A level results - advice from NUS

Anxious A-level students across the UK are receiving their results, but those who do not get the grades they need to secure their chosen university place will have to be quick off the mark. Only 22,000 places are expected to be on offer in clearing this year - the annual process of matching applicants to university courses. Although many universities are warning they are already full, Portsmouth, Middlesex and Hertfordshire are all advertising for clearing on The Student Room website. Georgie Turnbull, the official "exams doctor" for regulator Ofqual says students should not panic: "If a student has not got the grades they need for either their first choice or insurance offer, traditionally the thing to do would be to call the faculty they applied to. "Normally if they had slightly missed their grades there would be a reasonable chance they would still get a place. This year it is going to be difficult because of the increase in applications, but it is still worth checking." Guidance from the university admissions service Ucas says that students should be sure a course is right for them before accepting a place, saying that the first port of call is to talk to a careers adviser at school, college or the local careers office. Clearing vacancies are published on the Ucas website and in the national press, and the lists are updated regularly. Meanwhile, Royal Mail has assured students that they will not be affected by the current local postal strikes, saying it had "robust contingency plans" in place to ensure results will be delivered to schools on time. The Joint Council for Qualifications added that schools would have access to students' results through exam boards' secure internet sites.

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ITN | August 20, 2009

Tags:. .UK News. .traditionally. .sites. .access. .middlesex