Getting Hired 6 min read Updated 2026-08-13

Results Day: What to Do Today - Your Action Plan for August 13th

Today is A-level results day in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Your results are in hand. Now what?

If you're staring at grades that met your expectations, brilliant - but you still have work to do today. If they didn't go to plan, don't panic. There are multiple routes forward, and the next 24 hours matter more than you might think. This guide walks you through exactly what to do today and in the days immediately after.

First things first: Get your results and take a breath

Schools and colleges decide how students receive their grades, which may mean collecting them in person, logging into a portal or receiving them electronically. Going in person can be helpful because teachers and careers advisers are usually available to discuss sixth form, college, apprenticeships, training and other next steps.

If you're collecting in person, go. Those conversations with teachers and advisers are worth the 20 minutes. They know your strengths, they know what's realistic for you, and they can help you think through options you might not have considered.

Once you have them:

If you're going to university: Check your UCAS Hub

UCAS Hub updates at 8 am, clearing choice additions start at 1 pm, and university phone lines open at 9 am for immediate offer discussions.

If you've met your firm and insurance offer conditions: You're in. It's done. Universities will confirm your place in the UCAS Hub. Take the win.

If you've met one but not the other: Call your firm choice first. Universities sometimes confirm a place despite a small shortfall. They're human. You might be fine.

If you haven't met your conditions: Clearing 2026 starts on 2 July and closes on 19 October. You can enter Clearing from today onwards. You can apply to multiple universities through UCAS Clearing, but you can only add one course at a time to your UCAS Hub. If you've received an informal offer over the phone or via email, you can add it to your UCAS Hub immediately if you're happy with the course, or you can continue ringing universities to see if you can get a better offer.

Here's what to do today in Clearing:

  1. Ring your firm choice university from 9am. Be honest about your grades. Ask if they'll still consider you. If yes, that's option one sorted.
  2. Research backup options. From 2 July you can start to research available courses. Find 5–10 universities offering courses you actually want. Look at the grades they're asking for - employers respect relevant degrees, not prestigious ones you scraped onto with grades you didn't quite earn.
  3. Ring around and get informal offers. This is the time to be proactive. Call universities directly, not through UCAS. Have your grades ready and a clear 30-second pitch about why you want the course.
  4. Add your confirmed course to UCAS Hub once you're sure. Only do this once you've spoken to the university and you're confident about the offer.

Important note: If you received all your decisions by 13 May, you must reply to your offers by 3 June 2026 at 6pm (UK time). If you didn't respond by then and your offers were withdrawn, Clearing is still your route. You're not locked out.

If you're considering apprenticeships: Apply now

Don't wait. Many opportunities will have come and gone by results day - apply using your predicted grades in order to get the process started. You have real grades now, which makes you stronger.

Visit apprenticeships.co.uk for the latest roles. Filter jobs by location, sector, and level (intermediate, advanced, higher, or degree apprenticeships).

What you need to know about apprenticeship pay: The apprentice minimum wage will rise from £7.55 to £8.00 per hour, a 6% nominal increase. After your first year or once you turn 19, you legally become entitled to the age-appropriate National Minimum Wage rate. Many apprentices earn more than the minimum.

Where to start:

If you're going into employment: Start applying today

You don't need to wait for anything. Entry-level jobs typically pay £31,820 per year or £15 per hour in the UK, though this varies by sector and location. Most of the UK's biggest employers actively recruit candidates with no previous work history and provide all the training you need from day one.

In 2026 UK hiring averages 30 days for entry-level positions. That means if you apply today, you could realistically have an offer in three to four weeks. This matters: if you want to start work in September, you need to be applying now.

Where to find roles: Entry-level jobs in the UK are more accessible than ever in 2026, with thousands of vacancies open right now across retail, logistics, hospitality and more. Step Into Jobs has over 6,500 live vacancies - you can browse entry-level roles here.

Getting your application right:

Get support if you need it

The National Careers Service run the Get Exam Results Careers Advice in August where expert advisers are available to support young people with their options once they receive their exam results. Contact the National Careers helpline on 0800 100 900 or visit speak to an advisor on webchat. Careers support and advice can be provided face-to-face, via webchat, or over the telephone.

You're not alone in this. Teachers, careers advisers, family, and support services are all available today.

Your timeline for the next week

Today (August 13):

August 14–15:

August 16–20:

Week of August 21:

What if your grades didn't go to plan?

Your results don't define your career. Results are important, but they do not define your long-term potential or future success.

You have options:

  1. University Clearing - Thousands of places are available through Clearing. They're not second-rate - they're courses that still have space.
  2. Apprenticeships - No specific grade requirement. Employers care whether you can turn up, work with others, and learn.
  3. Employment - Start working, gain experience, prove yourself. Many employers will sponsor qualifications once you're in the role.
  4. Resits - If one or two grades are holding you back, you can resit in autumn 2026 and apply to university in 2027 with the grades you actually want.
  5. Gap year - Take a year to work, travel, or volunteer. Reapply to universities with achieved grades next year. It's a legitimate choice and employers respect it.

Don't get stuck

The hardest part about results day isn't the grades - it's deciding what to do next. The truth is you don't need to have it all figured out today. You need to make one decision today: Am I going to university, doing an apprenticeship, or going into work? Once you've decided that, the next steps are clear.

Pick one. Start applying. Make a phone call. Do something today. The worst thing you can do is nothing.

You've got this.

I've written a comprehensive, practical article for Step Into Jobs that covers what to do on results day itself. The article:

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