Thursday 13 August 2026
A-level results day
A-level results and Clearing
A-level results day 2026 and Clearing: what to do next
A calm step-by-step guide for students: when results come out, what UCAS Hub means, how to use Clearing, and what to do about reviews, appeals, resits, finance and accommodation.
Current answer
When is A-level results day 2026?
A-level results day 2026 is Thursday 13 August. UCAS lists Qualifications Scotland results day separately as Tuesday 4 August 2026, so Scottish qualification timelines need separate wording even when applicants use UCAS.
For A-level and AS results, AQA says schools and colleges can give students results slips from 8.00am on the Thursday. Your own school or college still decides exactly how and when you receive your results.
The most important split is simple: your school or college gives you your grades; UCAS Hub shows your application status and next steps. That status may confirm your firm place, confirm your insurance place, show that you are in Clearing, or show that a provider is still making a decision.
Results day checklist: what to do before, during and after the morning
Use this as a calm running order. You may not need every step, but it helps to know what each stage is for before the day starts.
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Before results day
Check your UCAS sign-in details, keep your phone charged, confirm your school or college’s results arrangements, and make sure your contact details are up to date.
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Have key numbers ready
Save your UCAS Personal ID, any Clearing number shown in UCAS Hub, course codes, university phone numbers and a place to write notes.
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Check UCAS Hub for status, not grades
UCAS Hub can show what has happened to your university application, but it is not your full A-level results slip.
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Collect or receive your grades
Follow your school or college arrangements. Once you have your grades, compare them with your firm and insurance conditions before making calls or decisions.
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If your place is confirmed
Read the provider’s next-step information carefully. You may need to act on accommodation, joining instructions or finance updates if anything has changed.
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If UCAS still says waiting
Do not assume the worst. UCAS says “your application can take up to 24 hours to update.” — UCAS
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If you are in Clearing
Search for available courses, call universities or colleges directly, take careful notes, and add a Clearing choice only after you have an offer.
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After a change of course or provider
Check accommodation and student finance next steps. Finance processes differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so avoid assuming one UK-wide process applies to everyone.
Your results vs UCAS Hub: what each one tells you
A lot of results-day panic comes from expecting one place to show everything. These three sources of information do different jobs.
Comparison of school or college results, UCAS Hub and university or college provider decisions.
| Where to look | What it shows | What to do with it |
|---|---|---|
School or college | Your A-level grades and results slip, plus any local advice on post-results services. | Collect or receive your grades through the arrangement your centre has given you. |
UCAS Hub | Application status and next steps, such as firm confirmed, insurance confirmed, still waiting, a changed-course offer, or Clearing. | Use the status to decide whether to wait, call a provider, accept or decline a changed offer, or begin Clearing. |
University or college | Whether it can confirm your place, whether it needs more information, or whether it can make you a Clearing offer. | Contact the provider when UCAS or the provider tells you to, or when you are making a Clearing enquiry. |
What your UCAS status means and what to do next
Read the wording in UCAS Hub carefully. The same grades can lead to different next steps depending on your firm, insurance and provider decisions.
UCAS application status scenarios and practical next actions for students on A-level results day 2026.
| Status or situation | What it usually means | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
Waiting for confirmation | The provider may still be processing results, waiting for another qualification, or deciding after lower-than-required grades. | Check whether UCAS receives your qualification automatically. Watch for provider updates and contact the provider if it asks for information or if the wait becomes urgent. |
Placed at firm choice | Your firm provider has confirmed your place. | Read the provider’s joining information and check finance, accommodation and enrolment tasks. |
Placed at insurance choice | You have not been placed at your firm choice, but your insurance provider has confirmed your place. | Read the insurance provider’s instructions and update any practical arrangements that depend on the provider or course. |
Not placed at firm or insurance | You are in Clearing. | Start searching courses, call universities or colleges directly, and add a Clearing choice only once you have an offer. |
Changed-course offer | A provider may offer a different course, start date or point of entry. | Read the course title, code, start date and conditions carefully before accepting or declining. |
Review or appeal being considered | A grade may be checked after results, but the university is not automatically told that a review has been requested. | Speak to your school or college first, then contact the university straightaway to ask what it can do while you wait. |
How UCAS Clearing works on A-level results day
Clearing is a normal part of university admissions. UCAS says: “More than 50,000 students find their places through Clearing every year.” — UCAS
The safest order is search, call, receive an offer, then add the choice.
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Search available courses
UCAS says students can check available courses from 2 July. Keep an open mind about related courses, different providers and foundation years if they fit your plans.
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Contact universities or colleges directly
Call or use the provider’s Clearing contact method. Be ready to explain your grades, why the course interests you and how quickly you can respond.
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Get an offer before adding a choice
UCAS puts this clearly: “Once you have an offer, add it in your application so the university or college can officially accept you.” — UCAS
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Add the Clearing choice at the right time
For students applying through Clearing on JCQ results day, UCAS says a Clearing choice can be added from 13:00 on 13 August 2026 after an offer. For Qualifications Scotland results day, UCAS lists 10:00 on 4 August 2026.
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Wait for official acceptance
Once the provider accepts you in UCAS, read the next-step information and update practical arrangements such as accommodation and finance where needed.
Before you call universities in Clearing
UCAS recommends preparing before you call. A few minutes of organisation can make the call calmer and more useful.
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UCAS details
Your UCAS Personal ID and Clearing number, if one appears in UCAS Hub.
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Grades and points
Your A-level grades, any other relevant qualifications and UCAS Tariff points if the course uses them.
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Course details
University or college name, phone number, course title, course code and any similar courses you would consider.
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Your reasons
Two or three honest points about why the subject, course structure or provider fits your interests and plans.
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Questions to ask
Ask what offer is being made, how long it is valid for, what you need to do next, and whether accommodation or start-date details differ.
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Notes space
Write down who you spoke to, the time of the call, the course code, what was offered and any deadline you were given.
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A quiet place to speak
UCAS advises that the student should speak to the university or college directly, not hand the call over to a parent or guardian.
Call script: asking whether your place can be held
A short script if a review could affect your place
Your grade may be reviewed and you need to ask a university or college whether anything can be held while you wait.
Hello, my name is [name] and my UCAS Personal ID is [ID]. I have an offer for [course]. My results are [grades], and I am speaking to my school or college about whether a review of marking is appropriate. Could you tell me whether my place can be held while this is considered, what evidence you need from me, and who I should update as soon as I know more?
It gives the provider the information it needs, asks what is possible, and avoids assuming that a place will be held.
Reviews, appeals and resits: what each option means
Plain-English definitions of post-results services and resit options.
| Option | What it means | What to watch out for |
|---|---|---|
Access to Scripts | Your centre can request a copy of your marked work, often to help decide whether a review of marking is worth requesting. | Permission is normally needed, and your school, college or exam centre controls the process for most students. |
Clerical re-check | A check that all parts of the script were marked and that marks were totalled and recorded correctly. | It is an administrative check, not a new judgement of every answer. |
Review of marking | A review of whether the mark scheme was applied correctly. JCQ says reviewers do not re-mark the script from scratch. | Marks and grades can go up, stay the same or go down, so written consent is needed. |
Appeal | A further challenge after review processes where eligible concerns remain. | Processes and responsible organisations differ by nation, awarding body and candidate status. |
Resit | Retaking exams in a later series. | For Ofqual-regulated AS and A levels, resits generally mean waiting until the following summer and retaking all exam components. |
Key 2026 post-results deadlines to know
These JCQ and Ofqual timings are especially relevant if a grade may affect a university place. Your school, college or exam centre can explain fees, forms and consent steps.
Key 2026 deadlines for JCQ post-results services and Ofqual priority review context.
| Deadline or timing | 2026 timing | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
GCE AS and A-level results issued | 13 August 2026 | Post-results services can be requested after results are issued through centres. |
Priority Service 2 review request deadline | 20 August 2026 | This is designed for urgent cases, often where a higher education place may depend on the outcome. |
Standard clerical re-check and review deadline | 24 September 2026 | Leaving it late can limit what can be done before a provider needs a decision. |
JCQ completion times | 10 calendar days for Service 1, 20 for Service 2 and 15 for Priority Service 2 | Use these as planning times, not guarantees that a university place will be held. |
Ofqual priority review aim | Awarding organisations aim to complete priority reviews by 3 September 2026 | Contact the university or college while you wait; awarding bodies do not tell UCAS that a review has been requested. |
Key terms you may see on results day
These short definitions can help you read UCAS, school, college and exam-board wording without guessing.
A-level results day
The day students receive A-level results from their school or college and universities confirm decisions through UCAS for conditional offers.
UCAS Hub
The UCAS account area where applicants check application status and next steps; it is not the same as receiving your exam-grade slip from school or college.
Firm choice
The university or college offer you accepted as your first choice; if you meet the conditions and the provider confirms, it becomes your place.
Insurance choice
The backup offer you may be placed at if you miss your firm conditions but meet the insurance conditions.
Clearing
UCAS’s process for finding courses with places available when you are applying late, have no suitable offers, miss offer conditions or decline a firm place.
Clearing choice
The course you add in UCAS Hub after speaking to a university or college and receiving a Clearing offer.
Decline my place
A UCAS Hub option for students who no longer want an unconditional firm place and want to enter Clearing; using it can cancel the place, contract and related arrangements.
Access to Scripts
A post-results service that lets a centre request a copy of marked work, often to help decide whether a review of marking is worth requesting.
Clerical re-check
A post-results check that all parts of the script were marked and that marks were totalled and recorded correctly.
Review of marking
A post-results review of the original marking to check whether the mark scheme was applied correctly; it is not a full re-mark from scratch.
Appeal
A further challenge after review processes where eligible concerns remain; the process and responsible body can differ by nation, exam board and candidate status.
Resit
Retaking exams in a later series. For AS and A levels regulated by Ofqual, resits generally mean waiting until the following summer and retaking all exam components.
Sources used for this guide
Date-sensitive results-day guidance needs official sources. These are the main sources used for the facts, definitions and service details above.
- Open source
UCAS: A level results day
- Open source
UCAS: What your application status means
- Open source
UCAS: Still waiting for your place to be confirmed?
- Open source
UCAS: Three simple ways to find your Clearing place
- Open source
UCAS: Top tips for calling universities during Clearing
- Open source
UCAS: Declining your firm place
- Open source
AQA: Results days
- Open source
JCQ: Post results
- Open source
Ofqual: What to do if you think there is a mistake in your results
- Open source
Qualifications Wales: Exam results
- Open source
CCEA: Post-Results Services
- Open source
UCAS: Appealing your grades
- Open source
GOV.UK: Apply online for student finance
- Open source
Latimer Tuition: Find a Tutor
- Open source
Latimer Tuition: How online tutoring works
Related guidance
More guidance from this section
More guidance from this part of the Ed Centre that may help with the same decision, stage or next step.
Results day and next steps guides for students
Clear student guides for what to do after GCSE, AS and A level results, including post-results services, appeals, resits and academic next steps.
Reviews of marking and appeals for GCSEs and A levels
A student guide to the official post-results options after GCSE, AS and A level results, including reviews of marking, access to scripts, appeals, consent and deadlines.
GCSE results day 2026: what happens and what to do next
GCSE results day for the June 2026 series is Thursday 20 August 2026. Learn how to get your results, understand your slip and decide what to do next if your grades affect sixth form, college, apprenticeships or resits.
Support and clarity
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions people ask most often.
When is A-level results day 2026?
A-level results day 2026 is Thursday 13 August. UCAS lists Qualifications Scotland results day separately as Tuesday 4 August 2026, so Scottish qualification timelines need separate wording.
What time do A-level results come out?
AQA says schools and colleges can give students A-level and AS results slips from 8.00am on Thursday 13 August 2026. Your own school or college decides the exact collection or release arrangement.
Can I see my A-level results on UCAS?
No. Your school or college gives you your grades. UCAS Hub shows your application status and next steps, such as whether your firm or insurance choice has confirmed your place.
What time does UCAS update on results day?
There is not one universal answer for every status. UCAS says an application can take up to 24 hours to update. For students applying through Clearing on JCQ results day, UCAS says a Clearing choice can be added from 13:00 on 13 August 2026 after an offer.
How does Clearing work on A-level results day?
Search available courses, contact universities or colleges directly, get an offer, then add the Clearing choice in UCAS Hub so the provider can officially accept you. Do not add a Clearing choice before you have an offer.
Should I decline my firm place to use Clearing?
Only if you are sure you no longer want your confirmed firm place and understand the consequences. UCAS warns that using Decline my place cancels the place and contract and may affect accommodation or scholarships.
Can my marks go down after a review of marking?
Yes. Ofqual and JCQ warn that marks and grades can go up, stay the same or go down, and written consent is needed before many post-results requests. A review of marking is not a full re-mark from scratch.
When can I resit A-levels?
For qualifications regulated by Ofqual in England, AS and A-level exams generally take place in May or June, so resits usually mean waiting until the following summer. Speak to your school, college or exam centre about entries, components and any non-exam assessment.
Sources and references
Sources and references
Official guidance
- 1.UCAS
2026 results-day date, UCAS Hub/results flow and preparation guidance.
- 2.UCAS
UCAS application status scenarios including firm, insurance, waiting, Clearing and changed-course offers.
- 3.UCAS
Reasons a place may still be pending and UCAS update timing.
- 4.UCAS
Clearing search, offer and add-choice process, including results-day add-choice timing.
- 5.UCAS
Clearing call preparation and student self-advocacy advice.
- 6.UCAS
Decline my place consequences and release into Clearing caution.
- 7.UCAS
Appealing grades and contacting universities while awaiting outcomes.
- 8.AQA
A-level/AS results-day timing through schools and colleges.
- 9.JCQ
JCQ post-results service definitions, deadlines, consent and completion times.
- 10.Ofqual
Ofqual guidance on mistakes in results, reviews, appeals, private candidates and resits in England.
- 11.Ofqual
Ofqual 2026 student guide context for regulated qualifications in England.
- 12.Qualifications Wales
Wales qualification-regulator context for exam-results scope.
- 13.CCEA
Northern Ireland post-results service context and centre-submitted requests.
- 14.GOV.UK
Student-finance home-nation signposting; used only for broad scope caution.
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