The results process
What happens, when, and what your students need to do to avoid delays to their application.
What happens, when, and what your students need to do to avoid delays to their application.
We receive assessment grades and results from many awarding bodies. We then match these to your students’ applications and send them to the universities and colleges that are holding offers for them.
View the list of results we receive and forward to universities and colleges.
It’s really important they send their results/certificates to their firm and insurance choice universities or colleges as soon as they receive them! Unis and colleges will need to see proof of qualifications listed in the ‘Education’ section of their application – this includes GCSEs or National 5s or equivalent.
Applicants can view Confirmation decisions in their application, which is updated continuously except for the periods when we are processing results during the embargo period – ucas.com alerts will give details of when information is available in the lead up to results days.
The 'CU12' Confirmation letter for UCAS Conservatoires applicants will be available in their application.
You can view details of your students’ applications, including Confirmation decisions, in the adviser portal.
At 09:00 (UK time) on 6 August, SQA results day, the adviser portal will open, and your students will be able to access their applications.
The adviser portal will open at 07:00 (UK time) on 15 August to allow you to check the status of your applicants and identify those who may need your support.
You must not under any circumstances disclose the details relating to exam results, application status or mention anything which could be used to infer that information to applicants, parents, guardians, universities and colleges, or with any of your colleagues, who don’t have access to this information through the adviser portal, until the embargo has lifted at 08:00 (UK time) on JCQ results day.
JCQ sets strict controls when giving UCAS privileged early access to results. These extend to universities and colleges who receive results before 15 August and also to all adviser portal users who will have early sight of applicant statuses.
If you access the adviser portal before 08:00 (UK time) on 15 August, you must keep to this embargo arrangement.
In the staff management section of the adviser portal, please review who has permission to view offers and decisions at your school or centre. It is important that anyone who can access this embargoed information is aware of the serious implications of breaching the embargo.
What this means | What applicants can do next |
---|---|
The applicant has received a revised offer and is also holding a conditional offer at another choice. |
Wait for the final decision to be made on their conditional offer. If applicants know their results, they can contact their university or college to discuss why a decision has not yet been made. They might need to send their results to the university or college. If their conditional place is confirmed, they will then need to choose between this and their revised offer. |
What this means | What applicants can do next |
---|---|
Applicants who applied before 30 June and are holding no offers. |
Applicants can use Clearing Plus by clicking the 'View matches' button in their application to see courses they've been matched to, and express an interest in any they’d like to be considered for. Although Clearing Plus is designed to enhance the process of finding another place, it’s important unplaced applicants remain proactive – they can still use our search tool to browse all official Clearing vacancies and contact universities and colleges directly to discuss options as they usually would. If applicants receive an offer they’d like to accept, they can add it as a Clearing choice from 10:00 (UK time) on SQA results day or 13:00 (UK time) on JCQ results day. Their Clearing number will be displayed in their application. |
What this means | What applicants can do next |
---|---|
Applicants who applied after 30 June and have been entered directly into Clearing. |
Applicants can use Clearing Plus by clicking the 'View matches' button in their application, to see courses they've been matched to, and express an interest in any they’d like to be considered for. Although Clearing Plus is designed to enhance the process of finding another place, it’s important unplaced applicants remain proactive – they can still use our search tool to browse all official Clearing vacancies and contact universities and colleges directly to discuss options as they usually would. If applicants receive an offer they’d like to accept, they can add it as a Clearing choice from 10:00 (UK time) on SQA results day or 13:00 (UK time) on JCQ results day. Their Clearing number will be displayed in their application. |
What this means | What applicants can do next |
---|---|
Applicants who have received a revised offer from their chosen university or college – e.g. a change of course, entry year, or campus – but have not replied yet. |
Check their application to view the revised offer, and either accept or decline it. The applicant can phone the university/college to discuss the revised offer if they have any queries. If the applicant accepts a revised offer, they are placed. If the applicant declines the offer, their insurance choice (if they have one) becomes their firm choice. If the applicant does not have an insurance choice, follow the steps for 'Eligible for Extra/Clearing/new choice(s)' above. |
What this means |
What applicants can do next |
---|---|
Their application has been sent to their chosen universities/colleges but decisions have not yet been made. | What applicants can do next:
|
If a student’s grades aren’t what they had hoped for this year, there are a number of options available to them.
They could:
speak to the university or college: They may be flexible, especially if they only narrowly missed their offer, they could still be placed despite not meeting the offer
use Clearing to find a course: Last year, over 75,000 students used Clearing to find a course, and most universities and colleges have vacancies, which they can find using our search tool. Our Clearing Plus service will match students to appropriate courses making it even easier to find the right option for them. Find out more about Clearing.
appeal their grade: They’ll need to discuss this with you – here’s our advice for students on appealing grades.
consider an apprenticeship: Earn a salary while they study – and have their course fees paid by their employer and the government. Read more and find vacancies.
research alternatives to university: For other options, read our advice on internships, gap years, and studying overseas.
Looking after their mental health and wellbeing
For students who didn’t get the grades they wanted, this can be a difficult time. They aren’t alone, and there’s support available to help them look after their mental health and wellbeing.
There are a number of ways you can help your students throughout the exam results process.
Complete our qualifications amendment form straightaway if any of your students’ qualification details change, and let the universities/colleges know too. That includes anything from qualification subjects, modules or units, to awarding/examining bodies and centre numbers. We cannot add or amend predicted grades or units.
It's important to tell us, as it could delay the processing of results. If results can’t be verified, your student might not get their place.
If anything affects your students’ results, we advise the applicant to contact the university or college that's holding their place, either as a firm or insurance choice. They should explain their situation, and provide a supporting letter from their school, college or exam centre (with supporting documentation if necessary, e.g. a letter from the doctor if it’s a medical issue).
Universities and colleges have until 4 September to receive qualification results, unless they specify a different date. If the results aren’t available by this date, they’re not obliged to hold a place. If you know of any results likely to be subject to delay, it’s important to let the university or college know in good time.
Ofqual has announced new deadlines to ensure that awarding organisations issue complete and correct Level 3 vocational and technical qualifications (VTQ) results to students in summer 2023. This includes a deadline for the issue of results by awarding organisations to schools and colleges on Monday 14 August.
Most Level 3 results used for progression to further or higher education will be released to students by Thursday 15 August.
Ofqual has also launched a new information hub for exams officers and subject teachers. The hub brings into one place the key dates awarding organisations set to ensure the timely delivery of Level 3 vocational and technical qualification (VTQ) results used for progression to further study. It is the latest in Ofqual’s package of measures to create parity for VTQ students in summer 2024.
Students have the right to appeal their grade.
Universities and colleges will endeavour to be flexible in keeping places open until an outcome is received. It’s important to keep the universities and colleges informed of any appeals.
There are variations in the appeals process depending where in the UK you are:
Appeals should initially be dealt with by the centre to ensure processes have been followed correctly and there are no errors - any errors can be submitted to the awarding body for correction. If a student still wishes to appeal, they should submit a formal appeal to the awarding body through the school or college.
Ofqual guide for schools and colleges 2024.
After results day, students in Wales may appeal to WJEC if they feel the grade was unreasonable or erroneous.
Full details about the appeals process for the summer 2024 exams series will be made available on the Qualifications Wales website.
Full details about the appeals process for the summer 2024 exams series will be made available on the SQA website.
In the first instance, students should submit an initial appeal request to their centre. If they are unhappy with the outcome, the centre may then appeal to CCEA.
Full details about the Post-Results Service in Northern Ireland will be made available on the CCEA website.
The National Careers Service will be delivering exam results support.
The helpline will be open from Thursday 15 August until Saturday 31 August 2024:
Young people or their parents/carers can contact the helpline on 0800 100 900 to speak to a professionally qualified careers adviser if they need advice on their next steps after receiving results.
SDS Results Helpline number: 0808 100 8000
Opening hours:
If your students are not sure about their next steps and need help to explore their options, SDS's expert careers advisers are at the end of the phone to help them and their parents or carer.
Whatever their results, the advisers can help students make decisions about what’s right for them. They have information on course vacancies at UK colleges and universities, Confirmation and Clearing, advice about Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships, and jobs, volunteering, or staying on at school.