Top tips for students on GCSE results day

This Thursday will see pupils’ marks released

AFTER years of studying hard, scribbling revision notes and last minute swotting, GCSE exam results day is nearly here.

Next Thursday hundreds of students in Hinckley and Bosworth will be tearing open their brown envelopes.

Some will be jumping for joy after making their required grades, but for others it will be a day to forget.

But fear not, Catherine Sezen from the Association of Colleges is on hand with some top tips on how to handle GCSE exam results day and the important decisions that follow:

Confirm your place: once you’ve received those all-important results, make sure you contact the college or training provider where you want to study to confirm your place.

Seek out advice: if you haven’t quite got the grades you wanted, don’t panic. Talk to your school or local college and ask for advice about all the options out there – there will be a course or training programme that is right for you.

Consider all the options: once you’ve asked advice about the options, the choice is yours. At college you could take a technical or professional qualification, which may lead directly to the career you are interested in. Colleges offer technical and applied qualifications, such as BTECs, as well as A-levels at Level three and qualifications at other levels to meet your individual needs.

Research apprenticeships: apprenticeships are a great way to earn and learn. Many local and national companies now offer apprenticeships. Colleges can help you find the right one for you and you can search for apprenticeships at www.gov.uk/ apply-apprenticeship. You will work and earn while spending time learning your trade at college too.

GCSE English and maths: If you didn’t achieve a grade C or above in GCSE English and maths, you will retake these subjects alongside any other qualifications you do. Colleges will be able to support you through this.

Understanding the levels language: After GCSEs, it seems as if there is a whole new language to learn about qualifications. If you know what they all mean then you’ll be able to understand what you might want to do next: Levels: Entry level – suitable for students who have gained no GCSEs

Level 1 – equivalent to at least four GCSEs below grade C

Level 2 – equivalent to at least four GCSEs at grade C or above

Level 3 – equivalent to two or three A-levels (depending on size)

You may be offered a 16-18 study programme and this includes:

A technical or professional qualification or A-levels

Employability skills, such as work experience, CV writing and preparation for interviews

English and maths, if you do not have a grade C or above in these subjects.

And finally, don’t get disheartened. Whether you have received the grades you wanted or not there is something out there that is right for you and will help to get you on your chosen career path. Keep calm, look at all your options, do your research and get as much advice as you can.