Results day ahead: make a plan A and a plan B

Key takeaways

• →On results day 2026, UCAS said 79% of UK 18-year-olds with offers were placed at their first choice and another 13% at their insurance choice.
• →UCAS said over 26,000 courses were in Clearing on results day 2026. Clearing for 2027 opens on 2 July 2027.
• →For GCSEs, plan B is a backup sixth form or college place, and knowing the grade 4 rule for English and maths.
• →The week before: find logins, save phone numbers and ask school how results and reviews work.

1. Why plan B matters

On A-Level results day 2026, UCAS said 79% of UK 18-year-olds from England, Wales and Northern Ireland who held an offer were placed at their first choice. Another 13% were placed at their insurance choice: 31,770 students on the day.^[1]

So plan B is not a sign of failure. For about one student in eight, it is simply where they go. Making it now, in a calm week, takes the panic out of the morning.

2. The dates

A-Level results day 2027 is Thursday 12 August, according to AQA’s timetable.^[2]

GCSE results day 2027 is a week later, on Thursday 19 August.^[8]

UCAS lists Clearing opening on 2 July 2027, so you can look at courses with places before results day.^[3]

3. A-Levels: plan A and plan B

Plan A is your firm choice. Plan B is your insurance choice, so check it is a course you would really be happy to take.

Plan C is Clearing. UCAS said there were over 26,000 courses in Clearing on results day 2026. You can only add a Clearing choice once you have your results, so shortlist a few courses now and save their phone numbers.^[1]

If you narrowly miss an offer, ring the university before doing anything else. UCAS suggests having your UCAS Hub login, a shortlist and a charged phone ready the night before.^[4]

4. GCSEs: plan A and plan B

Most Year 11 students have a sixth form or college place that depends on certain grades. Ask what happens if a grade falls short: is there a second course, or a backup place somewhere else?

There are other routes too. The National Careers Service lists full-time education, an apprenticeship, or work or volunteering alongside part-time study until 18.^[5]

Students without a grade 4 in GCSE English or maths keep studying that subject after 16, under Department for Education rules. Our GCSE resits guide explains how that works.^[6]

5. The week before: a short checklist

Find logins and passwords, including the UCAS Hub. Ask the school how results will be given out, and what happens if you are away.

Ask how reviews of marking work. Only the school can ask the exam board, with the student’s written consent, and marks can go down as well as up.^[7]

Agree who will be there on the morning, and plan something nice for the afternoon, whatever happens.

Plan A, plan B, then breathe.

6. How Brainhub can help

We teach one-to-one, live online across the UK, including GCSE English and maths resits. Every family starts with a free 45-minute assessment, so if results day changes the plan, we can help you work out the next step.

1. 1. On results day 2026, what share of 18-year-olds with offers were placed at their insurance choice?

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2. 2. When does Clearing open for 2027?

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3. 3. Who can ask an exam board for a review of marking?

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Your next steps

• Check that your insurance choice is a course you would take.
• Shortlist two or three Clearing courses and save their phone numbers.
• Ask school how results day and reviews will work.