What To Do If You Don’t Get Your Grades

07/20/2017
Guest Author
University Advice

It’s A-Level results day. And all being well, you’ll have the grades you need for your course, and will be ready to take your next step in your academic career. But what if you don’t get the grades you’re expecting? What do you need to do on results day on this occasion? The first thing to remember is that you have plenty of options in front of you. Read this handy guide of everything you need to know, so that you’re prepared for your next step. 1. Check UCAS Track at around 8am on results day. If you have not been accepted into your first choice, stay calm and head into school or college to find out what your results are. 2. If you have just missed your grades by a few UMS marks, it could be worth appealing to your first choice. If this is the case, contact the university and discuss this with them as soon as lines open. 3. If your first choice will not accept your lower grades, you have the opportunity to accept your insurance choice. If you’ve met these requirements – job done – your UCAS Track will update soon. 4. If you still want to go to university – and don’t want to re-sit, or take a year out – you have the choice to go into Clearing. 5. Clearing runs from results day to 9 September, and you will be entered automatically if you didn’t get the grades for your first and insurance choices. It allows you to browse university courses that are up for grabs. 6. Talk through with your teachers or advisers and see what they recommend. If you originally only applied for one course at the reduced £12 fee, you’ll have to pay the additional £11 to allow you to apply for multiple courses through Clearing. 7. Search through the Clearing vacancies on the UCAS website, or on your chosen university’s site. How do you choose a UCAS Clearing course that will keep you on-track for the career of your dreams? Use our guide below… 8. Make a shortlist and get calling. Be professional and tell them why they should offer you a place on their course – you’ll also need to provide them with your results and UCAS ID. Keep trying until you are successful. 9. When the university you’re talking to accepts, you’ll get a letter or online notification. You’re officially going to university. 10. Relax, pat yourself on the back, and celebrate!

Guide to choosing a Clearing course

Accounting

Association of Accounting Technicians
Accounting Qualification
Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA)
Certified Accounting Technician qualification (CAT)
AAT Certificate in Bookkeeping

Acting

Drama
Dance
Performing Arts

Advertising

Advertising
Business
Management
Communications
English
Marketing
Communications
Media Studies
Public Relations
Graphic Design
Advertising Design
Illustration
Fine Art

Aerospace Engineering

Other engineering courses, including:
Software engineering
Electronic engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mathematics
Physics

Air Cabin Crew

Hospitality management
Language
Leisure and tourism
Travel

Archaeologist

Archaeology
Ancient History
Geography
History
Sociology

Barrister

Law Degree

Broadcast Journalist

Journalism
Business
Finance
Economics
Politics

Building Surveyor

Economics
Geography
Languages
Mathematics
Science
Social Sciences
Urban and land studies

Call Centre Worker

Business
Management
Finance
Accounting
Languages
Computer science
Engineering

Charity Worker

Business
Management
Finance
Accounting
Languages
Computer science
Engineering

Dance

Ballet
Musical Theatre
Contemporary
Jazz
Commercial Dance
Street

Dietician

Life Sciences
Human Phsyiology
Biochemistry

Digital Marketing

Advertising
Media Studies
Communications
Business
Creative design
E-business
Journalism
Marketing

Ecologist

Life sciences
Biology (specialising in ecology)
Botany
Conversation biology
Environmental biology
Environmental management
Geography
Marine biology
Zoology

Economist

Economics with finance
Economics with law
Economics with management studies
Economics with mathematics
Economics with politics
International economics

Environmental Worker

Chemistry
Ecology
Wildlife Management
Geology or Environmental Engineering
Geography
Geology
Geophysics
Hydrogeology

Estate Agent

Business
Estate Management
Property Development
Surveying
Urban and Land Studies

Events

Business
Event Management
Hotel Management
Catering Management
Leisure and tourism
Marketing

Facilities Manager

Building Management
Business Studies
Construction
Building Services Engineering
Facilities Management
Hospitality
Management
Surveying
Property

Farm Manager

Agricultural Engineering
Crop Management
Harm Business Management
Horticulture
Land or Estate Management

Fashion Designer

Fashion
Textiles
Knitwear
Graphic Design
Clothing Technology
Fashion Marketing
Art and Design

Firefighter

BSc (Hons) Fire and Leadership Studies
BSc (Hons) Fire and Rescue

Forensic Scientist

Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Forensic

Furniture Designer

Furniture Design
Furniture Studies
Product and Furniture Design
Furniture Design and Making
Art and Design
3D Design
Spatial Design
Ceramics and Glass
Furniture Technology
Product Design

Games Developer

Animation
Comouter Games Development
Comouter science
Graphic Design
Interactive Media
Mathematics
Multimedia Design
Phsyics
Software Engineering

GP

Medicine
General Practice Training

Graphic Designer

3D Design
Communications Design
Film/Television
Fine Art
Graphic Design
Illustration
Photography
Visual Art

Health and Safety

Engineering
Environmental Health
Food Technology
Physical and Applied Sciences

Heritage

Administration
Archaeology
Countryside or Estate Management
Education
Geography
Heritage
Museum Studies
History
Library and information Services
Marketing

Hotel Management

Business with Languages
Business
Management
Hotel and Hospitality
Travel
Tourism
Leisure Studies

Human Resources

Business with Languages
Business
Management
Human Resources
Psychology
Social Administration

Illustrator

Graphic Design
Illustration
Fine Art
Visual Art
Fashion
Printmaking

Insurance

Business
Management
Economics
Marketing
Mathematics
Statistics

Interpreter

British Sign Language (BSL)
Interpreting
Deaf Studies
Modern Languages
Translation and interpreting

IT

Business Studies
Computer Science
Software Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Information Systems
Mathematics
Science
Engineering

Magazine/Newspaper Journalist

Journalism
English

Make-up Artist

Fashion
Theatrical and Media Hair and Make-ip
Hair, Make-Up and Prosthetics
Mediam Make-Uup and Character Design
Media Make-Up and Special Effects

Marketing

Advertising
Business
Management
Communications
IT
Computer Science
Marketing
Psychology

Museums

History
History of Art
Languages
English Literature

Nutrition

Dietetics
Food, Nutrition and Health
Public Health Nutrition
Sports Nutrition

Office Manager

Business Administration
Business Management
Computing and Information Technology
Human Resource Management
Management
Public Administration

Paramedic

Paramedic Science
Study While Working

Pharmacologist

Chemistry
Biochemistry
Biology
Biomedical Science
Molecular and Cell Biology
Neuroscience
Pharmacology
Physiology
Toxicology

Photographer

Art and Design
Digital Imaging
Fine Art
Graphics
Media Studies
Photography

Primary School Teacher

Bachelor of Education (BED)
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
Teaching Qualification (TQ)

Production Manager

Biochemistry
Business
Management
Chemistry
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Food Science
Food Technology
Materials Science
Material Technology
Mechanical Engineering
Physics
Process Engineering
Transport
Distribution
Logisitics

Public Relations

English
Creative Writing
Business
Management
Marketing
Social Sciences
Politics

Publishing

Publishing
Publishing Studies
Media
Electronic Media

Quantity Surveyor

Building
Construction
Engineering
Economics
Geography
Mathematics
Urban and Land Studies

Retail

Retail
Business

Sales

Business
Management
Marketing
Computing
Engineering
Technology
Media Studies

Secondary School Teacher

Bachelor of Education (BED)
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
Teaching Qualification (TQ)

Social Work

Legal Studies
Politics
Government
Public Administration
Social Care
Social Sciences

Sports

Health Science
Sport Coaching
Sports Management
Sports Science

Statistics

Economics
Geography
Mathematics
Psychology
Statistics
Epidemiology
Medical Statistics
Public Health

Theatre

Drama
Theatre Studies
Theatre Production
Professional Practice
Stage Management
Performing Arts
Music

Tourism

Tourism Management
Marketing
Business
Management
Journalism
Modern Language
Marketing
Media Studies
European Studies
Urban and Rural Regeneration

Translation

Business with Languages
Law with Languages
Modern European and Non-European Languages
Science with Languages
Translation Studies with Languages

Web Design

Computer Science
Digital Media Production
Fine Art
Graphic Design
Information Technology
Multimedia Web Design
Software Engineering
Web Design

Writing

Communication and Media Studies
Creative Writing
English and Literature Studies
Journalism
Performing Arts

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