As the clock strikes 8am on Thursday, August 14, 2025, a wave of anticipation will sweep across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Around 250,000 sixth-formers will discover their A-level results, marking the culmination of months—if not years—of hard work, revision, and, for many, sleepless nights. For these students, results day is more than just a date on the calendar: it’s a defining moment that could shape their next steps, whether that’s heading off to university, starting a career, or exploring new opportunities.
But behind the scenes, a question lingers in the minds of many students: do teachers see A-level results before students do? According to The Tab, the answer is, in most cases, yes. Teachers typically receive results from the exams officer at their schools or colleges ahead of results day. This early access isn’t about keeping secrets or plotting behind students’ backs; rather, it’s so schools can be ready to support students—whether they’re celebrating or need guidance through disappointment. However, not every teacher sees the results early; in some instances, teachers only learn the outcomes on the morning of results day alongside their students. The COVID-19 pandemic years of 2020 and 2021 were exceptions, with teachers knowing results in advance due to the cancellation of exams and the use of teacher-assessed grades.
This year, the process returns to its familiar rhythm. Students can access their grades from 8am, either by turning up at their school—often with nervous parents in tow—or by checking online, depending on what their institution offers. For those unable to attend in person, there’s the option to nominate someone else to collect their results, provided they bring a permission slip and a signed letter of consent. And for the truly anxious, schools generally stay open until 11am, so there’s no need to panic if the morning gets off to a slow start. Some students even arrange to receive their results by post, though this requires advance planning.
Alongside A-levels, results for T-levels, BTec Nationals, Cambridge Technicals, and AS-levels in Wales and Northern Ireland are also released on August 14. T-levels, now in their fourth year in England, combine classroom learning with industry placements, giving students a taste of real-world experience. As BBC News reports, students are awarded a pass, merit, distinction, or distinction after two years of study. Freya, a T-level student at Middlesbrough College, told the BBC, "It gives you a hands-on experience in what sort of things you're going to do in a real-world scenario, rather than just learning from a book." She hopes her T-level in health will pave the way to a career as a midwife, starting with a full-time job in an NHS maternity department.
For those aiming for university, the stakes are high. This year, according to Dr Jo Saxton, chief executive of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas), a record number of 18-year-olds are predicted to get into their first-choice university. Dr Saxton noted that universities are especially keen to enroll UK undergraduates, as uncertainties around international student numbers make domestic students a source of stability for financial planning. She also pointed out that some universities may accept students who narrowly miss the conditions of their offer. "They could quite possibly accept students who did not meet the conditions of their offer," Dr Saxton said.
But the path to these results has not been straightforward. This year’s cohort of Year 13 students experienced significant disruption during their earlier education. They were in Year 8 and Year 9 during the national lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, years marked by the cancellation of exams and a sharp spike in top grades due to teacher assessments. Since then, there’s been a national push to return grades to pre-pandemic standards. In England, the 2023 GCSEs marked the final stage of this process, resulting in lower grades and a drop in the number of students qualifying for A-levels. According to the BBC, A-level entries in England fell from 825,355 in 2024 to 821,875 this year, even though England saw a record 825,390 A-level entries submitted to exam boards this summer. (The slight discrepancy in numbers reflects provisional versus final data and the inclusion of resits and private candidates.)
The impact of grade deflation is significant. Dr Saxton emphasized that this cohort’s lower GCSE results should be considered by universities during admissions. Last year, 27.8% of all A-level grades were marked at A or A, a slight increase from 27.2% in 2023 and notably higher than the 25.4% seen in 2019. This year, the proportion of top grades is expected to be broadly similar to 2024, with less focus on comparisons to 2019 and more on year-to-year trends now that grading has stabilized post-pandemic.
For students in Scotland, results day came earlier: National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher exam results were published on August 5, with pass rates rising across the board. Meanwhile, students in Wales and Northern Ireland will receive their A-level results on the same day as those in England, though their grades are administered separately.
Once results are in hand, students can check the Ucas portal to see if they’ve secured a place at their chosen university. However, as The Telegraph explains, universities may take up to 24 hours to confirm offers, so a delay isn’t necessarily cause for alarm. For those who don’t get their first choice, clearing is available—allowing students to apply for courses with available places. Clearing opens at 1pm on results day and runs until October 20, providing a vital safety net for students whose plans may have changed or who didn’t receive any offers.
Understanding the grading system is crucial. Each A-level grade translates to a specific number of Ucas points: A* is worth 56, A is 48, B is 40, C is 32, D is 24, and E is 16. These points add up to determine eligibility for university courses. For those disappointed with their grades, retakes are possible. Students can resit exams at school, college, or as private candidates, though fees range from £175 to as much as £9,000 per subject, depending on the route chosen. Resits typically take place the following May or June, aligning with the regular exam schedule.
Grade boundaries—the minimum marks needed for each grade—are set by senior examiners and published on results day. These boundaries vary each year, reflecting the relative difficulty of the exams. If a student is just one mark shy of the next grade, it may be worth discussing a possible remark with their school.
Finally, students heading to university this year will face higher costs. Tuition fees in England and Wales have risen to £9,535 for undergraduate courses, and maintenance loans have increased to help with living expenses. As always, the transition to higher education brings both excitement and anxiety, but for many, results day is the first step on a new and promising path.
For students, parents, and teachers alike, August 14 is a day charged with emotion—one that brings both the thrill of achievement and the challenge of new beginnings.
