August 5, 2026 • 11 mins
A-level results day is here again. It can be both exciting and stressful, so this week Nadine Payne, group director of careers, opportunities and progression for the Eastern Education Group joins us to talk through your options, how to navigate the day and when to start celebrating (it’s earlier than you think!).
What to do on A-level results day: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/applying-for-university/getting-into-university/what-to-do-on-a-level-results-day/
Explore clearing: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/applying-for-university/getting-into-university/university-clearing/
Watch our episode on Clearing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCX7KR9COWM&t=995s
---
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProspectsJisc
📜 Episode transcripts: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/podcasts/future-you-podcast-transcripts
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Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
It's what you can do before, results day,
(00:02):
It's what you can do before, results day,
but I think can help to sort of helpwith those nerves.
in clearing so that, you know,you've got options, because on the day
in clearing so that, you know,you've got options, because on the day
you'll have a range of emotions
go taking hold, panic sets in.
If you haven't got the resultsthat you were looking for, for example,
and you feel like there's this mad dash.
and you feel like there's this mad dash.
The Early Careers and Student advicepodcast brought to you by prospects.
(00:22):
Hi, I'm Nadine Painand I'm the group director
for careers, opportunities and progressionwithin the Eastern Education Group.
for careers, opportunities and progressionwithin the Eastern Education Group.
Perfect.
So we're talking all about A-level resultstoday.
So we're basically going to work our waythrough the day
and figure out all the variousdifferent outcomes that can come from it.
So to begin with A-level results day,
(00:45):
the students should know when that isand where they're expected to be.
So to begin with, you've arrivedand you've got
the grades that you were expected to get.
What happens next?
So I think from an A-level results daypoint of view,
no matter how you're feeling,whether or not that's anxious and.
(01:09):
Excited to find out what you've got.
I think the first thing to say isthat we've got you.
So you will have lots of different optionsahead of you,
and you've got a range of staffwithin your six
or more college that are there to help youwith those options.
If you've got your resultsthat you're expecting, congratulations.
(01:30):
Well done. You smashed it.
And essentially everything will happenfor you automatically.
So if you're applying for universityand you've got your Ucas application in,
then essentiallyyou will get your firm offer
and then the universitieswill be in contact with you shortly
to ask you about your accommodationand give you lots of information
(01:53):
about whatto do in terms of arrivals and so forth.
So I think it's time to celebratewith your friends and family.
I know your college or sixth
form will be really keen to see you,so please go in and see them.
They'll want to celebrateand share that with you.
And then I think, yeah, go out, celebrate
(02:14):
with your friendsand forward to all of those next steps.
Yeah. Very exciting.
So you've opened the envelopeand you didn't get what you expected?
Yeah.
So at this particular point, you might befeeling disappointed, nervous, anxious.
And as I said, this is the point.
To come in, be with the staff.
(02:36):
There
will be a range of different professionalsthere that have got experience in this
to help you.
It isn't the end of the world.
That's the first thing to say, that you may find again, if you've applied
to university, that you've still gotyour firm or insurance offer.
So that's the first thingto check on a Ucas portal.
(02:59):
Have a lookat whether or not you've been accepted.
And if you haven't, thenthere are going to be plenty of options
within the clearing with Ucasto to look at.
Yeah. Perfect.
And we will have a clearing episodecoming out for more information on that.
So what if you didbetter than you expected.
(03:20):
So we go. Congratulations.
And I think that that reallyis a personal choice then, isn't it?
I think
if you've done better than you expectedand you're happy with where you're going.
Then again, that's all going to happenautomatically for you.
If you sit there and you think, well,actually I want to reevaluate my options,
then there are, again, lots of differentpathways that you can take, and the staff
(03:43):
within your sixth form and collegewill be there to help you with that
and take some guidance.
You've got time to considerwhat you want to do.
So again, it might be lookingat clearing as an option
because there will be placeswhere you can kind of
obviously take those grades to andand move on to if you wish.
(04:04):
So yeah, lots of options. Yeah. Fantastic.
And if you're not sure what you want todo, what's what are the options for you.
So again it's talking to the professionalsin the school teachers
and the careerstaff booking for a meeting.
They'll be there on results day thereto help you and have that discussion.
(04:24):
You've got time to consider.
And it could be that you know you want to.
You haven't made an applicationfor university,
but now you've got your grades and you canobviously go into the clearing system
for that.
You might be thinkingthat you want to take a gap year,
and that's completely natural,and it gives you that time and space
to really think about it.
If you are thinking of a gap year,I would really recommend
(04:46):
making the most of that year though.
Yeah,
so it could be that you want to travelor you want to earn money for next year.
And if you're not sureabout which step to take,
get some really valuable work experience.
That's really key in today's job market.
And when you're making applications,whether it's for an apprenticeship
or university,those skills are really in demand.
(05:09):
Yeah, absolutely.
So quick tips for the day as a whole.
What time should you arrive?
So you would have been told
by your sixth form or your collegeas to what time the college is open.
Lots of six forms and collegeshave now taken the approach
of emailing your resultsto you in in advance.
(05:29):
And I think that takes some of thethe fun, the glamor and.
Yeah, absolutely.
So I would really recommend going ineven if you have had your results
email to you and you know exactly what's happening in
terms of your university choicesand things like that, your staff
will want to be thereto celebrate with you and to support you.
(05:52):
It's a really good opportunityto see your friends and celebrate
with them as well.
So which ever way your school or sixthform college communicate with you?
I think go in.
They'll normally be open from half eight9:00, and they'll be there all day
to support youwith any particular choices that you have.
(06:13):
Yeah, that sounds like a solid resourceto like tap into, if you're nervous.
So I suppose emailing ahead of timedampens those nerves in a way,
because you're not unveiling an envelopelive on the radio
like we did back in our day.
But if you are feeling nervous.
What advice do you have?
I think there's there's two stages to it.
(06:35):
It's what you can do before, results day,
but I think can help to sort of helpwith those nerves.
So regardless of whether orhow you think your exams have gone,
I always suggest to our studentsto have a look at what is open there
in clearing so that, you know,you've got options, because on the day
(06:56):
you'll have a range of emotions
go taking hold, panic sets in.
If you haven't got the resultsthat you were looking for, for example,
and you feel like there's this mad dash.
So actually have a lookin the sort of weeks preceding.
So clearing opens from the 2nd of July.
So have a look at what's on offer, a range of different universities,
(07:20):
a range of different subjects
that maybe are linked to the thingthat you originally interested in and,
and have those ready so that when you open your envelope,
no matter what the situationis, you've already got a plan in place.
Yeah. Amazing.
And do you need to bring anythingwith you?
(07:40):
Be prepared in any way.
You ready with a Ucas login?
As long as you've gotthat, you're going to go.
Yeah. Amazing.
Some friends and family for support.
Yeah, definitely.
So then yeah, I suppose we would just moveinto this, reassurance section where
it probably feels like if
(08:00):
you've gone from your primary education,your secondary education, you've completed
your A-levels, there's still potentialfurther education to go to.
But it must feel very overwhelming
in that momentthat this is your whole life.
But is it is your whole life
(08:22):
based on you opening that envelopeor that email?
Absolutely not.
So you are so much more than the gradesthat are on that piece of paper.
And no matter what those results are,
you're going to move onto an amazing pathway that isn't linear.
I don't think anybody that you speakto in industry or in whatever job
(08:46):
that they're doing, has probably thoughtthat they would be doing that job,
and they were younger.
Today, in today's job world, people
will move from one sector to another
seamlessly because it's all aboutthe skills that you build up.
So I would say
I totally understandhow overwhelming that day is,
(09:07):
but it is just the stepping stone to a really exciting future.
Yeah, absolutely.
That's a really nice way of putting it.
That's a really nice way of putting it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah,that was very succinct and very good.
Yeah. Was there anything elseto say around that?
I suppose, like,I really want to just drum home how
it feels so important in the moment.
(09:30):
But two years after you've openedthat envelope, you forget the envelope
even existed? Yeah, absolutely.
It is like your GCSEs.
Once you've doneGCSEs, it's about what your A-levels were.
You're, you know.
So therefore when you, move onto do your degree
or you've got your first job, for example,nobody's actually going to
(09:52):
look at your A-levels for again,you know, dare I say it? No.
But like hours and hours is, but most people won't even ask you
about those A-levelsbecause it's, it's just
that stepping stone to thatnext thing that you're going to do.
And if they if your results weren'tas you expected,
there are so many different routesinto the career that you want to go into.
(10:16):
So it might mean taking a foundation
year, for example,and taking a sort of slower pathway.
But if you really want to gointo that career in that sector,
there will be options for you to do that.
Amazing.
Any other final bits of advice.
No. Try and get a good night'ssleep the night before.
(10:37):
But you know
might be asking too much.
I know you'll be nervous.
So go out with friends and familythe night before.
Often people will celebrate on the day.
She think it's really niceto go out the night before, because
you put all of that hard work inand that's what really matters.
So if you tried your best.
It really doesn't matterwhat's on on that page.
(11:00):
Yeah. Brilliant.
Amazing. Well,thank you so much for your time today.
Thank you.
It's what you can do before, results day,
(00:02):
It's what you can do before, results day,
but I think can help to sort of helpwith those nerves.
in clearing so that, you know,you've got options, because on the day
in clearing so that, you know,you've got options, because on the day
you'll have a range of emotions
go taking hold, panic sets in.
If you haven't got the resultsthat you were looking for, for example,
and you feel like there's this mad dash.
and you feel like there's this mad dash.
The Early Careers and Student advicepodcast brought to you by prospects.
(00:22):
Hi, I'm Nadine Painand I'm the group director
for careers, opportunities and progressionwithin the Eastern Education Group.
for careers, opportunities and progressionwithin the Eastern Education Group.
Perfect.
So we're talking all about A-level resultstoday.
So we're basically going to work our waythrough the day
and figure out all the variousdifferent outcomes that can come from it.
So to begin with A-level results day,
(00:45):
the students should know when that isand where they're expected to be.
So to begin with, you've arrivedand you've got
the grades that you were expected to get.
What happens next?
So I think from an A-level results daypoint of view,
no matter how you're feeling,whether or not that's anxious and.
(01:09):
Excited to find out what you've got.
I think the first thing to say isthat we've got you.
So you will have lots of different optionsahead of you,
and you've got a range of staffwithin your six
or more college that are there to help youwith those options.
If you've got your resultsthat you're expecting, congratulations.
(01:30):
Well done. You smashed it.
And essentially everything will happenfor you automatically.
So if you're applying for universityand you've got your Ucas application in,
then essentiallyyou will get your firm offer
and then the universitieswill be in contact with you shortly
to ask you about your accommodationand give you lots of information
(01:53):
about whatto do in terms of arrivals and so forth.
So I think it's time to celebratewith your friends and family.
I know your college or sixth
form will be really keen to see you,so please go in and see them.
They'll want to celebrateand share that with you.
And then I think, yeah, go out, celebrate
(02:14):
with your friendsand forward to all of those next steps.
Yeah. Very exciting.
So you've opened the envelopeand you didn't get what you expected?
Yeah.
So at this particular point, you might befeeling disappointed, nervous, anxious.
And as I said, this is the point.
To come in, be with the staff.
(02:36):
There
will be a range of different professionalsthere that have got experience in this
to help you.
It isn't the end of the world.
That's the first thing to say, that you may find again, if you've applied
to university, that you've still gotyour firm or insurance offer.
So that's the first thingto check on a Ucas portal.
(02:59):
Have a lookat whether or not you've been accepted.
And if you haven't, thenthere are going to be plenty of options
within the clearing with Ucasto to look at.
Yeah. Perfect.
And we will have a clearing episodecoming out for more information on that.
So what if you didbetter than you expected.
(03:20):
So we go. Congratulations.
And I think that that reallyis a personal choice then, isn't it?
I think
if you've done better than you expectedand you're happy with where you're going.
Then again, that's all going to happenautomatically for you.
If you sit there and you think, well,actually I want to reevaluate my options,
then there are, again, lots of differentpathways that you can take, and the staff
(03:43):
within your sixth form and collegewill be there to help you with that
and take some guidance.
You've got time to considerwhat you want to do.
So again, it might be lookingat clearing as an option
because there will be placeswhere you can kind of
obviously take those grades to andand move on to if you wish.
(04:04):
So yeah, lots of options. Yeah. Fantastic.
And if you're not sure what you want todo, what's what are the options for you.
So again it's talking to the professionalsin the school teachers
and the careerstaff booking for a meeting.
They'll be there on results day thereto help you and have that discussion.
(04:24):
You've got time to consider.
And it could be that you know you want to.
You haven't made an applicationfor university,
but now you've got your grades and you canobviously go into the clearing system
for that.
You might be thinkingthat you want to take a gap year,
and that's completely natural,and it gives you that time and space
to really think about it.
If you are thinking of a gap year,I would really recommend
(04:46):
making the most of that year though.
Yeah,
so it could be that you want to travelor you want to earn money for next year.
And if you're not sureabout which step to take,
get some really valuable work experience.
That's really key in today's job market.
And when you're making applications,whether it's for an apprenticeship
or university,those skills are really in demand.
(05:09):
Yeah, absolutely.
So quick tips for the day as a whole.
What time should you arrive?
So you would have been told
by your sixth form or your collegeas to what time the college is open.
Lots of six forms and collegeshave now taken the approach
of emailing your resultsto you in in advance.
(05:29):
And I think that takes some of thethe fun, the glamor and.
Yeah, absolutely.
So I would really recommend going ineven if you have had your results
email to you and you know exactly what's happening in
terms of your university choicesand things like that, your staff
will want to be thereto celebrate with you and to support you.
(05:52):
It's a really good opportunityto see your friends and celebrate
with them as well.
So which ever way your school or sixthform college communicate with you?
I think go in.
They'll normally be open from half eight9:00, and they'll be there all day
to support youwith any particular choices that you have.
(06:13):
Yeah, that sounds like a solid resourceto like tap into, if you're nervous.
So I suppose emailing ahead of timedampens those nerves in a way,
because you're not unveiling an envelopelive on the radio
like we did back in our day.
But if you are feeling nervous.
What advice do you have?
I think there's there's two stages to it.
(06:35):
It's what you can do before, results day,
but I think can help to sort of helpwith those nerves.
So regardless of whether orhow you think your exams have gone,
I always suggest to our studentsto have a look at what is open there
in clearing so that, you know,you've got options, because on the day
(06:56):
you'll have a range of emotions
go taking hold, panic sets in.
If you haven't got the resultsthat you were looking for, for example,
and you feel like there's this mad dash.
So actually have a lookin the sort of weeks preceding.
So clearing opens from the 2nd of July.
So have a look at what's on offer, a range of different universities,
(07:20):
a range of different subjects
that maybe are linked to the thingthat you originally interested in and,
and have those ready so that when you open your envelope,
no matter what the situationis, you've already got a plan in place.
Yeah. Amazing.
And do you need to bring anythingwith you?
(07:40):
Be prepared in any way.
You ready with a Ucas login?
As long as you've gotthat, you're going to go.
Yeah. Amazing.
Some friends and family for support.
Yeah, definitely.
So then yeah, I suppose we would just moveinto this, reassurance section where
it probably feels like if
(08:00):
you've gone from your primary education,your secondary education, you've completed
your A-levels, there's still potentialfurther education to go to.
But it must feel very overwhelming
in that momentthat this is your whole life.
But is it is your whole life
(08:22):
based on you opening that envelopeor that email?
Absolutely not.
So you are so much more than the gradesthat are on that piece of paper.
And no matter what those results are,
you're going to move onto an amazing pathway that isn't linear.
I don't think anybody that you speakto in industry or in whatever job
(08:46):
that they're doing, has probably thoughtthat they would be doing that job,
and they were younger.
Today, in today's job world, people
will move from one sector to another
seamlessly because it's all aboutthe skills that you build up.
So I would say
I totally understandhow overwhelming that day is,
(09:07):
but it is just the stepping stone to a really exciting future.
Yeah, absolutely.
That's a really nice way of putting it.
That's a really nice way of putting it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah,that was very succinct and very good.
Yeah. Was there anything elseto say around that?
I suppose, like,I really want to just drum home how
it feels so important in the moment.
(09:30):
But two years after you've openedthat envelope, you forget the envelope
even existed? Yeah, absolutely.
It is like your GCSEs.
Once you've doneGCSEs, it's about what your A-levels were.
You're, you know.
So therefore when you, move onto do your degree
or you've got your first job, for example,nobody's actually going to
(09:52):
look at your A-levels for again,you know, dare I say it? No.
But like hours and hours is, but most people won't even ask you
about those A-levelsbecause it's, it's just
that stepping stone to thatnext thing that you're going to do.
And if they if your results weren'tas you expected,
there are so many different routesinto the career that you want to go into.
(10:16):
So it might mean taking a foundation
year, for example,and taking a sort of slower pathway.
But if you really want to gointo that career in that sector,
there will be options for you to do that.
Amazing.
Any other final bits of advice.
No. Try and get a good night'ssleep the night before.
(10:37):
But you know
might be asking too much.
I know you'll be nervous.
So go out with friends and familythe night before.
Often people will celebrate on the day.
She think it's really niceto go out the night before, because
you put all of that hard work inand that's what really matters.
So if you tried your best.
It really doesn't matterwhat's on on that page.
(11:00):
Yeah. Brilliant.
Amazing. Well,thank you so much for your time today.
Thank you.
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