Quick answer: A-Level results day 2027 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is Thursday 12 August 2027. Results are dispatched electronically to schools and colleges on Wednesday 11 August 2027 and released to students at 08:00 on Thursday 12 August. Scottish (SQA) results are released earlier in early August. UCAS Clearing opens on Thursday 2 July 2027, so eligible learners can start using Clearing before results day itself, and the last date to add a Clearing choice for 2027 entry is Monday 18 October 2027.
This guide takes you through the run-up, the morning itself, and every route open to you afterwards, whether your grades matched your offers, exceeded them, or missed them. It covers Clearing, UCAS Extra, adjustment, appeals, resits, gap-year planning and non-university routes, and it explains what to do in the wrong-grades scenario nobody wants to plan for but everyone should.
When is A-Level Results Day 2027?
A-Level Results Day 2027 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is Thursday 12 August 2027. This date is set by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) and confirmed by every major exam board (AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, CCEA).
The key dates around Results Day 2027:
- Wednesday 11 August 2027: results issued electronically to schools and colleges by exam boards.
- Thursday 12 August 2027, 08:00: results released to A-Level students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Thursday 12 August 2027: UCAS Track updates for university applicants; Clearing places listed in the UCAS search tool from earlier in July.
- Thursday 19 August 2027: GCSE Results Day (one week later, standard JCQ pattern).
In Scotland, SQA results (National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher) are typically released in the first week of August; check the SQA website closer to the time for the confirmed 2027 date. International A-Level students studying OxfordAQA typically receive results earlier, around 28 July 2027.
What time do A-Level results come out on Results Day?
A-Levels are released in schools and colleges from 08:00 UK time on Thursday 12 August 2027, and most centres open their doors from around 08:00 to 08:30. UCAS Track (the university applicant portal) is updated overnight on the Wednesday and shows your university status from 08:00 on the Thursday, but individual grades on Track only appear once your school has released them, and only if your university has already made its decision. If Track shows your firm choice as "unconditional firm" first thing, that means the university has confirmed your place, regardless of whether you have seen your grade breakdown yet.
Some schools also offer results by email or online portal from 08:00. Check your school's own arrangements the week before, especially if you plan to be away.
What can you actually do on Results Day?
There are five realistic outcomes on Results Day, and each has a distinct plan of action. The most important thing is to know in advance which of the five you are in so you can act quickly.
1. You met your firm choice offer
Your grades match or exceed the conditional offer from your firm choice university. UCAS Track shows "unconditional firm" or your place is confirmed. You do not need to do anything; the university will email you next steps for enrolment, accommodation and induction over the following week. Read those emails carefully; several universities have short deadlines to confirm accommodation or upload documents.
2. You met your insurance choice offer (but missed firm)
Your firm choice has declined you, but your insurance choice has accepted. UCAS Track shows "unconditional insurance". You are not obliged to take the insurance place; you can decline and enter Clearing to look for an alternative course, but be quick. Places disappear fast on Results Day.
3. You exceeded both firm and insurance offers
You have grades higher than your firm choice needed. You can stay with your firm choice, or use UCAS Adjustment to look for a place on a course you might not previously have qualified for. Adjustment is only available if your firm choice is confirmed, and closes at 23:59 UK time on the fifth day after Results Day, so from Thursday 12 August to Tuesday 17 August in 2027.
4. You missed both offers
This is the scenario Clearing was built for. Do not panic; every year, tens of thousands of applicants find a university place via Clearing, including at Russell Group universities that hold back a small number of places specifically for Clearing. See the next section for the step-by-step Clearing playbook.
5. Your grades were not what you expected (up or down)
If your grades were significantly lower or higher than your expected performance in class and mocks, you may have grounds to request a clerical check or a review of marking. Speak to your school as soon as possible; centres can request reviews on your behalf, and there are strict deadlines (typically around 20 September for most exam boards).
How does UCAS Clearing 2027 work?
Clearing is the UCAS process that matches applicants who do not have a university place to universities that still have vacancies. It is used by tens of thousands of students every year, and it is not a fallback for people who did badly; strong students frequently use it to change course, change university or apply for the first time in the summer.
Clearing 2027 key dates
- Thursday 2 July 2027: Clearing 2027 opens. Applicants who did not apply in the main cycle can enter Clearing from this date, and vacancies are listed in the UCAS search tool.
- Thursday 12 August 2027: A-Level Results Day. Most applicants using Clearing enter from this date.
- Sunday 17 October 2027: UCAS Adjustment closes (five days after Results Day).
- Monday 18 October 2027: last date to add a Clearing choice for 2027 entry.
Step-by-step Clearing playbook
If you are entering Clearing on Results Day, follow this sequence:
1. Get your Clearing number
- Log in to UCAS Hub. If you are eligible for Clearing, UCAS will assign you a Clearing number automatically. Have this number ready before you call any university.
2. Search vacancies
- Use the UCAS search tool to filter by course and grades. Save a shortlist of 5 to 10 courses you would seriously consider, ideally with a range of grade requirements.
3. Ring the universities
- Call each university's Clearing hotline directly (numbers are published from July). Have your Clearing number, personal statement summary, grades and UCAS Personal ID ready. Speak to admissions tutors politely and briefly; ask them if they would consider an offer with your grades and profile.
4. Get a verbal offer
- If a university offers you a place over the phone, that is a verbal offer, not a formal one. You can hold multiple verbal offers at once while you decide.
5. Add your Clearing choice
- Once you decide, add the chosen course as your Clearing choice in UCAS Hub. Only add one choice at a time. Once the university confirms it in UCAS, that becomes your firm place; you cannot then swap to another Clearing offer.
Timing matters. The busiest Clearing days are Thursday and Friday of Results Day week. Popular courses fill up by Friday lunchtime, and Russell Group Clearing places are often gone by the end of Thursday. If you can, start calling from 08:00 on Results Day itself.
What is UCAS Extra, and is it different from Clearing?
Yes. UCAS Extra runs from 25 February to 4 July each cycle and is for applicants who have already used all five UCAS choices but not been offered a place, or have withdrawn from all their offers. In 2027, Extra runs from 25 February to (approximately) 4 July, before Clearing opens on 2 July. If you missed Extra and did not receive an offer, Clearing is your next step. Extra and Clearing are separate processes; you can only be in one at a time.
What is UCAS Adjustment (and is it still running)?
UCAS Adjustment was the process that let applicants who exceeded their firm choice's conditions look for an alternative course. It ran for five days from Results Day. Adjustment is still officially listed in UCAS's Results Day guidance for 2027, but in practice fewer universities offer Adjustment places and many top-tier universities do not participate at all. If you want to switch after exceeding your grades, the more common route now is to ring your firm choice university directly and ask about upgrading to a higher-entry course (for example, integrated Master's, joint honours or a more competitive department) and, failing that, to consider a gap year and re-apply the following cycle.
Can you appeal your A-Level grade or ask for a remark?
Yes, but the terminology matters. The process is called a review of marking or moderation (RoMM). Your school or college requests it on your behalf. There are two stages:
- Stage 1: A clerical check (making sure all pages were marked and totals were added correctly), and a review of marking (a senior examiner re-checks whether the marking was carried out according to the mark scheme).
- Stage 2: An appeal to the exam board if the Stage 1 outcome is disputed. Beyond that, an appeal to the Exam Procedures Review Service (EPRS) at Ofqual is possible in narrow circumstances.
Key things to know:
- Reviews cost money (typically £30 to £60 per paper), refunded if the grade changes.
- Reviews can move grades up, down or leave them the same. Sign the acceptance carefully.
- Priority reviews are available for applicants whose university place depends on the grade; ask your school to flag it as a priority.
- Deadlines are strict, typically around 20 September for standard reviews and earlier for priority reviews. Move quickly.
What if you want to resit your A-Levels?
If your grades are not what you needed for your target university, and you have decided that a Clearing course is not the right compromise, resitting can be a strong option. Two main routes:
Retake at a school, college or online provider
You can resit any individual A-Level subject in the summer 2028 exam series. Most sixth forms will not take back returning students, so many resitters use dedicated retake colleges, or study part-time or fully online. Sitting fees are typically £110 to £190 per subject, paid to the exam board via a registered exam centre. You do not have to redo coursework for many subjects; you can just retake the written exams. A-Level exams for the 2028 series will run in May and June 2028, with Results Day in mid-August 2028.
Resit specific papers only
A-Levels are largely linear (you sit all the papers for a subject in the same summer), so you generally have to resit all the exam papers for a subject to change your overall grade, not just the one paper you did badly on. Confirm the exact rules with your exam board.
Our Access to HE vs A-Level retakes guide compares resitting versus taking an Access to HE Diploma if your goal is a specific degree, particularly in nursing, midwifery, allied health or social work.
What are the alternatives to going to university?
A-Level results day is often framed as "got in" or "didn't get in". In reality, there are several strong alternatives to a standard three-year undergraduate degree:
Degree apprenticeships
Employer-paid Level 6 or Level 7 apprenticeships in fields including engineering, digital, accounting, law, nursing and management. You earn a salary, pay no tuition fees and graduate with a bachelor's or master's degree. Apply directly to employers or via GOV.UK Apprenticeships. Applications are open all year but most degree apprenticeships have concentrated intakes in autumn and spring.
Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQ) and Level 4/5 diplomas
Level 4 and Level 5 vocational qualifications, including HTQs, are equivalent to the first year or two of a bachelor's and often stack into degrees later. Fields include construction management, business, digital, engineering and health. See our ILM qualifications guide for the management routes.
Access to HE Diploma
An Access to HE Diploma is a one-year Level 3 qualification designed for adults returning to education, but it is also open to school leavers. It leads directly to degrees at almost every UK university, including Russell Group, in nursing, midwifery, teaching, social work, allied health and many humanities and STEM subjects. See our Access to HE Diploma complete guide for the full picture.
Gap year
A structured gap year (work, travel, volunteering, or improving your application) followed by reapplying next cycle is a serious option, especially if your grades are close to but not quite at your target. Universities generally welcome gap-year applicants who use the time productively.
Preparing before Results Day: a 7-day checklist
The week before Results Day is where you turn stress into control. If you do these seven things, you will not have to think on your feet in the wrong direction:
- 1. Read your UCAS offers carefully. Note both firm and insurance conditions in full, including any specific subject grade requirements (for example: A in Biology, not just AAB overall).
- 2. Log in to UCAS Hub and check your details, contact number and personal statement are accessible.
- 3. Save your UCAS Personal ID and Clearing hotline numbers for a shortlist of five backup universities you would seriously consider.
- 4. Write a short Clearing script: your name, Clearing number, predicted grades, actual grades if released, the course you are calling about, and one to two sentences on why you want to study there.
- 5. Talk to a trusted teacher, tutor or careers adviser about the two or three most likely outcomes and your response to each.
- 6. Set your phone alarm for 07:30 on Results Day. Charge the phone the night before. Bring your Clearing number and a paper backup of your UCAS Personal ID.
- 7. Plan a break for after the initial rush. The morning of Results Day is intense but the afternoon and evening can be flat; plan something calming with someone who supports you.
Frequently asked questions
What time are A-Level results released to students in 2027?
From 08:00 UK time on Thursday 12 August 2027, in schools and colleges. Schools receive the results electronically the day before, on Wednesday 11 August 2027, but cannot release them to students until 08:00 on Results Day.
Can I get my A-Level results by email or online instead of in person?
It depends on the school or college. Many now email results at 08:00 on Results Day, some publish them via an online portal, others require you to collect in person. Ask your centre in the week before Results Day so you know exactly how you will receive them.
Can my parents pick up my results for me?
Only if you have signed a written consent form nominating them in advance. Otherwise, results can only be released to the student. Every school has its own policy; ask your exams officer if you cannot attend in person.
Is Clearing only for people who did badly?
No. Clearing is used by strong students who applied late, changed their mind, switched country of study, or want to change course. About a third of Clearing users go to Russell Group or high-tariff universities.
Can I use Clearing if I already have a firm place I want to swap out of?
Yes. You need to first release yourself from your current firm choice in UCAS Hub (which cancels that offer), then you become eligible for Clearing. Only do this once you have a verbal offer from another university you are sure about; releasing yourself is permanent.
What happens if I miss my insurance offer as well?
You will be released into Clearing automatically. You can then either apply through Clearing for a place this year, or take a gap year and reapply in the next UCAS cycle for 2028 entry (the standard route if no suitable Clearing course is available).
Can I still go to university if I don't have A-Levels?
Yes. Access to HE Diplomas, BTEC/OCR Level 3 vocational qualifications, T Levels, Cambridge Technicals and international qualifications (International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers, Welsh Baccalaureate) are all accepted by most UK universities. Mature applicants (21+) can also apply on the basis of relevant work experience for many courses, especially at post-92 universities.
When is GCSE Results Day 2027?
Thursday 19 August 2027, one week after A-Level Results Day, following the standard JCQ pattern.
Whatever Results Day looks like for you, remember that the day itself is one point on a long journey, not the whole journey. If you are considering resitting an A-Level, Lift College offers flexible online A-Level courses on a monthly subscription with UK-based tutor support. If you are looking at a route into a nursing, midwifery or allied-health degree without A-Levels, our Access to HE Diploma complete UK guide walks through what that looks like.