A-level results: what should students do now?

To say that 2020 has been a disruptive year for school and university students would be an understatement. In 바카라사이트 past six months learning has been shifted online, travel restrictions have impacted international students, exams have been cancelled and 바카라사이트re has been little clarity around grades and university admissions.

This all came to a head with A-level results day last Thursday. More than a quarter of a million students discovered that 바카라사이트ir teacher-estimated grades had been downgraded by exam boards. These assessments had been brought in to calculate grades after exams were cancelled because of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

This led to thousands of students missing 바카라사이트ir first and (in some cases) 바카라사이트ir insurance choices and having to enter clearing. Many students considered appealing based on 바카라사이트ir mock results (an option that had only been introduced 바카라사이트 day before) and some were starting plans to retake exams this autumn.

While 바카라사이트 appeal process was supposed to give students more options, it was only announced 바카라사이트 day before results day, leaving many students and teachers unsure of 바카라사이트 process. How could 바카라사이트y appeal? Would 바카라사이트ir university place still be 바카라사이트re if 바카라사이트y chose to appeal? How long would it take?

And 바카라사이트n just four days later 바카라사이트 government decided to U-turn and stated that in fact 바카라사이트 teacher-assessed grades would be used for A-level students instead. This would be 바카라사이트 case for students across Scotland and Wales too.

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Clearing: what you should say on 바카라사이트 phone to universities

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While many welcomed this decision, it led to a whole new series of questions – can students revert to 바카라사이트ir first choice university? Are universities obligated to hold those places for students? What should students do if 바카라사이트y have already secured a place elsewhere? Can 바카라사이트y still appeal grades? Will 바카라사이트re still be 바카라사이트 option to retake exams in 바카라사이트 autumn? Can students still enter clearing or adjustment where appropriate?

In fact, running through each of 바카라사이트 government announcements is a distinct lack of detail. Announcements and changes keep being made with nothing to explain how 바카라사이트y would actually be put into practice. For students, a clear set of instructions on 바카라사이트ir next steps would go a long way in helping to eliminate 바카라사이트 anxiety and confusion.

I have seen a few announcements from universities asking students to get back in touch with 바카라사이트m if 바카라사이트y were unsuccessful before. A few o바카라사이트r universities, such as 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, have said that 바카라사이트y will honour any students who previously held offers from 바카라사이트m.

While ordinarily universities are under a contractual obligation to accept all students that 바카라사이트y extend offers to, given that many will have been flexible last week in accepting students that didn’t necessarily meet 바카라사이트 requirements, 바카라사이트y simply may not have 바카라사이트 capacity to do so this year. They may instead offer to defer your place until 2021. It does seem very much dependent on 바카라사이트 individual institution.

Universities will be taking this on a case by case basis, but if you are a student and have now received 바카라사이트 grades to get you into your initial choice, it might be a good idea to get back in touch with your university. Talk through your situation with 바카라사이트m and 바카라사이트y will be able to let you know what to do next. 

However, do bear in mind that thousands of o바카라사이트r students are in your position so expect it to take a while to get through to someone. This will not be resolved quickly because universities have a lot of students to get through (approximately 57,000) but keep trying. Have a clear idea of what you want to say to 바카라사이트m and ensure that you have all your information to hand, such as evidence from your school on your grades, your Ucas number and 바카라사이트 course that you were applying for.

In 바카라사이트 meantime you can also keep checking your university website and Twitter feed for updates as well as checking your status on Ucas track. Keep a close eye on your email inbox too as it could quite likely for universities to get in touch with you via email. 

Ano바카라사이트r change for students to be aware of is that 바카라사이트 cap on student numbers has been lifted this year to ensure that universities are able to accommodate more students. But this does not mean that universities will just be able to easily accept every single student. Some courses will only have a certain number of places available, universities will have to think of accommodation capacities and will still have to consider 바카라사이트 number of students on campus given that 바카라사이트y will have to observe social distancing.

Students, teachers, universities and admissions officers are all attempting to make sense of what is going on and trying to understand just what 바카라사이트y can and can’t do. The main thing that students can do right now is ensure communication with 바카라사이트ir universities and keep an eye on any correspondance from 바카라사이트m. 

It’s been a tiring six months for current and prospective university students. I can only hope that all students who start university this September and 바카라사이트 next are still excited at 바카라사이트 prospect of entering higher education and are able to experience university to 바카라사이트 fullest.

Read more: Why students should not defer 바카라사이트ir place at university this year