Five tips for managing Clearing on results day

1. Try not to panic 

We know that results day can be nerve-wracking for anyone. If you don’t get the grades you were expecting, it's easy to understand that you might feel thrown off. But to go through the process of Clearing, calling universities, and making the right choice for you, you’ll need to have a clear head.  

Remember that you’ve still got lots of options. Clearing can open the doors to some great – including Russell Group – universities, and some students even wait for results day to go through Clearing and nab a spot on a top course.  

Clearing isn’t confined to results day. You can check your options ahead of time if you’re not sure you’ll get the right results, and Clearing will stay open until October 17th 2023, so there’s plenty of time to secure your place.  

Try to check UCAS in the morning so you know whether or not you’ve made the grade, and you’ll give yourself some time to take a deep breath and think about Clearing before you pick up your actual results.  

2. Find support  

You don’t need to go through the process of Clearing by yourself. Results day can feel overwhelming for some, so having the right support can help you to relax and get advice to make the right decision.  

Talk to your friends to find out what they know or are doing. Get comfort and advice from your parents. Speak to someone from our school or college for guidance on what you could do and how to best go about calling unis. There’s also lots of online guidance that you can read before results day to prepare for the day.  

3. Don’t rush  

A busy results day school hall can make it feel like there’s a lot of pressure to make the right decision right now. You’ve got some time. Don’t rush into a decision that you’re not sure about.  

Weigh up your options, compare what’s available and make sure you’re taking into account what’s important to you at university. Consider the location of the unis you’re applying to, what the workload and exam weighting of your course will be, and whether it’s important that you’re heading to a uni that your friends are too. As mentioned, Clearing doesn’t end until October 17th, so even though there might be some competition for course places, there is time for you to make a decision.  

4. Be flexible 

When your heart is set on your firm and insurance choices, you might feel disappointed if you don’t quite the mark on results day. The Clearing options in front of you might not seem like exactly what you wanted, but you’ll need to be open and flexible to avoid being left without a place if uni is still important to you.  

Have a list of things that you won’t compromise on but be willing to change your mind about some things so you don’t miss out on what could be a great university experience.  

5. Prepare beforehand 

The best way to have a good results day Clearing experience is to prepare beforehand. Clearing courses will be available to look at from July 5th, so there’s plenty of time to consider what the options are in case you don’t get the grades you expect.  

You’ll also need to have the right info available to you on the day, including your UCAS number and personal statement info so that you can talk to admissions offices with the right details at hand. 

Having a mindset that it’s ok if things change will help you to relax on the day, so while you shouldn’t stress about results day in the lead up, being open minded about the day will help you to smash it.