Students up and down the country are anxiously awaiting their A-level results this week.
Things will be very different this year after exams were cancelled for the second time in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Last year the UK recorded its best ever A-level results day for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with 44.4% of students getting an A or A* grade. The uplift in grades occurred as students were graded based on their teacher's markings of mocks, coursework, essays and in-class tests.
Traditional exams were also cancelled in 2020 on the basis that they could not be done safely in the pandemic – but exams have finally returned in 2022.
Academics, teachers, students and parents all await in anticipation to discover the how well exams went this year, but when is A-Level results day – and what time will grades be released?
When is A-Level results day in the UK?
A-level results will be available for students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on Thursday, August 18.
For students in Scotland, their examination results are published online the same day as Scottish Qualifications Certificates arrive by post – which happened this year on Tuesday August 9.
With it being the results of the first A-Level exams to take place since the coronavirus outbreak, it is thought that grade boundaries may be lower than pre-pandemic standards to account for the loss of in-lesson learning.
Ofqual chief regulator Dr Jo Saxton said this would provide a "safety net" for students.
What time are A-level results released?
A-level grades are usually available to collect from schools and colleges from around 8am.
However, this time may vary between schools, so it's important to check beforehand. In previous years, some exam boards have released their grades from 6am.
You can confirm the time with your school or speak to your teacher.
Meanwhile, if you are receiving your grades through email, you can expect these from around 8am too.
What to do on A-level results day
The University and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS) have listed some advice to make things less stressful for students on their big day:
If you've applied for a university course, the UCAS systems should start updating from 8.15am on the same day. However, updates can take several hours.
Have your sign in application details handy and update your contact details if you need to.
Students must be sure to be available on results day, as UCAS can't speak to anyone else about university application details unless nominated access is given.
UCAS have also explained that plenty of outcomes can happen on the day.
Even if student's don't get the desired results universities can still accept applications, whether it's for the same course or a 'changed course offer'.
Check UCAS for more information on university applications.
How have grades been decided this year?
The A-level grades are decided through exams, but the grade boundaries are more lenient this year.
That means students may need fewer marks to reach a particular grade. If they were close to a boundary for a higher grade, it may be that they will reach that grade more easily than previous years.
Some part of the curriculum were cut this year, and students were given more advance knowledge before exams to help them revise.
