A Chief from the university sector said that, Anxious students should prepare a “backup” plan, while waiting for their A-levels results if in case, they miss out on a place at their preferred institution.
When the results are out, many students in England, Wales and Northern Irelandwill know if they have got the university which they required.
Chief Executive of Universities UK (UUK) Vivienne Stern recommended students to do some “preparation” ahead of A-level results day to ensure they know how to use clearing in case they need to find another university place.
She told the PA news agency that, it’s always better to have a back-up plan since for most students you’re going to get your first or insurance offer.
Due to the rise in number of 18-year-olds in the population has made the university admission system “competitive” this year and this trend is expected to continue in the coming years, says Ms. Stern.
At some top universities, the number of courses listed as available on the Ucas clearing site the day before A-level results day has fallen compared with the same point last week, PA analysis suggests.
Clearing is available to students who did not receive any offers and to students who doesn’t meet the conditions of their offer on the day of their results.
This process can be used by students who have changed their mind about what or where they wish to study and also to students who have applied outside the normal application window.
Last year, a simple study, carried out by PA which was the day before the A-level results day, showed that there were 22,685 courses with vacancies on the clearing site- which is a little more than the number of courses listed this year, at the same point.
The University of Liverpool, which had no courses listed last week on the Ucas clearing site, but presently has 170 listed, which partly explains the increase in the number of the courses which is available across the Russell Group.
In England, exam regulator Ofqual says, that this year’s national A-level results will be less than last year but they are expected to be similar to those before the pandemic.
