The Student Room Group

A level+ 2024 Results Day Countdown - Hub is open! #FindYourFuture

Poll

How are you feeling?

Results day is looming and TSR tradition means we have to have a countdown thread for everyone to get to know each other, talk about their hopes/fears and generally relax (as well as sharing advice and information before the big day).* We'll update this post with pointers to advice and support soon but for now introduce yourselves :biggrin: You can watch a count down clock here: https://countingdownto.com/?c=5658819

Introduce yourself
1. AS or A level? (Or BTEC or other qualification with a 15 August Results day)
2. What subjects?
For Yr 13:
3. What university is your firm/insurance?
4. Which subject?
5. What grades are required?
6. Going to uni this year or taking a gap year?

For everyone:
7. What grades are you predicted?
8. How are you feeling about results day?
9. Anything else to add?

FAQs
RESULTS
When can I collect my results from school/college?
That depends on the arrangements your school/college make - if you don't know the details then ring them up on Wednesday the 16th (there should be someone in that day) and ask.

How do I collect my results online?
Again, this depends on your exam boards and/or your school/college. If you don't know then ask them directly.

When do unis get our results?
UCAS get the results from the exam boards approximately a week before results day. They spend a day or two matching them to your applications and then send them on to universities either overnight Friday/Saturday. Universities then spend Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday MANUALLY comparing every offer to the results to decide whether applicants have met their offers or not (and if not whether they can be accepted with lower grades).

UPDATE: as of 6pm Friday Universities now have results.

I've change my mind about the course/university I want to go to - what do I do?
See this article https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/university/apply/changing-your-mind-about-your-firm-or-insurance-choice NOTE: the deadline for reply swaps is 21 July and NOT the 30 June as stated in that article!

UCAS Hub on Results Day

When will UCAS update?
UCAS will go live AFTER 8am on results day. UCAS say 8am - it used to go live a little earlier, but the embargo time that UCAS and universities work to has been pushed back from 6am to 8am this year so it WILL NOT be before 8am. The embargo agreement is between UCAS, Universities and A level Exam Boards - no one is going to risk getting in trouble by releasing information early.

It WON'T go live at midnight.

Once it "goes live" EVERYONE will be able to see any decisions that their universities have sent to UCAS.* Just because it's live doesn't mean it will update for everyone. About 100,000 people every year don't get a clear answer from UCAS first thing on Results Day - they have to collect their results and then ring up their firm/insurance uni.

My UCAS didn't change - is it worth hitting refresh until it does?
NO - once UCAS goes live again it then gets re-frozen in that state (because UCAS need to handle everyone and their dog hitting refresh constantly). UCAS WILL NOT CHANGE between 8am and midday. Hitting refresh just slows things down for everyone else. Your university MIGHT have sent you a message through the UCAS Hub saying why your application hasn't been updated. This is new for 2023 and we haven't had any previews about how that will look or where to find it but it's worth clicking into your application to see if there's any more details there. Give yourself some good karma - get off UCAS hub and go and have a look on the UCAS course search, get together your contact numbers for your unis, top your phone up with credit (and charge it) and get your results from school/college.

what will UCAS show?
It depends how quick your universities are. There's a lot of scenarios. The post below gives an idea of what might show, what that means and what you need to do about that. Use the flowchart at the end of this post as a quick reference UCAS are supposed to be improving the layout and information on the UCAS Hub on results day for 2023 - but they haven't released any screenshots about what that will look like
UCAS Hub scenarios
Ok let's break it down Firm is X, insurance is Y
X -CF, Y-CI - neither has decided ring firm
X-CF, Y-UI - insurance has accepted but firm not decided. Ring firm
X-CF, Y-R - insurance has rejected, firm not decided. Ring firm.
X-UF, Y-CI, firm accepted, insurance not decided. Celebrate.
X-UF, Y-UI, both accepted. You're going to your firm. Celebrate.
X-UF, Y-R, firm accepted, insurance rejected. You're going to your firm. Celebrate.
X-R, Y-CF firm rejected, insurance not deciding. Ring insurance.
X-R, Y-UF firm rejected, insurance accepted. Celebrate
X-R, Y-R both rejected. You're in clearing.

This ignores changed course offers which either university can make. Both universities do their own thing. They don't have time to look what the other is doing.


My UCAS didn't change! That means I failed!
NO - Universities have to MANUALLY compare every set of results with the offer conditions - even if it's a simple YES or NO for every one of those that means a lot of data input to put in to their database to send through to UCAS.

If UCAS hasn't changed then that means that either:
a) You've met your offer and your uni knows that and hasn't got round to telling UCAS.
b) You've met your offer and your uni doesn't know that because your results got muddled up so they're waiting to talk to you to check before telling UCAS.
c) You've missed your offer but your uni wants you anyway but hasn't got round to telling UCAS.
d) You've missed your offer but your uni want to make you an offer for a similar but less full course and haven't got round to telling UCAS.
e) You've missed your offer and your uni haven't decided yet whether they can take you or not - they might need to see how many Insurance people they have to take before they know they've got room first.
f) You've missed your offer and your firm uni doesn't want you but hasn't got round to telling UCAS.
In other words - if UCAS hasn't changed that doesn't give ANY indication as to whether your results are good or bad.
In fact in some ways it's good - of those applicants who got a definite answer on results day last year...?....150,000 of them were rejected by both their firm and insurance and placed in Clearing. Being in limbo for a couple of hours is a GOOD thing compared to that.

My Firm place has confirmed me! That means I passed my A levels!
NO - remember - these things are decided MANUALLY....someone somewhere sits down with a pile of UCAS forms and a list of results and ticks off results against offers. If your firm has confirmed you - well done! You're in! BUT don't go* expecting to see a long line of A grades. Just as a lot of unis can be slow in sending decisions to UCAS, some unis are VERY quick and will not only confirm the people who met their offers but will have confirmed a whole BUNCH of people who missed their grades.

Clearing ARRRRGH!

quick guide to Clearing


See the FAQ for more help.

I did really badly - what do I do now?
There will be a thread with information and advice on remakes/remarks/appeals There will be threads in the Gap years forum for people planning to take a gap year and reapply and help available in the Applications, Clearing and UCAS

Results day stats from previous years

On results day in 2022 :
56% of applicants were unconditional with their FIRM
4% were unconditional with their INSURANCE
1% of applicants were already unconditional with a clearing choice (Scottish/IB/reapplicants who had their results)
14% of applicants were in limbo waiting for a decision from either their firm or insurance.
24% were in clearing (either because they had no offers initially, didn't accept an offer initially or both their firm and insurance had rejected them).*

By the end of Clearing last year:
59% of applicants were unconditional with their FIRM
5% were unconditional with their INSURANCE
9% were unconditional with a CLEARING choice
3% were still in limbo (these are usually international students who don't bother sending through their results or cancelling their applications)
25% were still in clearing (because they decided to take a gap year or are international and had a place in a university in another country).

*So about half the limbo UCAS people end up with their Firm, about half find a place through clearing and a smidge end up with their insurance.*



Results Day Flowchart


pdf version
(edited 3 months ago)

Scroll to see replies

This year The Student Room is encouraging everyone to #FindYourFuture

Click on this image to find out more:
37 days left
Volunteer note: It has been decided that while the existing countdown thread was appreciated and a nice way for users to keep track of the date, it would be more helpful to have PQ's expertise and wisdom in leading the original post of the A Level countdown thread. This is for the benefit of lots of users who may need support and can find it easily within the above OP. If anyone is unhappy with this decision and wishes to discuss further please post a thread here and tag myself, I will be happy to discuss further. :smile:
Less than 5 weeks to go now. :biggrin:
Original post by normaw
Less than 5 weeks to go now. :biggrin:

Urgh - started as I mean to go on….flakey and inconsistent!

Will update the thread title now :biggrin:
If everyone could please nag me every Thursday for the next couple of weeks that would be amazing!
Reply 7
Hi, I did A levels in psychology, sociology and biology. Im going to do diagnostic radiography and i need 128 ucas points. 128 ucas points is equivalent to A*A* E, A* AD, AAC, ABB. I firmed hertfordshire and insuranced exeter but i dont wanna go exeter as its to far and doesnt work out for personal reasons anymore. So if i dont get into herts ill be going for clearing for another course they do but ill get in 99% confident.
Reply 8
Im predicted AAB but im likely to get in August A* A* B. Im excited for results day but a bit anxious too as i know ill get into uni but i want to get grades i deserve for the hard work i put in these last 2 years.
Original post by X.243llie
Hi, I did A levels in psychology, sociology and biology. Im going to do diagnostic radiography and i need 128 ucas points. 128 ucas points is equivalent to A*A* E, A* AD, AAC, ABB. I firmed hertfordshire and insuranced exeter but i dont wanna go exeter as its to far and doesnt work out for personal reasons anymore. So if i dont get into herts ill be going for clearing for another course they do but ill get in 99% confident.


You still have time to contact UCAS to ask them to swap your reply for Exeter from insurance to a decline if you don't want to go there - would save a bunch of hassle if things don't turn out as planned on results day and mean you get put straight into clearing :smile:

You can also contact Herts now and ask them to make a note on your application that you would like to be considered for a specific alternate course if you miss your offer and they're unable to take you....again it saves a bunch of hassle on results day because they'll know in advance so you don't have to use clearing at all :smile:
You still have time to contact UCAS to ask them to swap your reply for Exeter from insurance to a decline if you don't want to go there - would save a bunch of hassle if things don't turn out as planned on results day and mean you get put straight into clearing :smile:
You can also contact Herts now and ask them to make a note on your application that you would like to be considered for a specific alternate course if you miss your offer and they're unable to take you....again it saves a bunch of hassle on results day because they'll know in advance so you don't have to use clearing at all :smile:


Oh thanks for this. Tbh im pretty much certain id get into the course i want anyway as ucas said last year they accepted people with CDD and there is no way im getting that or lower. Ive never ever gotten below a B in psych and soc and bio never below a C all year. Hence why i think ill deffinately get in but i should do what you said anyway as you never know what will happen on results day
Original post by X.243llie
Oh thanks for this. Tbh im pretty much certain id get into the course i want anyway as ucas said last year they accepted people with CDD and there is no way im getting that or lower. Ive never ever gotten below a B in psych and soc and bio never below a C all year. Hence why i think ill deffinately get in but i should do what you said anyway as you never know what will happen on results day

Those grades on UCAS aren't from last year - they're either from 2022 and 2023 OR from 2019 to 2023. And they'll include people who might have had extenuating circumstances or mature applicant or similar. Basically they're no guarantee that the course will take those grades this year.
Looking at https://digital.ucas.com/coursedisplay/courses/6856c42c-6960-7fe3-0bd7-4f26f254058b?academicYearId=2024 it's 2019-2023 so covers all of the covid years. It does look like they're usually flexible though :smile:
@PQ Do you plan to replace '2023' with '2024', and do you have stats for 2023 results day? 👀
Original post by mesub
@PQ Do you plan to replace '2023' with '2024', and do you have stats for 2023 results day? 👀

Did I miss a 2023? Where?

The stats for results days are from UCAS so they are available for 2023 but not quite in the way I like to crunch them…if I get time between now and August I’ll try to update things. They don’t normally change much between years :smile:
Did I miss a 2023? Where?
The stats for results days are from UCAS so they are available for 2023 but not quite in the way I like to crunch them…if I get time between now and August I’ll try to update things. They don’t normally change much between years :smile:

"UCAS are supposed to be improving the layout and information on the UCAS Hub on results day for 2023 - but they haven't released any screenshots about what that will look like"

But I've just read it again and to be fair, it makes sense as 2023, so ignore me >-<
Reply 15
GUYSSS I keep thinking ab results day im genuinely freaking out!!

I’ve been waitlisted by a medical school! And have a conditional offer for Chemistry for which I need AAA. Im predicted AAA, if I get into the medical school i’ll reject my firm obviously, BUT I fumbled paper 3 chem and history REALLY badly so idk what ive got.

The subject i’m most scared ab and think ive done the worst in is history
Reply 16
Original post by Idk5677
GUYSSS I keep thinking ab results day im genuinely freaking out!!
I’ve been waitlisted by a medical school! And have a conditional offer for Chemistry for which I need AAA. Im predicted AAA, if I get into the medical school i’ll reject my firm obviously, BUT I fumbled paper 3 chem and history REALLY badly so idk what ive got.
The subject i’m most scared ab and think ive done the worst in is history

did you do OCR A chemistry ?
Original post by Idk5677
GUYSSS I keep thinking ab results day im genuinely freaking out!!

I’ve been waitlisted by a medical school! And have a conditional offer for Chemistry for which I need AAA. Im predicted AAA, if I get into the medical school i’ll reject my firm obviously, BUT I fumbled paper 3 chem and history REALLY badly so idk what ive got.

The subject i’m most scared ab and think ive done the worst in is history

Right, get yourself a glass of water and start drinking it while you read this. And if you haven't finished the water by the time you've finished this post - plus you're still feeling anxious - throw the remaining water in your face! :tongue:

Plan A: you get fantastic A Level grades, the medical school have enough spare places and offer you one from the wait list. You say yes and hey presto you're off to do Medicine. If you asked PaddyPower for the odds of this, it wouldn't look very likely. So plan A is what we hope for and start preparing for...

Plan B: you meet or exceed your offer requirements and you're off to your firm uni to study chemistry. Congratulations, happy days.

Plan C: you don't meet your offer requirements, but because you only miss them by a bit the university kindly let you in anyway with a "near miss" offer. Very nice yes please thank you very much. Congratulations, Plan B kind of happened anyway. Though the A Level grades may not be ideal if you decided to come back to medicine applications later down the line.

Plan D: you don't meet your offer requirements and your offer is withdrawn. You then have a fantastically large choice of universities and courses if you still wish to progress into higher education. Start now, looking around at what might be available. Clearing is open right now with lots of vacancies already advertised. Most are released the morning of results day. Do research now, get your key unis contact details in front of you ready. If you panic, come back to The Student Room and ask us for help. We'll have lots of Clearing and Applications Advisors helping all day.

Plan E: you decide you don't wish to progress to higher education, you look at other options including employment, apprenticeships, resitting qualifications. Again, we're here to help with those big choices.

It's nervous for everyone, I still remember the butterflies and I'm 7 years on - but you have this under control and we are behind you every step of the way. :rave:

MR

P.S. If you've got any water left in that glass - throw it in your face. :eviltongue:
(edited 4 months ago)
Reply 18
Original post by jbbhd
did you do OCR A chemistry ?


YES !!
Reply 19
Original post by 04MR17
Right, get yourself a glass of water and start drinking it while you read this. And if you haven't finished the water by the time you've finished this post - plus you're still feeling anxious - throw the remaining water in your face! :tongue:
Plan A: you get fantastic A Level grades, the medical school have enough spare places and offer you one from the wait list. You say yes and hey presto you're off to do Medicine. If you asked PaddyPower for the odds of this, it wouldn't look very likely. So plan A is what we hope for and start preparing for...
Plan B: you meet or exceed your offer requirements and you're off to your firm uni to study chemistry. Congratulations, happy days.
Plan C: you don't meet your offer requirements, but because you only miss them by a bit the university kindly let you in anyway with a "near miss" offer. Very nice yes please thank you very much. Congratulations, Plan B kind of happened anyway. Though the A Level grades may not be ideal if you decided to come back to medicine applications later down the line.
Plan D: you don't meet your offer requirements and your offer is withdrawn. You then have a fantastically large choice of universities and courses if you still wish to progress into higher education. Start now, looking around at what might be available. Clearing is open right now with lots of vacancies already advertised. Most are released the morning of results day. Do research now, get your key unis contact details in front of you ready. If you panic, come back to The Student Room and ask us for help. We'll have lots of Clearing and Applications Advisors helping all day.
Plan E: you decide you don't wish to progress to higher education, you look at other options including employment, apprenticeships, resitting qualifications. Again, we're here to help with those big choices.
It's nervous for everyone, I still remember the butterflies and I'm 7 years on - but you have this under control and we are behind you every step of the way. :rave:
MR
P.S. If you've got any water left in that glass - throw it in your face. :eviltongue:


I’ve screenshotted this for future reference!! Thank you - Also I finished the glass of water at the start

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