August 2017 - Oodles

You might have pushed it to the back of your mind, been worrying about it all summer or simply have forgotten about it completely. Well, fear not because we’re here to give you the lowdown on GCSE Results Day.

When is GCSE Results Day?

This year, Results Day falls on Thursday 24th August – save the date! You can collect your results from your school or college on Thursday morning. For exact timings, you should contact your school directly or check the school website.

Unable to collect your results in person? Request to receive them via post or have a friend or family member collect them on your behalf. This should be arranged in advance.

How will the new GCSE system affect me?

This year, the 9-1 grading system will only apply to three subjects: Maths, English Language and English Literature, with 9 being the highest grade.

The rest of your subjects will still fall into the A*-U grading system.

Be sure to get clarification from your teachers on Results Day to avoid any confusion.

I just missed out on my grade!

Your teachers will be at your school on GCSE Results Day to give you all the help and advice that you need.

If you narrowly miss out on a grade or feel that it doesn’t reflect your ability you can ask for your paper to be remarked.

Please note: You will have to pay a fee for any remarks which will only be reimbursed if there is a grade change.

So how can I apply for a re-mark?

You should organise GCSE re-mark applications through your school or college.

If you think that your result could be incorrect, you should speak to a teacher asap and they can submit an ‘enquiry about results’ (EAR) to the relevant exam board.

It looks like I’ll need to re-take…

Didn’t get the grades you were hoping for? You will be able to re-sit some GCSE exams in November but it’s best to check with your school for exact re-sit options for your specific subject.

If you think you’ll need to re-sit several subjects, you may have to wait until the following June.

It’s worth that noting that if the re-sit isn’t in a required subject for your chosen courses, you may be able to start your A-levels in the meantime.

I didn’t get the grades I needed for Sixth Form/College – now what?

You’ll probably already know that most Sixth Forms or Further Education colleges require you to get specific grades in order to gain a place.

Just missed out on a grade? The good news is that your Sixth Form or FE college might still accommodate you with the lower grades.

Find out if this is the case or if it’s possible to study a different subject or course at your chosen college.

Alternative options

As important as they are, GCSE results are not the be-all and end-all. Look into the other options available to you if you do not get the grades you need to study A-Levels:

BTECs – A vocational qualification where you obtain skills through practical, work-related activities.
City & Guilds – Vocational and technical qualifications/apprenticeships, helping you to develop skills for career progression.
Apprenticeships – A combination of practical training and study to achieve an end qualification. You will be entitled to the National Minimum Wage.

Remember, whatever your results, there are plenty of options available to you 🙂

Best of luck!

Team Oodles x

So 17th August 2017 marks the all-important A Level Results Day and we’re going to give you the lowdown on what to expect.

You’re welcome!

A Level Results Day – when exactly can I get my results?

Well this depends on whether you’ll be looking online or heading to your school first.

Not everyone realises that you’ll actually be able to view your university confirmation when UCAS Track goes live at 8am. So while you won’t be able to see your exact A Level results, you will be able to see if you’ve met the requirements of your university offer.

Just be warned that a lot of people will be trying to access this at the same time so you may need to try logging in a few times intermittently.

UCAS’ social media team will be around from 6am and the phone-in centre opens at 7.30am.

To find out your exact results, you will still need to collect these from your school or college. Make sure that you know what time you should be at your school to collect your results. The timings can vary between schools but most should have these listed on their websites.

I’ve got my grades, now what?

Happy with your results? Go and celebrate with friends and family!

Not so happy?

No need to panic, you have plenty of options:

If you didn’t miss your grades by much, you should definitely speak to your university right away – they may still accept you! Some universities also offer alternative courses instead, which you’ll need to accept or decline in UCAS Track.
Check your status on Track to find out if you are eligible for Clearing. You can read all about Clearing on the UCAS website here.

Done even better than expected?

It’s a nice problem to have that’s for sure!
Consider applying through UCAS Adjustment, which could see you trading up to a ‘better’ university/course without losing your current offer. Find out more about Adjustment here.

The most important thing to remember is that the decisions you make now are important. Think about what is right for you and try not to feel pressured by anybody else. The more well-informed you are the better.

Good luck!