Congratulations to all of our A-level and GCSE students, many of whom are celebrating another year of exceptional results. We know how hard everyone has worked, and we wish you all the very best for your next steps.
If results didn’t go to plan, there are usually more options than the first few hours suggest — and several of them close quickly, so it is worth knowing where you stand within a day or two.
First: is the mark right?
If a grade sits close to a boundary, a review of marking is usually the fastest route to the grade you need, and it costs far less in time and money than a retake. Your school will submit the request, and where a university place hangs on the outcome a priority review can be used to speed things up.
A review is chargeable, with the fee refunded if the grade changes, and it includes a check of the totals. The deadline for standard reviews falls in late September. Do be aware that marks can go down as well as up — do speak to us or your school before committing, as it is not always the right call.
A-levels: Clearing
Students who missed their grades and did not secure a place can still go to university this year through Clearing, which matches students without a confirmed place to courses that still have space.
The process moves in days rather than weeks, and the strongest courses go first. We can help you judge quickly whether an available course is genuinely worth taking, or whether a stronger application next year would serve better — a decision made under pressure on results day is one families often revisit later. If you have not secured a place, do get in touch early.
A-levels: trading up
Less widely known: a student who exceeded their offer can release themselves from their firm choice and use Clearing to approach more competitive courses.
This is a genuine opportunity for students who over-performed, and one we help families navigate every year. It also carries real risk. Self-release is irreversible — the original place is given up before any alternative is secured, and it cannot be recovered if nothing better materialises. Do speak to us or your school before taking that step.
A-levels: retaking
Some students would rather retake than compromise, particularly where a specific course or university matters more than starting this year. A-levels can only be sat in the summer series, so this means a year out and a fresh application through UCAS.
Two things are worth knowing. Most independent schools do not keep students on for a retake year, so this is usually done as an external candidate, with tuition arranged privately and a centre found for the exams. And a year out is scrutinised by admissions tutors — a strong application shows the time was used deliberately, not simply waited through. We can help with both: the teaching, and shaping a year that reads well on the application.
GCSEs
For most students at independent schools, the question after GCSEs is less about retaking than about the transition ahead. A grade below expectation in a subject being carried to A-level is worth addressing now, before new content is layered on top of an unsteady base. Where the subject is being dropped, it rarely warrants a retake.
Should a retake be needed, English language and maths can be sat in November 2026, with results in January 2027. All other subjects follow in summer 2027, alongside the Year 12 exam season. If a retake is likely, speak to us or your school early in September — entries for the November series must reach the exam boards by early October, and schools need notice ahead of that.
How we can help
Whether a student is entering Clearing, weighing a retake, or wanting to get ahead before term starts, the Figtree team is on hand with advice and targeted tuition. Do get in touch at info@figtreelearning.com to talk through the options.
