Exam results

Doing better or worse than you expected can make it hard to know what to do next, but there are always options. 

There are lots of things you can do after exams. You could study for A-levels, Scottish Highers or a degree, take on an apprenticeship or start full-time work. Everyone is different and it’s important you do what’s right for you. If you’re feeling pressured about taking the next step then it can help to speak to someone about how you’re feeling. 

If you did better than expected you may also be thinking about applying to study a different course or at a different university. Your school can advise you about this.

Making a decision

In some situations you might not have that long to make a decision about what you want to do next. But there are things that can help you think about what's right for you.

These include: 

• making a list of the pros and cons of each option
• speaking to an adult you trust to get their ideas
• listening to your gut feeling, and focusing on what you want, not on what your friends are doing.

If you have more time to make your decision, you could also think about: 

• researching job profiles on the National Careers Service
• speaking to people in careers you're interested in
• speaking to your careers advisor. 

If something has made you miss an exam or affected you on the day, you may be able to apply for 'Special consideration' to get an adjustment on your grade or mark. This includes if your exam was affected by your health, bereavement or something outside of your control.

Your doctor or a family member might have to give extra information if this happens. But your teacher can help you with this.

If you're worried about your teacher telling somebody else about what affected your exam, you could ask about their 'confidentiality policy' before you tell them anything else. 

In Scotland you can get support from the Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service, but this must be done by a teacher in your school or college within 10 working days of the exam.

If you're worried that your grades are going to affect your future plans, talk to one of your teachers or a careers adviser about your options as soon as possible. It's their job to support you and help you plan what to do next. They can help you decide whether or not to retake your exams or if there's a different subject or course you might enjoy more.

Remember – there are lots of courses and options out there. Sometimes it takes a little while to find a subject and way of learning that suits you. Don't be too hard on yourself if your exam results weren't what you were hoping for.

It can be stressful when you’re not sure what might happen with your university offer. Universities are working hard to find ways to be flexible about students affected by schools closing and exams being cancelled. Even if you don’t get the grades you’re expecting, it’s important to speak to the university you’ve applied to, or to an adult you trust.

Getting on the course you want

If you needed certain grades to get onto the course you want, the first thing to do is to check the status of your course. To do this, visit UCAS' Track your application page. You might not have lost your place, especially if your grades were only slightly lower than you expected.

If you haven't got a place, try not to worry. There's a chance you could get one at a different university through the clearing process. There are also other options like college courses, work experience, internships, gap years and volunteering.

Getting a place through clearing

Think about other universities or colleges you liked, and see if they have any free places on a course you want to do. It's important to get advice and act quickly. But remember – you don't have to take the first clearing place you're offered.

Options other than clearing

If you don't want to apply through clearing or you can't get a place, you do have other options. You could:

1. Retake your exams

You'll have to wait a year until going to university or college, but you'd have another chance to take your exams and get the grades you need. Sometimes the extra time can help you feel more ready to go to university, but it's worth thinking about how motivated you'd be to do the work again. Ask your teacher or careers adviser for advice to see if this is the right choice for you.

2. Think about different career options

University isn't the only option for the future. Some employers offer training programmes or higher apprenticeships for school leavers.

3.Take a year out (gap year)

Do something different for a year – such as travelling, getting a job or doing voluntary work to gain experience or support something you're passionate about. Then, if you still want to, you can reapply next year for university or college and get a place with the grades you already have.

4. Look into different courses

Your grades might get you into a different course. Or you could do a foundation course before moving onto your degree.