For parents and caregivers: how to support your child on level 3 results day

Results day is a major event, and for your child, it might feel like the rest of their life hinges on whatever’s in that envelope. This isn’t the case, though – there are always options. And whether your child receives higher or lower results than expected on the big day, this guide will help you to understand those options and support them through their next steps.

If your child gets lower results than expected 

Offer support and encouragement

Reassure them that low results don’t have to be the end of their academic dreams, and they haven’t let anyone down. Allow them some time to be upset if that’s how they feel; then, when they’re ready, encourage them to start thinking about their next steps. 

Log onto UCAS Track

This is the best way for your child to see if they’ve been accepted by their firm or insurance university. Some universities will still accept a student with lower grades if they have places available. 

Apply through Clearing

If your child hasn’t been accepted by their firm or insurance university, they’ll automatically be entered into Clearing along with thousands of others who didn’t quite get their expected results for tons of different reasons. Here’s what to do next:

• If they haven’t already, encourage your child to create a list of alternative courses and cities. They can do this using Unifrog’s Clearing tool, where they can use the rank and filter options to find the right course for them. UCAS will also match them with courses and universities that seem suitable (based on things like their results, their initial choices, and what the universities are looking for).
• They should then check if the vacancies are still live by calling the universities directly or checking their websites.
• Once they’ve reached a decision, they should apply as soon as possible directly through the university. When they speak with the university, they’ll need their exam results and Personal Statement to hand in case the university asks questions about their suitability.
• If a university makes an offer, your child will need to add their Clearing choice in UCAS Track using the ‘Add Clearing choice’ button. They won’t be able to reject a Clearing choice once they’ve added it, so it’s important that they make this choice carefully. Once they’ve added it, the university will send information on what to do next.

Explore the alternatives

If your child isn’t able to find a course through Clearing, or they want to reconsider university altogether, help them to explore all their options. They could, for example, take a year out to work, retake their exams, or start an apprenticeship to get some hands-on experience. 

Here are some guides that might help them to reach a decision: 

• Is a UK apprenticeship right for me?
• University and apprenticeships: what’s the difference? 
• A guide to degree apprenticeships 
• A guide to gap years 
• Work abroad: 5 reasons to make it happen
• Volunteering: why it matters and how to start 
• Seven careers you can go into without qualifications

If your child gets higher results than expected 

That’s fantastic news! And unless they want it to, nothing will change.

If they do want to change their university or course, and if there are vacancies, they can use Clearing to do so. 

Is it always a good idea to choose a new course or university? 

Put simply, no. With higher results than expected, your child might be able to use Clearing to apply for a course with higher entry requirements. 

But before they do, there are a few things they should consider: 

• A higher-ranked university won’t necessarily be better for them. Course content, teaching and assessment style, workplace opportunities, facilities, contact hours,  and location are all still important factors. So a lower-ranked university that meets all your child’s needs might still be better for them than a higher-ranked university that doesn’t.
• If they accept a new place through Clearing, they might not have the time to visit universities or research them thoroughly.
• They can only accept one offer through Clearing. And they won’t be able to reject a Clearing choice once they’ve added it, so it’s important that they make this choice carefully. 

How to choose a new course or university

If your child does change their mind about what or where they want to study, here’s what to do next: 

• Advise them not to reject their firm choice straight away (once they do, they can’t get it back!). Instead, they should keep it live while they explore their options.
• Encourage them to research their options carefully and thoroughly, and to create a shortlist using Unifrog’s UK universities tool or Clearing tool.
• If they decide they want to use Clearing to apply for a new course, they should get in touch with the university’s admissions team to see if there are any vacancies, and to check if they meet the conditions. They’ll need to have their Personal Statement and results to hand, and tell the admissions team that they’re applying through Clearing.
• If the university gives your child an offer and they want to accept it, the university will add themselves to their UCAS Track. Your child can only accept one offer, so advise them to contact universities in order of where they most want to go! The new university will then send them a confirmation letter and registration information.

If your child is feeling anxious about results day 

Encourage them to talk about what specifically is worrying them. If it’s something fairly simple, like ‘I don’t know where to get my results’, you can find the answer together and figure out a plan for the day. 

If it’s something bigger, like ‘what if I’ve done really badly’, then you can have a conversation about it:

• Reassure your child that, no matter what their results are, they won’t let anyone down – you (and the rest of their family) will continue to be proud of their efforts.
• Remind them that they won’t have to open their results in college/sixth form or in front of everyone – they can choose exactly how, when, and where they want to do it.
• Reassure them that if they achieve lower results than expected, there are plenty of options (we list them above).

It can help to plan something relaxing for the night before they get their results. You could, for example, watch a film together with some snacks, do some baking, listen to some music, play a game, or do something active like bowling. Encourage your child to avoid social media if possible, as their friends’ worries about results day might increase their own. 

It can also help to plan a treat for after the big day – one that will go ahead regardless of the results they achieve.