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National helpline opens for students receiving unexpected A-level results

Careers advisers from the Exam Results Helpline will be on-hand from 8am on Thursday 18 August to provide valuable information and advice to students (and their parents) across the UK who receive unexpected A-level results (whether higher or lower) and more importantly who don't know what to do next.

Nick Hynes, Careers Adviser and Exam Results Helpline Adviser says:

"Every year, there are students who don't get the grades they need for university, there are those who achieve better grades than expected and those whose career plans have changed since they made their original university choices. At such a critical and life changing time, it's imperative that these students are clear what ALL of their options are, enabling them to make fully informed decisions about their futures."

Delivered by UCAS on behalf of the Department for Education, the helpline opens for 10 days across the exam results period to support schools and colleges during a potentially very demanding time. Providing students with free, independent and expert information and advice about continuing into further or higher education, or pursuing different routes such as vocational qualifications, taking a gap year or finding employment, the helpline can be reached on 0808 100 8000. (Calls are free from landlines and select mobile networks).

Last year (2010), the helpline offered a lifeline to over 3,000 students on A level results day alone.

Advisers are fully qualified with at least five years' experience working in a careers-based role. The only careers helpline with access to UCAS applicants' information and higher education qualification details, advice is timely and accurate.

Gemma Dowden, student, called the helpline last year after not getting the grades she needed for university. She says:

"The Exam Results Helpline was incredibly helpful, offering me lots of different options on what to do next. I was advised correctly and could not be more thankful for the calmness and reassurance I was given in a moment of panic."

Media contact:
Sophie Chamings
Email: s.chamings@ucas.ac.uk
tel: 01242 544631
mobile: 07772 510184

Notes to editors

What is the Exam Results Helpline?

The Exam Results Helpline provides free, expert, and independent information and advice to students who receive higher or lower exam results than expected and want to explore alternative options for their futures.

The helpline is delivered by Skills Development Scotland from 4-17 August for students in Scotland receiving their Higher, Standard, Advanced Higher and Intermediate results. For the rest of the UK, it is delivered by UCAS on behalf of the Department for Education from 18 - 27 August for students receiving their A level and GCSE exam results. The Exam Results Helpline number is 0808 100 8000. Calls are free from landlines and select mobile networks.

Supporting schools, colleges and existing student advice channels, the helpline supports students who don't get the grades they expect and want to continue into further and higher education or pursue different routes such vocational qualifications, taking a gap year or finding employment.

Advisers are fully qualified with at least five years' experience working in a careers-based role. The only helpline with access to UCAS' Confirmation and Clearing data, the Exam Results Helpline offers information and advice in the following areas:

  • Work skills and experience
  • Qualifications and subject choices
  • Sixth form, college, university and other HE/FE options
  • Vocational learning routes
  • Gap year options
  • Finding a job and employment
  • Moving away from home to study
  • Re-sits and re-marks
  • Funding

Exam Results Helpline opening hours:

DateOpening hours
Thursday 18 August A-level exam results day0800:2000
Friday 19 August0900:1900
Saturday 20 August0900:1700
Sunday 21 August0900:1700
Monday 22 August0900:1800
Tuesday 23 August0900:1800
Wednesday 24 August0900:1800
Thursday 25 August GCSE exam results day0900:1900
Friday 26 August0900:1700
Saturday 27 August0900:1200

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