
Assuming that your universities have made a decision in your case, Track can only show you if you have been accepted by your firm or insurance choice. Track will not show you your grades.
If your Track shows no change, the main reasons for this will be:
- your firm and insurance universities haven't got around to your application yet or haven't yet told UCAS of their decision.
- some of your results are missing and/or cannot be matched up with your UCAS application details.
- you have missed your offer/s and the universities concerned have not reached a decision (or they have but have not passed it on to UCAS yet)
In either case, you will need to be ready to contact the universities directly once you have your results to hand. See also A Level results day.
What words will Track use?
On your choices page, the "decision" column will change. Since you have already chosen your firm and insurance, your Track choices page should reflect this.
- If one offer changes to Unconditional [UF or UI], this means you have gained a place there.
- If this is your firm choice, your insurance might not have updated to "unconditional" as well. Since you will not be going to your insurance, because you have been accepted by your firm choice, this doesn't matter.
- If this is your insurance, and your firm has updated to "unsuccessful", this means that you have missed your firm offer and they are unable to take you. However, you have a place at your insurance.
- If this is your insurance, and your firm is still showing "conditional", either your firm has been slow in confirming your place or they are still deciding about you. In this case, you will need to get your results and contact the uni concerned as soon as possible.
- If both your firm and insurance have updated to Unsuccessful then you have missed your offers for both and have not been accepted at either.
- This will mean you are entered into Clearing. Your Track page will be updated to show that you are eligible for Clearing and will show your Clearing number which you will need to give to any uni you contact about a Clearing Place.
- If a choice updates to UCC (Unconditional Changed Course), you have missed the required grades for your offer, but your University is offering you a place on a similar course with lower requirements.
- You do not have to accept this alternative, but you have five days to do so, and may wish to contact the university direct to discuss it.
You may wish to read further information on what to do next, in A Level results day
Should I check Track before I collect my results?
Many school and college advisers are concerned that logging in early to Track is all very well if the news is good, but if the news is disappointing they would rather be on hand to support you through deciding what to do. In the end it's up to you. Don't let yourself be pressurised, by all your TSR mates who are logging in and posting the results, into doing the same if you would rather not. It may help to decide in advance what you want to do, bearing in mind the possible outcomes:
- The good news is that you find out early whether you have a confirmed place at your Firm, though this doesn't necessarily mean that you got your grades.
- The slightly less good news is that you find out you got in to your Insurance, but not to your Firm, or that you have got in to your Firm but for a different course (you don't have to accept this alternative, though).
- The less good news is that you may find that nothing has changed or only your insurance offer has been updated (see above for possible reasons for this), which leaves you in 'no man's land' until you can get hold of your results and start ringing unis to find out why your place hasn't been confirmed/plead your case as appropriate.
- The really bad news is that you may find that you have been unsuccessful for both choices, so that you are now in Clearing. Again, you are in 'no man's land' until you can get hold of your actual results and see what's what.
Also See
