Bethan Lewis
BBC Wales Family & Education Correspondent

As Hazel says, the measures in place to support students and the approach to grade boundaries have varied across Wales, Northern Ireland and England.

The exams system in Wales was originally supposed to get back to normal this year, but it was decided that it would mean too big a drop from results in 2022.

The fact that AS-level exams taken at the end of Year 12 count 40% towards the final A-level is one reason why grade boundaries aren't too different to last year, according to the Welsh exams regulator.

They argue there is no evidence that universities or employers are worried about this different approach compared to England.

The current plan is to drop the extra measures next year and get back to the pre-Covid system.

Was this year fair to students in England?published at 12:32 British Summer Time 17 August 2023

12:32 BST 17 August 2023

Hazel Shearing
Education correspondent

Ofqual, England’s exams regulator, says there was "protection built into the grading process" this year so that students should have achieved the grades they would have done if the pandemic had not happened - even if they did not perform as well in their exams.

Some Covid measures also remained in place in England for this year's exams. A-levels were spaced apart more than they were before the pandemic, allowing for rest and revision.

But, unlike in the rest of the UK, A-level students in England were not given advance information about the topics on which they would be tested.

The sharper fall in top grades in England this year has raised questions of whether this year has been fair to students in England.

The Higher Education Policy Institute said this week that “England has probably got it wrong” by trying to get back to normal “too quickly”.

Jo Saxton, the head of Ofqual, told the BBC that students in England would not be disadvantaged because universities had been pre-warned that different nations were taking different approaches.

The Association of School and College Leaders has said the government must make employers aware that different year groups have been graded differently.

Image source, Getty Images

Results day can be really stressful and it’s important to know you’re not alone today.

BBC Radio 1 and Life Hacks presenter Katie Thistleton has some tips to help you cope with the pressure that comes with results day.

Be organised

Make a list of things you need to do. It'll help you with any next steps you need to take now that you've got your results - whether that's clearing, applying for a job, or securing uni accommodation.

Don’t bottle up your feelings

Talk to your mum, your best friend, your dog! Be around the company that make you feel calm and comfortable when receiving your results. This is really important for your mental health.

Don’t compare yourself

You’re not in competition with anyone but yourself. Only judge your success by your own standards.

Don’t feel pressured to share with all your classmates straight away, or post on social media.

Remember how hard you have worked for your own results and even if your friends have achieved higher, that doesn’t make your achievement any less impressive. Be proud of yourself for getting this far.

Navtej Johal
Reporting from Ucas headquarters, in Cheltenham

We've had a response from Ucas to some of the comments Gary Neville made on BBC Breakfast earlier.

The football pundit, who also helped to set up the University Academy 92, said the current exam system needs "ripping up" in favour of a greater focus on coursework.

Speaking to me a short while ago, Ucas chief executive Clare Marchant said their surveys of young people show that “they see exams as the best method of external assessment”.

She adds she has “a difference of opinion” with the former footballer.

Hazel Shearing
Education correspondent

Overall, 26.5% of A-level grades in England were given an A or an A* this year.

But the proportion varies depending on where you live.

In London and South East it was more than 30%, but in the North East it was 22%.

The north-south divide existed before the pandemic, but regional differences grew after Covid. Now, London and the South East have a higher proportion of top grades than they did in 2019.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said students getting A-level and other Level 3 results today faced "unprecedented circumstances" because of Covid disruption.

Most of them were in Year 10 when the pandemic hit. Their GCSEs were cancelled in 2021, so this is the first time they have sat formal exams.

The disruption did not affect everyone equally. Students' experiences varied depending on how different regions were affected by the pandemic, and how schools and families coped during closures.

MPs have warned it could take a decade for the gap between disadvantaged pupils and others to narrow to what it was before Covid.

Rahib Khan
Education reporter

We just heard from Lara, who has secured a place at uni through clearing - something thousands of students are hoping to do today.

Kainath Malik, 20, used clearing to get on to a pharmacy course, after deciding last-minute that she wanted to switch from studying biomedical sciences.

The second-year Kingston University student now works for her university clearing hotline - and has shared her top tips on how to navigate what can be a daunting process.

1. Research - have a rough idea of what course you want to do before calling will save you time
2. Don't panic - there are options out there for everyone. Even if you don't end up going to university this year you can take the year out and gain invaluable work experience
3. Cast your net out – all universities have different entry requirements, so I recommend calling as many as possible to get on to the course you want

Rahib Khan
Education reporter

We've caught up with Lara - a student who we spoke to earlier this morning.

She's just got off the phone to clearing and has secured a place at university to study computer science.

"I didn't achieve the grades I wanted and I was initially very disappointed this morning," she says.

"Luckily my parents and my teacher were on hand to offer me support and we got on the phone to clearing immediately."

Lara wants everyone to remain positive regardless of their circumstance.

"Everyone should be proud of what they have achieved and remember, if you don't get the grades you want there are still so many options available to you."

Clearing, external matches students who want to go to university with courses that still have spaces, across the UK.You can use it if you:

• Fail to achieve the grades for your conditional offer
• Don’t receive any offers you want to accept
• Decide after 30 June to apply for university

Each year, more than 70,000 students find university places through clearing. It is open now and doesn’t close until October.

Last week the head of Ucas said students will have to be "quick off the mark" to get a place at a top university through clearing this year.

The number of 18-year-olds in the population is growing, so it could be more competitive to get a place at universities asking for the highest grades, like elite Russell Group universities.

Applications to undergraduate courses from international students are also up slightly on last year.

Image source, Getty Images

There are lots of options and routes you can take to get to where you want to go.

Many students decide to do a university course, an apprenticeship or a traineeship, others will go straight into work.

If you were hoping to go to university, and only just missed out on the grades you needed, the admissions office might accept you anyway, or offer you a place on a different course.

Clearing, external is also an option.

If you aren’t sure what your next steps are, don’t worry.

You could consider taking a gap year to give you more time to decide on your future path.

No matter what your results are today - well done - you have survived a pandemic, sat your exams and come out the other side.

Kirsty Grant
Reporting from The de Ferrers Academy, Staffordshire

Image source, Kirsty Grant / BBC

Amelia has just found out she's got into the University of Oxford to study history and politics.

But her celebration plans so far only extend to a McDonald's breakfast.

"I need a McMuffin, that’s all I’ve thought about so far," she says.

She rocked up at The de Ferrers Academy in Burton, Staffordshire, 90 minutes after results were first released, saying "whatever happens, happens".

And it's not her first results day rodeo - she resat her history A-level after getting a B last year, but finally landed an A this time around.

Now she says she's "excited, relieved and ready for the next step".

Image source, .

At 14:00 BST we will be putting questions to our panel of experts.What would you like to ask?

You can get in touch in the following ways:

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In some cases a selection of your comments and questions will be published, displaying your name and location as you provide it unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published.

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If you’re disappointed with your results and feel you did better than your grades show, talk to your teachers or tutors.

Your school or college can contact the exam board on your behalf and ask for your marks to be reviewed.

If you’re still not happy, they can appeal, and after that, you can always request a review from the exams regulator, external in your nation, external.

In Scotland you can appeal directly to the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA, external) for free but talk to your school or college first.

You can also resit some or all of your exams. Talk to your school or college if you want to explore this route.

• Read our full guide on exam results day

All that stress, relief and nervous energy has probably made you quite hungry.

Thankfully there are perks to results day, as some restaurants offer free food and special deals for students who show their results email or letter today.

Other places to eat are available but here are some of your options:

• Frankie & Benny's offers free margherita pizza and soda
• Nando’s is giving away a free quarter of a chicken or starter
• Bill’s says there’s a free dessert available
• Students can also get 30% off their bill at Bella Italia or 23% off at TGI Fridays

Make sure you read the terms and conditions beforehand because some deals require spending a minimum amount, joining a loyalty programme or showing your student ID.

Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has sent her congratulations to all students receiving results today.

She said that if the Labour party were in government they would "shatter the class ceiling in Britain that holds young people back".

"Young people have achieved these results despite the challenges they've faced," she said in a statement.

Rachel Stonehouse
Reporting from New College Swindon

It isn't just A-level results being nervously opened today, there's also BTecs and T-levels.

T-levels were introduced in the 2020 academic year so this is the second year students have collected their results.

They're two-year courses equivalent to about three A-levels, where 20% of time is spent on an industry placement.

"I was really nervous," says Sameerah Rahman, at New College Swindon.

"I worked really hard for this."

Although the 19-year-old had a sleepless night, she's got the results she needs to go on to her apprenticeship with Thames Valley Police.

"I start that in a couple of weeks," she tells BBC Newsbeat.

This is just the second year T-level results are being awarded, and the first time results are based entirely on formal assessments. Last year, results were based partially on teacher-assessed grades.

Each course lasts two years and is roughly equivalent to three A-levels, but combines classroom learning with work placements - which is roughly 20% of the course.

Here's this year's T-level figures:

• 3,448 students are receiving overall results
• The overall pass rate is 90.5% (3,119)
• 69.2% (2,387) achieved a merit or above
• 98.7% of learners achieved an ‘E’ or above in their core component
• 94.9% of learners achieved a pass or above in the occupational specialism

Image source, .

The disruption of Covid to students' education means many will not have sat exams before.

Exams were cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic, and results were based on teacher assessments instead.

Watch this video to hear how students at a college in Nelson, Lancashire got on now they've had to experience exams for the first time.

Gareth Bryer
Reporting from South East Wales

Image source, Gareth Bryer / BBC

Some students at Coleg Gwent’s Ebbw Vale campus in South East Wales are hearing the good news from Ucas that they've got in - but the college system is struggling to keep up.

Shakira from Rassau and Laura from Brynmawr are waiting to hear how they’ve done in their health and social care BTecs.

Laura has already had an email from Ucas congratulating her on getting her place at the University of South Wales - even though she doesn’t know her specific grades yet.

A lot of students elsewhere have also been asking whether the Ucas website itself is down - there was a lot of traffic at around 08:00 BST as results went out, which might have slowed it down, but there's no evidence so far that the site has crashed.

Hazel Shearing
Education correspondent

There are a few things to consider when looking at the national differences in today’s results.

Unlike in England, grades were not due to return to 2019 levels in Wales and Northern Ireland this year.

In Wales and Northern Ireland, students sit AS levels the year before their A-levels. These count towards their final A-level grades and were sat when marking was more lenient last year.

In some ways, it's simpler for Wales and Northern Ireland to have a phased return to pre-pandemic grading - rather than reverting back this year like England has - because they each have a single exam board. There are multiple exam boards in England.

It's worth bearing in mind that Wales and Northern Ireland had a higher percentage of top A-level grades than England before the pandemic - 26.5% and 29.4% respectively in 2019, compared to 25.2% in England.