The anxious wait is finally over - A Level results day has arrived. Thousands of sixth form and college students in the UK will receive their results for their final school exams, along with AS, BTEC and other qualifications, today (Thursday, August 15).
With pupils able to pick up results at school from 8am onwards, the results have already started trickling in. For some, it will be a day of celebration, as they secure the grades necessary for their place at university, college, apprenticeships and other courses. Follow our live blog from throughout the day here.
But for others, things might not quite go to plan - especially because results are expected to be lower this year. This summer’s exams returned in full to pre-pandemic conditions - meaning candidates did not have forewarning about topics or any other help to mitigate for Covid “lost learning” - and exam bosses warned that there could be a drop in A Level grades.
READ MORE: A level results 2024: Grade boundaries for WJEC, AQA, OCR, Edexcel exam boards
READ MORE: A-level results Wales 2024: Updates, celebrations and grade boundaries as students collect their grades
If that's the case for you, don't fret - because Clearing might help you out. As the UCAS website explains, Clearing matches applicants to university places that are yet to be filled. It’s available to anyone who has made a UCAS Undergraduate application and doesn’t hold any offers.
It runs until October 18 and there are certain criteria for eligibility - including not receiving any offers, not wanting to accept your offers, or not meeting the condition of your offers. Historically, Clearing was there to help students who didn’t achieve the required grades to get into the university and the course of their choice and help find them an alternative course.
But now, Clearing supports many prospective students to find the right course for them - including whether they've achieved better than your expected results, changed their mind about your chosen course or university, or are only now deciding to go to university this year.
So, how does Clearing work? The best place to start is to search for vacancies on UCAS search tool. Then, once you've found a course you want to join, it's time to pick up the phone and give the university a call to check you meet the entry requirements and if they still have vacancies.
If they offer you a place and you want to accept it, you'll need to update your choice on your UCAS application, the UCAS website explains. If you're thinking of heading to higher education Wales, we've rounded up all the Clearing information you need for Wales' eight universities.
For University of Wales Trinity Saint David, you'll need to complete their Clearing enquiry form or call their Clearing hotline at 0300 323 1828 to discuss your options and provide details of your A Level qualifications and grades. See more, including opening times for the hotline, on their website.
Cardiff University says UK students should contact their Clearing enquiry centre on 0333 241 2800, while International and EU students should contact the International Clearing team. Click here for more information.
USW says students can call them during their opening hours for help and advice and they welcome calls in Welsh or English. They advise new applicants from the UK to call them on 03455 76 06 06 and new applicants from the EU should call +44 1443 654450. If you've already applied to USW, you should call 03455 654400 if you're from the UK and +44 1443 654450 if you're from the EU. International applicants should call +44 1443 654450.
Call Aberystwyth University's Clearing helpline on 0800 121 4080. See more here.
You can call contact Bangor Uni through their Live Chat to see if they can offer you a place through Clearing. It's open today (Thursday, August 15) and tomorrow (Friday, August 16) between 8am and 7pm. At other times, they say to call their helpline on 0800 085 1818. Read more here.
You can call Swansea Uni's Clearing helpline on 08081753071 and it's open today (Thursday, August 15) from 8am until 8pm. Check out this page on their website if you're applying from overseas. Find our more here.
The Cardiff Met Clearing advice line is now open. You can call it on 0300 330 0755 or contact the team through their Live Chat here. See more information here about the opening hours for the line and chat, and what else you need to do to secure a spot.
You can speak to Wrexham University's clearing team via their live chat, their online clearing form or by calling 01978 293439. See more here.
