Exam results: Can I accept a degree place and sit the exam? And other questions

Your questions answered illustration

England, Wales and Northern Ireland's A-level and AS-level results, and A-level equivalent technical qualifications like BTECs and Cambridge Technicals were published on Thursday morning.

Students have not taken exams because of the coronavirus epidemic and will receive marks from teachers, which have been then processed by exam boards. Pupils in Scotland received their results last week.

Experts Eddie Playfair and Catherine Sezen, senior policy managers at the Association of Colleges, are answering your questions.

Image copyright Association of Colleges
Image caption Catherine Sezen and Eddie Playfair offer personalised advice on what to do next

If you are appealing your results and the uni is holding your place, can you still have a place in clearing? Chris, Mold

The best thing to do is for your daughter to keep the university up-to-date on what she is doing and confirm with them how long they will hold her place open. At the same time, she could look at places available at other universities with the results she already holds, and see if they have options that she would like to take up.

She can also speak to advisers at the universities about any courses she is interested in. It is always a good idea to speak to her school or college too to talk through options as they, like you, know her well.

Can I accept an offer to a university and still retake the exam, so I don't have poor results on my CV? Michael, Ascot

Yes, it is possible to accept and offer and take the exam. You might also like to consider appealing some or all of your grades. Your school or college will be able to advise you on the best option.

My son has been downgraded and the university says he was unsuccessful in his application. What are his options? Khadam, Shipley

If your son is keen to take up a university place this year, the best thing to do is to look at the Ucas clearing options where he may well find a similar course at another university.

My daughter has been told by her uni that her appeal result needs to be in by 7 September, otherwise her application will be rejected. How long will the process take? Pamela, Chester-le-Street

The first thing to do is to speak to your daughter's school or college about making an appeal as soon as possible. Your daughter should keep in contact with the university too to let them know that this is what she is doing.

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Image caption This was the year of the results without any exams being taken

How does the government's "triple lock" affect my right to appeal against my results? Theo

The "triple lock" was only announced on Wednesday so it's a bit early to know how much it will affect final outcomes, but it will enhance your right to appeal. We're still waiting to hear what the definition of a mock will be, but the impact of this change should be to help those students whose calculated grades have ended up below their mock results.

Is the mock exam being used the last one that students took in January 2020? Edit Hervai

This has not been made clear yet. We know that mocks take many forms and some centres will do more than one, so schools and colleges are waiting for a definition of a mock.

What can a parent do if their child refuses to engage with finding out their results? My child's college cannot discuss students' results with parents. Do I have a legal right to know? - Ruth Guven, London

If your son or daughter is 18 then the college cannot share information with you unless your child agrees, as they are now classified as an adult. They should be able to tell you how results will be sent out, or whether your son or daughter can collect them from the college.

The college will be able to provide information, advice and guidance to your son or daughter to help them think about next steps. This might help as the basis of a chat with your child.

Will they allow for Level two BTec exam resits or not? Mat, Angmering

I would suggest that you talk to your school or college about BTec Level 2 resits. Technical and vocational qualifications have more assessment windows than GCSEs and A-levels. The school or college is best placed to advise you on next steps.

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I've been given an alternative offer (including foundation year) for my firm choice and my insurance had accepted me. How long can I wait before replying and accepting my insurance option? - Nisrine, London

The best thing to do is to ask the university how long they will keep the place open while you weigh up the options. Universities are being very flexible this year. The alternative offer from your firm choice, including a foundation year, is of course an extra year.

If you really want to go to that university it is a good option, but the other university course may also be right for you. Give the university a call and then you will know how long you have got to consider both.

My daughter has been home-schooled for the last three years. How, or does, she get results? Megan, Wisbech

Your daughter might get results if the school or college that was going to enter her had sufficient evidence (course work for example) to give her a centre assessed grade. If not there will be an opportunity for your daughter to take an exam in the autumn. The school or college will have more details about that.

Can you specifically appeal one grade/subject, or will all your grades be reviewed if you appeal? Mohib, Stockport

The process is designed to apply to each subject entry separately, so potentially one or more of your grades could be the subject of an appeal.

Image copyright PA Media

If we're not happy with our results, can we resit Year 13? Emma-Louise, Hackney

You need to discuss this with the college or school you attended in 2019-20 to consider the various options open to you. Simply repeating a year is not generally recommended unless there are exceptional circumstances - but of course 2020 has been pretty exceptional!

If you have the possibility of progressing to a higher level - for example university - that might be the best option, but don't make any final decisions without getting support and advice from your college or school first.

Are there strategies in place to avoid bias against disability? Ronit, Watford

When producing centre assessment grades, centres will have predicted how a student would have performed assuming they had received all the additional support and access arrangements which they require because of a disability.

Hopefully, any mock processes would also have included that additional support and this is definitely worth discussing with your centre.

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My daughter's year group was said to be full of very high-achieving students. With the ranking process, could this work against them? Juliette, Bristol

The grading and ranking process in your daughter's school will have aimed to make a well-informed prediction of each candidate's likely performance. We can't pre-judge the outcomes, but once students know their final results, they will be able to ask to see their centre assessment grades.

If they have been adjusted downwards, it could be due to a combination of factors, including the previous achievement of students and the centre. This can be the subject of an appeal - including reference to any mock grades.

How do we appeal art where we didn't get to do our eight-week exam unit? Abigail, Reading

Your college or school will have based your centre assessment grade on a range of evidence they have about your work in art. Once you get your actual grade, you can also access your centre's art grade and there will be an appeal process - in art as for all other subjects.

Will having "corona grades" for exams we didn't sit undermine us when we go for jobs? Anon

The system this year was designed to make sure that the class of 2020 was not disadvantaged, and to produce outcomes which are broadly similar to previous years. So we expect the national grade profile to reflect this.

This should provide reassurance for employers, universities and colleges that this year's grades have an equivalent value to those of previous years.

Image copyright PA Media

If an A-level student chooses to sit a real exam, will the universities treat those and exams taken next summer equally? Janet, Cheshire

The autumn exams are an opportunity for students entered this summer to take an exam. The grade they are awarded will have equal value and so this can inform any applications they are making to university in 2021.

The current plan is for exams next summer to go ahead as normal, with a few alterations, and they should be seen as equivalent to any other year.

What if I am not happy with how my school ranked me? Gaetan, Kent

You don't know your ranking right now, as this is confidential. The rankings your school submitted will have reflected their rounded judgement of the relative positions of all candidates within each grade in that subject.

If you have any concerns once you've seen your results, do discuss them with your school and these could be the subject of an appeal or complaint.

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I am a senior university lecturer and cannot understand why A-level students could not have undertaken exams electronically? Anon, Cheshire

In the future this is certainly worth exploring, but given the timeframe this year it would have been very difficult to ensure that all students would have been adequately prepared to undertake exams online. Not all students will have had appropriate equipment or spaces to undertake exams.

My son's resits were cancelled and his school didn't give him a predictive grade. Will universities do anything for these students or should he sit exams in October and reapply next year? - Wendy Tomlinson, Bristol

I would suggest that if your son has applied to a university that he contacts them in the first instance to discuss options. External candidates for whom centres did not have evidence to make a centre assessed grade do have the option to take the exam in the autumn.

If I appeal and it takes some time to be determined, will this mean me missing out on clearing opportunities? India, Heathfield

First of all I would suggest speaking to your school or college about making an appeal. At the same time you can continue with clearing opportunities. Universities are being understanding of this year's exceptional circumstances.

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How long does the appeal process take? - Kay Alders, Liskeard

I would suggest taking advice from your school or college before making an appeal. If you are planning to go on to university it is a good idea to contact them too. It may be that the results you have will be accepted. The final date for appeals to be lodged is in mid-September.

Appeals to exam boards incur a charge, which is reimbursed only if you succeed. Could the charge be removed this year? - Jayne Gower, Hertford

This is a good question and one you could raise with your school or college in the first instance. Check whether they think an appeal is the best approach for you. If you are planning on going to university it would be a good idea to contact them too and/or consider clearing options.

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If our school has previously performed badly but we're on track to significantly improve, what will this do to our predicted results? - Morgan, Plymouth

Results this year are based on centre-assessed grades and statistical analysis. I would suggest you review individual results, and if there are concerns there is an appeals process.

Will I have a basis to appeal if my son's results are lower than the centre assessment, but the same as his mock results? Catriona, Thame

The best thing is for your son to speak to his school or college about an appeal if his results were not what he was expecting. They will be best placed to advise. At the same time if he has applied for a degree course, it would be a good idea to check with his university of choice and/or consider clearing opportunities.

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