So results day is finally here! Picking up that brown envelope is always a daunting experience, but finding out your GCSE results will help you decide the next step in your future.
Success
You open the envelope and there are the results you needed. Congratulations! If you got better than you expected, there may be the opportunity of looking into subjects you may not have considered before. Once you have confirmed your subjects, look into volunteering, work experience and extra curricular activities you can do to enhance your application to university or future jobs!
Not the grades you wanted?
Don’t worry! Check as soon as possible whether your chosen college will let you in with the results that you have gained. If not, ask about what other courses you could get onto, or perhaps even consider calling other colleges to see whether they have more lenient entry restrictions. It’s also always worth speaking to your own schools’ sixth form as they are more likely to let you on to a course if they know and trust you.
Resitting
When seeing bad results it is a common reaction to want to just resit everything, but this may not be the best decision for you. It all depends on whether you want to go on to college then university or if you want to go out to work. It’s best to look at what you really want to do and go from there. Whatever you decide, remember:
- Core subjects like English, Maths and the sciences matter most both to employers and university, so perhaps it’s worth only resitting these
- Universities know if you have re-sat subjects so consider if you really need to
- If it’s just one or two, it’s always worth asking if you can resit alongside your A Levels
Other options
No matter what your results, if A Levels aren’t for you, there are lots of other options out there. Some people choose to go straight into employment, while others sign up for apprenticeships to learn whilst they work. Many companies have placements that allow you to train on the job and offer the chance to complete courses that will give you a great CV for future jobs.
Good luck!
Do you have any more advice for GCSE students collecting their results? Let us know in the comments below!
Photo: Sandwell Council / Flickr
Currently writing for multiple publications and also dabbles in social media marketing. Interested in a mix of lifestyle, relationships, careers and current affairs topics.
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