Every year on A Level results day, Jeremy Clarkson tweets a message to remind students, and to gloat of course that “I got a C and 2 Us and I’m currently building a large house with far reaching views of the Cotswolds”. While Clarkson has made some questionable remarks in his time, this message is an important one for all young people to hear.
In school, it’s easy to get caught in a rut of equating grades with self worth. When teachers anxiously attempt to prod you to revise, and paint good A Levels as the all powerful key that will open doors in your future, the prospect of failure can feel like the end of the world. While good A Levels can indeed form a useful stepping stone that will springboard you to opportunities, there are countless alternative pathways to success that often go unspoken.
Results day is inevitably daunting. The thought of failing to achieve something that you’ve grafted hard for because of a few shaky hours in an exam hall is enough to stress out the calmest of people. If you have a bad case of the results day terrors, remember that a) it is normal and okay to feel worried and b) if things don’t go to plan it is not the end of the world: results day does not define your future. Besides, things will often turn out far better than you expect.
If things do not go your way, ensure you don’t isolate yourself. Chat with your friends or family and teachers and consider the following options.
Go through Clearing
If you are hoping to go to university and miss out on your firm or insurance offer by just one or two grades, it’s worth calling the university to ask if you can still claim your place. If many students who applied there don’t get the grades you could still be in with a chance. Failing this, you can go through clearing and call up any universities with spaces left on courses that appeal to you.
Ask a teacher to guide you through this process on results day. Lots of my friends ended up securing courses through clearing. At first they were disappointed that they didn’t get their top uni choice but, upon attending, they have had a fabulous time and wouldn’t change a thing.
Take a Gap Year
If you don’t get the grades you need to attend the uni (or get the apprenticeship or job) you hoped to, taking some time out to earn some money, travel, pursue your hobbies and think about your next steps could be the best option. There is no point in rushing into things for the sake of it!
Retake your A-levels
As bleak as this may sound, if you are eager to get a degree or apprenticeship and your A levels just don’t cut it, you can always retake your exams next summer. One extra year of studying now could enhance your whole career path going forwards.
Take a Different Path
There are thousands of university degrees, apprenticeships, and jobs out there. Go with the flow, put yourself out there and embrace opportunities and you may find a new pathway you are keen to pursue. Perhaps you can take a foundation year that will boost you onto the degree program you wanted or maybe a degree apprenticeship suits you better than attending traditional university.