A-Level Results Day 2026: What to Do If Your Grades Miss the Mark

Hundreds of thousands of students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland opened their A-level, T-level and BTEC results on the morning of 13 August 2026. The results were released at 08:00 BST, with UCAS Hub simultaneously updating to confirm university places.

What If Your Grades Are Wrong?

Students who believe their grade is incorrect should first speak with their school or college, which will contact the exam board to request a mark review. If the student remains unsatisfied after that review, the school can escalate the matter to a formal appeal with the exam board. Grade boundaries — the minimum marks needed for each grade — are published by each board on results day and can be checked on their websites.

Options Through Clearing

Students who have not received the grades needed for their university offer can use the UCAS clearing system to find available places at universities across the UK. Clearing allows students to contact universities directly about vacancies and potentially secure a place on a different course or institution. Many universities use results day to update their clearing lists in real time.

Resitting Exams

Students who wish to improve their grades can also opt to resit A-level exams in the next exam session. Resits are an established route for students who want to strengthen their results, particularly for those applying to highly competitive courses. Schools and colleges can advise on the registration process for resit entries.