A-Level Results Day Is One Week Away: Here’s Your Game Plan

A-Level Results Day is now just one week away. If you’ve applied for Medicine or Dentistry, you’re probably feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves. That’s completely normal. While there’s nothing you can do to change your grades now, there are a few things you can do this week that will put you in the best possible position, whatever your results are on Thursday 13 August.

Before Results Day

Before Thursday arrives, make sure you can log into your UCAS Hub and that you know your password. Check the conditions of both your firm and insurance offers so you know exactly what grades you need. It is also worth having your UCAS Personal ID, UCAT score and GCSE grades somewhere easy to access in case you need them. Finally, keep an eye on your emails, including your spam folder, as universities may contact you directly with important updates.

Results Day Essentials:

• UCAS Hub login

• UCAS Personal ID

• Fully charged phone

• GCSE grades

• UCAT score (Medicine/Dentistry)

• University contact numbers

• Pen and paper

I Met My Offer. What Happens Next?

Firstly, congratulations! If you’ve met the conditions of your offer, your UCAS Hub should update to show that your place has been confirmed. Don’t worry if this doesn’t happen immediately, as universities update their decisions at different times throughout the day. Once your place is confirmed, your university will begin sending information about enrolment, accommodation and everything you’ll need before starting the course.

I Missed My Offer. What Should I Do?

Take a deep breath and don’t panic. Missing your offer does not automatically mean you’ve lost your place. Some universities still accept applicants who narrowly miss their grades depending on the number of places they have available.

The first thing you should do is check your UCAS Hub. If your application is still showing as pending, wait for the university to make a decision before assuming the worst. If you’re unsure, contact the admissions team directly for an update.

Importantly, do not decline your offer or release yourself into Clearing unless you are certain your application has been unsuccessful. Once you give up a confirmed place, it may not be possible to get it back.

If you have missed a grade by a very small margin, speak to your school or college immediately about whether a priority review of marking is appropriate. If one is submitted, let the university know as soon as possible.

Will Medicine or Dentistry Be in Clearing?

Medicine and Dentistry Clearing places are uncommon, but they do sometimes become available. Every year is different and no university can guarantee it will have vacancies.

In previous admissions cycles, universities including Brighton and Sussex Medical School have accepted a small number of Medicine applicants through Clearing after unexpected vacancies arose. Other medical schools have also entered Clearing in certain years, although often with very limited places and strict eligibility criteria.

The important thing to remember is that a university appearing in Clearing last year does not mean it will appear again this year. Equally, a university that has never previously entered Clearing could have vacancies this year. Always rely on the official UCAS Clearing search and university websites rather than old lists shared on social media.

If Medicine or Dentistry Appears in Clearing

If you see a Medicine or Dentistry vacancy, act quickly but don’t rush into making decisions.

Read the eligibility criteria carefully, as some universities require minimum GCSE grades, UCAT scores or specific A-Level subjects. Have your results, UCAT score and UCAS Personal ID ready before contacting the university, and follow any instructions they give before adding a Clearing choice on UCAS.

Many vacancies receive hundreds of enquiries within a matter of hours, so being organised beforehand can make a real difference.

Should I Accept Another Course Instead?

Courses such as Biomedical Science, Medical Sciences and Pharmacy can all lead to rewarding careers, but they are not guaranteed routes into Medicine. Similarly, Dental Hygiene or Dental Therapy are excellent professions, but they should not be accepted purely because you hope to transfer into Dentistry later, as transfers are very rare.

Only accept an alternative course if it is something you would genuinely be happy studying in its own right.

What If I Don’t Get Into Medicine or Dentistry This Year?

Although it can feel disappointing, it does not mean your dream is over.

Many successful doctors and dentists did not receive an offer on their first attempt. Some took a gap year, improved their UCAT score, strengthened their application with more work experience and volunteering, and successfully reapplied the following year.

Taking an extra year may feel like a setback now, but over the course of a lifelong medical or dental career, it is only a small delay.

Final Thoughts

Results Day can feel overwhelming, but try to remember that one morning does not define your future. Whether you meet your offer, find a place through Clearing or decide to reapply next year, there are still routes into Medicine and Dentistry.

Stay calm, use official sources of information, and take each decision one step at a time.

Good luck to everyone receiving their results on Thursday 13 August. Everyone at MedCompass is rooting for you. 💚