A-level results day: the 2027 date, the 2026 results and how Clearing works
A-level results day 2027 is Thursday 12 August. The 2026 results, how firm, insurance and Clearing places work, reviews of marking and resit options.
The next A-level results day is Thursday 12 August 2027, confirmed by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ). The 2026 results day was Thursday 13 August 2026, and the national results are summarised below. If you are dealing with 2026 results now, Clearing is still open until 19 October 2026, but the final deadline for reviews of marking was 24 September 2026, and the priority deadline had passed before that. This guide covers the key dates, the 2026 results, how firm and insurance places and Clearing work, and what to do if a grade is lower, or higher, than expected.
When is A-level results day 2027?
A-level and AS results for the summer 2027 exams will be released to students on Thursday 12 August 2027. Schools and colleges receive them the day before, on Wednesday 11 August, under strict confidentiality. If you applied to university, UCAS receives most A-level results directly and updates your application in UCAS Hub. In 2026 the Hub updated at 8am on results day, and UCAS has not yet published the 2027 times.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Thursday 15 October 2026, 6pm | 2027 UCAS deadline for Oxford, Cambridge and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses |
| Monday 19 October 2026 | Last date to add a 2026 Clearing choice |
| Wednesday 13 January 2027, 6pm | 2027 UCAS equal consideration deadline for most courses |
| Monday 10 May 2027 | First A-level exam of summer 2027 |
| Tuesday 22 June 2027 | Last A-level exam of summer 2027 |
| Friday 2 July 2027 | Clearing 2027 opens |
| Thursday 12 August 2027 | A-level results day |
| Monday 18 October 2027 | Last date to add a 2027 Clearing choice |
Exam and results dates are from JCQ. UCAS dates are from its 2027 dates and deadlines. Each school or college sets its own collection times and decides whether results can be viewed online, so check the arrangements in advance.
A-level results 2026: the national picture
Ofqual publishes results for England. In summer 2026, 835,950 A-levels were awarded to 320,505 students.
| Measure (England, all subjects) | 2026 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Grade A or above | 28.3% | 28.2% |
| Grade C or above | 78.1% | 77.7% |
Results were almost unchanged on 2025, a point Ofqual made in its results day summary. They varied by region: London had the highest share of grades at A or above (32.7%), and the North East and East Midlands the lowest (23.1% each).
On results day, UCAS reported a record 262,820 UK 18-year-olds accepted onto a course, up from 255,130 in 2025. Of these, 228,990 were placed at their firm choice and 31,770 at their insurance choice. To see how individual schools and colleges performed, browse our A-level school rankings.
Understanding your university place
If you applied through UCAS, your results lead to one of three outcomes:
- You meet the conditions of your firm choice, and your place is confirmed.
- Your firm choice does not confirm you, but you meet your insurance offer, and you are placed there. This is a normal and often good outcome.
- You miss both offers, and you can look for another place in Clearing.
Check UCAS Hub before drawing conclusions from your grades alone. A university can still confirm your place if you narrowly miss its conditions, and some decisions take a few days. In 2026, remaining offer conditions had to be met by 2 September.
How Clearing works
Clearing matches courses that still have places with students who do not hold a confirmed offer. It opens on 2 July, before results, for anyone who applies late or has no offers. Most activity comes on results day and the days after, when places fill fastest.
- Search for vacancies on UCAS and make a shortlist. If you do not hold a place, UCAS also shows your Clearing matches, a list of suggested courses based on your application.
- Contact universities directly. Have your UCAS personal ID and grades ready, and ask whether they would make you an offer.
- Add your Clearing choice in UCAS Hub only once a university has agreed. You can add one choice at a time. In 2026, choices could be added from 1pm on results day, which leaves the morning for phone calls.
Clearing 2026 is still open. The last date to add a Clearing choice is 19 October 2026, and universities have until 21 October to make their decisions. For 2027 entry, Clearing runs from 2 July to 18 October 2027.
If your grades are not what you expected
Talk to your school or college first. Staff deal with results every year and can help you weigh the options.
If you think a grade is wrong, your school can request post-results services from the exam board:
- A clerical re-check confirms that every part of the paper was marked and the marks were added up correctly.
- A review of marking checks that the mark scheme was applied correctly. It is not a fresh marking of the paper.
- Access to scripts lets the school see the marked paper before deciding whether a review is worthwhile.
You must give written consent first, because a grade can go down as well as up. A-levels also have a faster priority review of marking, which JCQ advises using where a university or college place may be at stake.
For summer 2026, the deadlines have passed. Priority reviews had to reach the exam board by 20 August 2026, and all other requests by 24 September 2026. If a review was requested in time and you disagree with the outcome, only the head of your school or college can submit an appeal to the exam board. For summer 2027, JCQ has not yet published the deadlines. If a place depends on a grade, tell your school on results day.
If the grade stands, the main options are:
- Clearing, to find another course this year.
- Resitting one or more A-levels in the summer 2027 exams, which run from 10 May to 22 June 2027. Ask your school or college about entry, or find an exam centre that takes private candidates.
- Taking a gap year and applying again with the grades you have.
A lower grade is not the end of the road. Many students reach the same destination by a different route.
If your grades are better than expected
Stronger grades do not force a change, and you can keep your confirmed place. If you would prefer a different course and your firm place is unconditional, you can release yourself into Clearing with the 'Decline my place' button on UCAS. This is final: it cancels your firm and insurance places and any accommodation or scholarship tied to them, so only use it once you are sure. In 2026 the button could be used from 2 July to 2 September. UCAS no longer runs Adjustment, so self-release is the route for trading up after a confirmed place.
Other routes after A-levels
University is not the only option. Degree apprenticeships combine paid work with study towards a degree, higher apprenticeships offer advanced training with an employer, and some students work or take a gap year before applying. Your school's careers staff can explain where each route leads.
How FindMySchool helps
If a younger child is choosing where to take A-levels, or you are weighing up a resit year, FindMySchool can help. You can search schools and sixth forms near you and open any profile to see its FMS Inspection score, A-level results and Oxbridge data where available. Compare providers in our A-level rankings, and read our guides to A-levels, choosing a sixth form or college and grade boundaries. For a personalised shortlist, School Match suggests sixth forms based on your priorities and location; create a free account, answer 11 questions, and get five schools ranked for your child, from £3.99. If you also have a child taking GCSEs, our GCSE results day guide covers that day in the same way.
A short checklist for results day 2027:
- Check UCAS Hub first, before assuming a missed grade means a lost place.
- If you might need Clearing, have your UCAS personal ID and a shortlist ready before the day.
- If a grade looks wrong and a place depends on it, ask your school about a priority review of marking straight away.
Frequently asked questions
A-level results day 2027 is Thursday 12 August, according to JCQ. Schools and colleges receive the results the day before, on Wednesday 11 August 2027, and release them to students on results day. The 2026 results day was Thursday 13 August 2026.