UK student results guide
A Level Results Day 2026
A Level Results Day 2026 is Thursday, 13 August 2026. Students can collect results from their school or college, check their UCAS application status, and decide the next step if their offer is confirmed, missed, changed, or still pending.
Quick facts for A Level Results Day 2026
Start here if you only need the key date, release time, Clearing window, and who the page is for.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| A Level Results Day 2026 | Thursday, 13 August 2026 |
| Candidate result release time | From 08:00 UK time. Your school or college will tell you whether results are collected in person, online, by email, or through a secure portal. |
| UCAS Clearing 2026 | 2 July to 19 October 2026 for eligible applicants and courses with available places. |
| Who it is for | A Level, AS Level, FSMQ, Extended Project, Level 3 Applied Qualifications, Level 3 Vocational Technical Qualifications, and related Level 3 students. |
Results day timeline: what to do and when
Results day is easier when you know the order of actions. Use this timeline as a calm step-by-step plan.
Save your UCAS sign-in details, UCAS Personal ID, school collection time, phone charger, email access, backup course list, adviser contact, and university phone numbers.
Collect or open your results first, then check UCAS Hub. UCAS Hub can show whether a place is confirmed, but it does not replace your official grades from school or college.
Read your university messages, check accommodation and enrolment tasks, and confirm any next steps. Do not rush into changing plans just because other courses are available.
Your firm choice was not confirmed, but your insurance university has accepted you. Check the course, start date, accommodation, finance, and any conditions still listed.
Speak to your school or college adviser, prepare your grades and UCAS ID, research Clearing courses, and contact universities before adding any Clearing choice.
Compare the course you already hold with any new options carefully. A higher grade does not automatically mean you should change university or course.
Sort accommodation, student finance, enrolment, travel, appeals, reviews of marking, resits, deferral, gap year, or apprenticeship plans if needed.
What does my UCAS status mean?
UCAS status wording can feel confusing when you are under pressure. Use the selector first, then read the cards below.
Place confirmed
Your university or college has accepted you. Read the next-step emails, check accommodation, student finance, enrolment, and any tasks in the applicant portal.
Insurance choice confirmed
Your firm choice was not confirmed, but your insurance place has accepted you. Check course details carefully and ask about accommodation as soon as possible.
Still waiting
The university may not have made a final decision yet. Speak to your school adviser and contact the university if you need clarity. Do not make irreversible changes too quickly.
You are in Clearing
You may be eligible to apply for courses with available places. Research courses, call universities, and only add a Clearing choice after a university gives you permission.
Unsuccessful
Your offer has not been confirmed. Check whether your insurance is available, speak to your school or college, and prepare Clearing, appeal, resit, or gap year options.
Changed your mind
Pause before declining anything. Compare course content, location, cost, accommodation, entry requirements, and job pathways before moving away from a confirmed place.
UCAS Clearing 2026 guide
Clearing is the UCAS route used by eligible applicants to apply for courses that still have places. It is not only for students who missed grades; it can also help late applicants or students who want to explore a different course.
What is Clearing?
Clearing is how universities and colleges fill available course places. You contact universities directly, discuss whether they can consider you, and then add a Clearing choice in UCAS Hub only after permission.
When does Clearing run?
For 2026 entry, Clearing runs from 2 July to 19 October 2026. The busiest day is usually A Level Results Day because many applicants receive final grades.
Who can use Clearing?
- You are not holding an offer.
- You applied after the main deadline and need available courses.
- You did not meet offer conditions and have no confirmed place.
- You have declined a firm place and are sure you want to look elsewhere.
Do not add too early
Do not add a Clearing choice until the university or college has told you to add it. Adding a choice without permission can slow you down or block you from using the choice slot properly.
Clearing call script
Copy this and edit it before calling universities.
Clearing course comparison
Use this mini table to compare courses before making a decision.
What should I do if…?
Choose your situation and follow the action plan. The aim is to slow the day down and stop rushed decisions.
Grade boundaries, marks, grades and UCAS points
Grade boundaries are the minimum marks needed for each grade. They can change by subject, exam board, and exam series, so use official exam-board sources only.
Marks
Marks are the scores you receive on papers, components, coursework, or the full qualification depending on the subject and exam board.
Grades
Grades such as A*, A, B, C, D and E are awarded after marks are compared with the grade boundaries for that exam series.
UCAS points
UCAS Tariff points convert qualifications and grades into points for courses that use tariff offers. Not every course uses points; some use specific grades.
UCAS Tariff points calculator for A Levels
Add your A Level grades below to estimate common UCAS Tariff points. This calculator uses standard A Level grades only.
Calculate your points
Note: AS Levels, EPQ, BTEC, T Levels, and other Level 3 qualifications may use different tariff values.
| A Level grade | UCAS Tariff points |
|---|---|
| A* | 56 |
| A | 48 |
| B | 40 |
| C | 32 |
| D | 24 |
| E | 16 |
Appeals, reviews of marking and resits
If a result looks wrong, do not start alone. Your school or college exams officer is the first person to speak to because they can explain marks, scripts, deadlines, and review options.
Speak to school or college
Ask for your marks, component breakdown, whether your grade is close to a boundary, and whether a review of marking is sensible.
Understand the risk
A review of marking can result in a mark going up, staying the same, or going down. Ask before requesting anything.
Check deadlines
Post-results service deadlines can be short. Ask your exams officer for your exam board’s latest deadline and cost information.
Resit options
If you want to resit, ask your school or college whether you can resit as an internal or private candidate, which exam series is available, which papers you must retake, how predicted grades will work, and whether a gap year or reapplication is needed.
A Level Results Day checklist
Use this checklist before and during results day. You can copy it or print the page.
Before results day
On results day
Notes for parents, carers and international students
How to help without taking over
- Keep the student calm and give them space to read the result properly.
- Help with phone numbers, notes, transport, food, and documents.
- Let the student make the call when universities need to speak to them.
- Avoid pressuring them into a course they have not compared properly.
Extra checks to make
- Check visa, CAS, accommodation, deposit, and travel deadlines.
- Ask universities how long a Clearing decision may take.
- Confirm whether your qualifications, English language evidence, or documents are still required.
- Keep time zones in mind when calling UK admissions teams.
Related guides and tools
Use these related pages to plan results day, understand scores, and prepare your next step.
A Level Results Day 2026 FAQ
When is A Level Results Day 2026?
What time do A Level results come out?
What time does UCAS update?
Can I get my results online?
What happens if I miss my university offer?
Can I still get into my firm choice with lower grades?
What is Clearing?
When does Clearing open for 2026?
Can I reject my firm place and use Clearing?
What happens if my UCAS status says still waiting?
Can I appeal my A Level grades?
Can my grade go down after a review of marking?
What should parents do on results day?
What should international students do on results day?
Official sources to check
Use official sources for dates, Clearing instructions, grade boundaries, and post-results services.