Bad A-level Results? Here’s What To Do Next!

So, results day is round the corner and it’s a very nervy time for everyone, whatever the outcome!

Of course, there’s a lot of pressure surrounding your 2022 A-level results, especially if you’re set on going to your chosen university.

Whilst some of you may have a few bevs to celebrate your results, others may feel a little disappointed and disheartened with the outcome.

We’re here to reassure you that whatever happens, it isn’t the end of the world, although it may feel like it.

What do I do if I have bad A-Level results?

There are plenty of options you can take if you don’t get the results you wanted, and some of these may end up being the best choices you’ve ever made!

We’ve gathered 8 different routes you can take if you receive bad A Level results in 2022 – let’s dive in!

1. Clearing

Although you may not have got the marks you require for your first or reserve choice at university, that doesn’t mean that uni is completely off the cards!

Why not register for UCAS clearing? Running from 5th July- 18th October, clearing allows you to see which university courses have remaining spaces.

Don’t worry though, you won’t be on your own! Thousands of students go through clearing, and it’s a super simple and reassuring process.

You can apply for clearing if:

  • You didn’t receive any offers (or any you wanted to accept)
  • You didn’t meet the conditions of your offers
  • You’ve declined your firm place using the ‘decline my place’ button in Track

A snazzy feature UCAS have introduced is ‘Clearing Plus’, where UCAS will personally match you to courses that you may be interested in, using what they know from your application, pretty cool right?

Click on ‘my matches’ in Track, and this will take you to over 50 courses that match your application, you can then tell each uni if you’re interested in their course.

Don’t worry if you still fancy something different though, you can still find courses available in the clearing search tool!

2. Gap Year

Have you ever thought about taking a gap year?

A gap year gives you the chance to gain skills and experiences, as well as the time to focus on what you want to do next.

Of course, a year out doesn’t suit everyone, but it’s definitely an option if you feel like you’re not quite ready for uni life.

You could also use this time to gain relevant work experience for a particular career or subject you plan on studying in the future!

The best part is, in some cases, work experience can lead to a potential full-time career if you play your cards right.

3. Resit

You could resit your A-levels if you don’t do quite as well as you hoped!

Unfortunately, the administrative cost of retaking A-level exams can be pretty expensive, and there’s still no guarantee you’ll get what you’re after. 

A cheaper alternative is to usually take them at your old college or exam centre, but you’ll have to wait until the summer to resit the whole A-level.

The good news is, you can submit old coursework, and in some instances even request the coursework grade to be carried over!

Once you’ve decided to resit your A-levels, the prep and hard work begins…

4. Get A Professional Qualification

Recently, there’s been a rise in the number of vocational courses being taken, which provide a much more hands-on experience as opposed to just theory.

There are thousands of vocational qualifications such as nursing, plumbing, and gardening, the more experience you have, the more chance you have at being hired!

5. Learn On The Job

Work experience is key when bagging yourself a full-time job! You need to remember that there are many types of careers that you don’t actually need a degree for.

It’s definitely worth investigating a field you’re interested in, to see if there are any entry-level openings!

6. Become An Apprentice

Apprenticeships are also super handy because they let you get on the job training as well as studying for qualifications at the same time.

They usually take between one and three years to complete, and are made up of three parts, all completed on the job, online, or in a classroom!

Each apprenticeship trains you for a specific job, so it’s really worth finding out as much as you can about the job as well as career progression so you can level up, right?

Did you know? Your apprenticeships should work at least 30 hours a week, alongside experienced staff, gaining job-specific skills and earning a wage.

7. Go Travelling

Why not use this time to go and see the world? Whether you go alone, or with your pals, travelling is always an amazing experience!

Firstly, you need to plan where you’d like to go, and double check on the government’s foreign travel advice for specific countries.

It’s also worth checking the best time of year to travel, do your research to discover whether there are any seasonal weather conditions you’ll need to account for.

Whether you opt for classical backpacking with your mates and plan it all yourself, or go for a complete package that offers the trip off the shelf, you’re still bound to have loads of fun!

8. Remain Positive!

We know this may sound super cliché, but the most important thing to do is stay as positive as possible.

Just because you didn’t get the A-level results you were hoping for, doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world, although it may feel like it.

Our fingers are crossed for you! Keep positive 🙂

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