Imogen James
Live reporter, reporting from Leeds

Image source, PA Media

There have been a lot of elements to today, and I bet a lot of you are glad it's over. Speaking of over, our live coverage is also drawing to a close.

Results were released today for BTec nationals, T-levels and A-levels, as hundreds of thousands learned the outcome of their exams, prompting confetti, tears and smiles.

Key takeaways from the stats show boys beat girls in terms of top A-level grades for the first time since 2018, the top A-level grades rose again, and there's been another increase in the number taking T-levels in England. Interest in arts subjects fell, with a rise in business and economics studies instead.

We heard from a lot of students, including a boy celebrating securing a place at university to study music, and being cancer-free, as well as a girl who got into university while balancing her studies with being a part-time carer.

Clearing remains open for those who missed out on the university course they want. If you didn't get what you wanted, check out our interactive guide.

Of course, not everyone wants to go to university. Apprenticeships, gap years, and work are all options. We spoke to a zoo keeper and a celeb photographer who told us about their career paths.

It's age old advice, but try not to stress now about what is done. I did university AND an apprenticeship, because life has so many options.

I think I'll end with one big congratulations to all of you - now go celebrate! We'll see other students this time next week, for GCSE results. If you aren't super keen to be at the pub, here's five key takeaways complied by our education correspondent.

Bye for now.

We've taken a close look at how today's A-level and T-level results break down already, but we can't quite do the same for BTecs.

That's because the data provided by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) - which represents the UK's eight largest exam boards - covers the category of vocational and technical qualifications, or VTQs, more broadly, but does not provide specific information for BTecs, which are a subset of VTQs.

A BTec, which stands for the Business and Technology Education Council, is a type practical qualification, which at Firsts level is equivalent to GCSEs, and BTec Nationals are equivalent to A-levels, counting as a level three qualification.

JCQ-awarding organisations, which provide 90% of Ofqual-regulated VTQs, awarded just over 250,000 VTQs this year - of which 23,959 were given at the top grade.

Business management was the most popular subject, with around 45,000 VTQs awarded, with sociology and social policy next with around 44,000, and science third with 32,000.

Emily Holt
Reporting from Manchester

Aisha is a footballer and has just signed a contract for Blackburn Rovers FC.

She has secured a place at Manchester Metropolitan University, where she will be studying sport business.

But she's taking a gap year first to decide if she wants to pursue football or university.

She's waiting till the end of the day to open her results - good luck!

Hazel Shearing
Education correspondent

Image source, EPA

Just catching up? Here are five things you should know about this year's Level 3 results day.

Top A-level grades rise again: Overall, 28.3% of A-level grades across England, Wales and Northern Ireland were marked at at A* or A - up from 27.8% last year. Wales is the only nation to have seen a drop.

Regional gap grows in England: The gap between the highest- and lowest-performing regions in England has grown again.

In London, 32.1% of A-level grades were marked at A* or A. In the north-east, it's 22.9%.

Record numbers get their first choice of university: Overall, 82% of 18-year-old offer-holders woke up to the news that they'd been accepted by their first choice of university.

A total of 226,580 got into their "firm" choice – up from 216,750 last year.

Boys take the lead in top grades: Boys have outperformed girls at A-level for the first time since 2018.

Of boys' grades, 28.4% were awarded an A* or A – compared to 28.2% of girls' grades.

T-level numbers rise but dropouts remain high: A total of 11,909 students received T-level grades today – up from 7,435 last year.

The dropout rate remains high, though – and some students take longer than the standard two-years to complete the course.

Annabelle Ariyanayagam
BBC World Service

Image source, Annabelle Ariyanayagam

While it may seem like every 17- and 18-year-old in the UK is thinking about their A-level results and whether they made it into their top university choice today, many won’t be gearing up for "freshers week" or thinking about decorating their student accommodation.

I wasn’t on my results day! My mind was on the looming first day of work in a newsroom. Instead of following what seemed to be the trend of university, I chose to do an apprenticeship.

Throwing yourself in the deep end at 18 is becoming increasingly common in the UK. Last year, more than 280,000 people started an apprenticeship.

For me it was a no-brainer. I wanted to move out, live in London, make money and grow my connections within media. Most of all, I wanted to have a head start in an extremely competitive industry.

Doing the apprenticeship, I not only had a textbook education in journalism but was also able to learn the craft from the heart of a newsroom.

University will always be there, but the opportunity to earn and learn at the same time felt too valuable to pass up.

I’m now staff for BBC World Service. I have three years experience in the industry - and zero regrets.

BBC Bitesize

This is possibly one of the top perks of patiently waiting for those results.

Some major restaurant chains will have offers in place on results day, but not all of them.

Do your research first and make sure your restaurant of choice has a deal in place. But if you see something online that looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Restaurants may also have conditions, such as minimum spend. Or, they may need you to provide ID and evidence of your results.

Keep an eye on the official social media accounts of the big high street chains, as they may advertise these deals - and then go ahead and reward your hard work with a bit of a treat.

BBC Bitesize has been taking a look at the facts, myths and freebies out there on this results day.

Can I use clearing for next year?published at 15:48 BST 14 August

15:48 BST 14 August

Hannah Imran
Law Student & Clearing Advisor, Kingston University

This question was sent in to us and our panel of experts has answered.

Clearing is only for starting a course that year, you can’t use it to secure a place for next year. If you want to apply for next year instead, you’ll need to go through the usual Ucas application process.

Exam bosses this year say that this generation has an "entrepreneurial spirit", potentially driven by the rise of social media influencers.

Figures this year show a rise in A-level entries for economics and business studies this year - the first time the latter has entered the top five subjects.

Claire Thomson, executive director of regulation and compliance at the AQA exam board tells PA Media "they are clearly relevant for lots of career opportunities whether it’s finance, marketing, management".

With money to be made on social media, she adds that "people see [influencers] making what seems like lots of money, and that idea of gaining some entrepreneurial skills so that they can go out and emulate the people that they see all the time on social media.”

It's a theory backed up by Jill Duffy, chief executive of the OCR exam board: "We see a very entrepreneurial spirit in this generation of young people. They’ve often got side hustles going on.”

Emily Holt
Reporting from Connell Co-op College in Manchester

Shaheer studied two BTecs: computing and applied psychology. He also took A-level media.

"I wasn't disappointed" with results, he says. "I wasn't too happy, but I got my uni and that's all that matters."

He’s off to Manchester Metropolitan University to study cyber security and is excited to begin his studies, but is aware of the costs.

"The living costs are pretty high aren't they? It's worrisome.”

Shaheer says he's expecting to work part-time jobs during university.

Oliver Slow
BBC Wales News

Image source, Coleg y Cymoedd

An aspiring musician who spent his first year of college battling cancer is celebrating securing a place at university to study music - and being cancer-free.

Dylan Griffiths was diagnosed with stage 3 - possibly stage 4 - Hodgkin lymphona in May 2024 when he was 18, undergoing chemotherapy and steroid treatment.

“One minute I had just played a gig with my band and then the next, I had a cancer diagnosis - it was a lot,” he said.

He was eventually able to return to his music practitioners diploma at Coleg y Cymoedd in Nantgarw, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and will now study popular commercial music at the University of South Wales.

He hopes to become a music producer or have success with his band.

“It’s been a challenging but rewarding two years and it’s set me up really well for the future and pursuing my dream job,” he said.

How do you go about getting a paper re-marked - and how long does it take?published at 15:21 BST 14 August

15:21 BST 14 August

Gemma Simmons-Blench
Deputy CEO of Leeds City College

This question comes to us from the BBC News Instagram account.

You should contact your school or college if you would like to request a re-mark of one of your exams. Your school or college will be able to advise you on the process, as it will depend to an extent on the relevant exam board.

In some cases, a priority review can be requested. There can also sometimes be a fee associated with a re-mark if there is no change in mark. Check this information with your school or college.

If you do go ahead with the review and your mark changes, your new grade could be higher or lower than the original grade. After this, if you still believe that your exam has been marked incorrectly, you should speak with your school or college to ask about the possibility of a further appeal.

If we meet offers, do we need to do anything on the Ucas website?published at 15:16 BST 14 August

15:16 BST 14 August

Samantha Sykes
Ucas advisor

A question sent into us about uni offers, which our panel of experts has answered.

Congratulations! You don’t need to do anything in your application, you’ll see your place is confirmed and your chosen university will send you details of what you need to do next.

Exciting times ahead!

How many years can you defer university for?published at 15:12 BST 14 August

15:12 BST 14 August

Kate Arif
Careers Adviser, National Careers Service

Let's take a question sent in to us about university deferrals, which our panel of experts has answered.

Many universities will let you defer for one year and in some cases two years - but it’s best to check with your university of choice.

Just remember, if you contact them without a plan, they may be less interested. If you give them a detailed reason regarding what you are doing to grow yourself over that period that could help your case - this could be traveling, work experience, or dealing with family issues.

Be prepared to answer: "why?"

Emily Doughty
Your Voice Your BBC News reporter, reporting from Middlesbrough College

Meg Davison, who teaches Psychology, has been using Teams to join her students on results day.

Beaming in from her best friend's wedding in Whitby, she tells us seeing her students' excitement has “a thousand percent” made this day better.

“You want the closure see how they have done and see how they react to doing so well and where they go next” she says. “It’s gone really well, it’s going to make the rest of the wedding a hell of a day!”

The proportion of entries in arts subjects has fallen by 31% since 2010 and is "approaching a one-third collapse", according to an analysis by the charity Campaign for the Arts.

In a statement, the group says performing arts subjects - such as drama and music - have seen the "steepest long-term" declines. The proportion of students taking these subjects has halved in the last 15 years, the group has found.

Some of the biggest declines were seen in dance, down 59%, drama by 53%, and music, which is down 47%.

Art and design, by contrast, had a much smaller drop in entries - 9.4% - over the same period.

Campaign for the Arts director Jack Gamble says that arts subjects have been "systematically underfunded and undervalued" in recent years, particularly in English state secondary schools.

"That’s bad for young people - especially those from less privileged backgrounds, for whom opportunities at school are even more essential - but also for the health of our entire society and culture," he said.

Vanessa Clarke
Education reporter

Image source, BBC News

“It's been fantastic, favourite day of the year,” says Zoe Lewis, principal and chief exec of Middlesbrough College.

It’s been a really successful day at her college, she says, with students achieving their “best results yet” across A-Levels, T-Levels, apprenticeships and vocational programmes.

Digital, construction, engineering, health and social care are key subjects at the college, Zoe says - which she believes will set students up for “great jobs and great careers” in “priority sectors”.

But, it's a different picture in other parts of the region. Her college is in the north-east of England, which has seen the lowest proportion of students receiving As or A*s in A-Levels this year.

Zoe says she thinks this regional trend is “probably to do with the impact of poverty”. Attendance can be a big issue and barrier to education, she says.

So, Middlesbrough College has invested heavily in financial support and welfare services like counselling, as well as classroom support for students with Send.

“This is making a difference - as our attendance rates are very, very high, higher than most schools, which is unusual,” Zoe says. The college has also invested in digital support for its students, after finding out that 700 of their students didn’t have access to digital devices at all at home.

“That makes a huge difference if you’re typing an assignment, if you’re preparing for an exam,” she adds. “I think anything you can do to inhibit the impact of poverty on access to education is going to help.”

For those heading to university, you might be wondering about clearing. It's open, and you can now add your choice on Ucas.

Here's some top tips to get the best results, according to Ucas:

Take your time: while you should be calling universities asap, don't rush into any decision just because you feel time pressure. Weigh up your options first.

Check with uni: this is why there's phone lines. Discuss your application thoroughly, and make sure they can accept you before you make it your choice.

Research: take a look at your options, whether that's different courses or universities, so you can find the right fit for you.

Patience: it's a busy day for the call handlers. Be ready to wait for a bit if the lines are preoccupied, and ensure you have all your details to hand for when you do get through to make it go smoothly.

Relax: okay - easier said that done - but it won't help things if you're stressed. Remember, there's lots of places available.

University isn’t for everyone. It's dominating a lot of the conversation today since it's a popular next step, but it's important to remember there are lots of routes you can take with your exam results.

Apprenticeships are one option. This is paid employment, where your employer trains you in a certain industry and covers the cost of that training. It can be useful to go straight to work and learn in a career-based environment.

You could also go straight into full-time employment. This has the benefits of earning your own money immediately and gaining work experience from a young age.

Taking gap year is also on the cards - that way you can take some more time to decide what to do next, and use it to travel, work or try something different.

What happens if I fail, don’t meet the grades, or do badly?

Not getting the grades you were expecting can be disappointing, but it’s important to remember that there are plenty of options available, like Ucas clearing, alternative courses, or even exploring different career paths that might be a better fit.

If I resit my exams, do I have to wait for next year? Or can I resit later this year?

Resits will take place in line with A-level exams, so prepare to take resits next summer, around May or June.

Have grade boundaries changed?

Grade boundaries are adjusted annually to match the difficulty of that year's paper, ensuring that achieving a particular grade remains fair and consistent over time.

If we don’t get our firm choice, is it worth ringing the university and asking anyway?

Yes, it is worth phoning the university as it may have flexibility. Make sure to have all your details with you including your grades and Ucas details. Have a pen and paper ready and maybe a second set of ears to listen to the information.

Hazel Shearing
Education correspondent

Private schools have a slightly lower proportion of A* and A grades this year, while top grades for state school entries have risen.

The independent sector still has a substantial lead - 48.5% of private school entries were marked at A* or A this year, compared with 25.4% of state-funded entries.

But that gap has narrowed by 0.8 percentage points compared with last year. It's more or less back to where it was in 2023.

Private schools have been in the headlines this year, after the government introduced VAT on fees in January.

The Independent Schools Council said fees were 22% higher in January 2025 than they had been in January 2024 – and backed families in a legal challenge over the policy, which was dismissed this summer.

Barristers for the government said the aim was to raise standards in state schools by making private school parents pay “their fair share”.