Exam Results Day...

Waiting for exam results can be really worrying and It’s natural to feel this way.

It’s easy for us to tell you not to worry, but not so easy for you to just stop doing it. There is nothing you can do to change the outcome of your results now and whether you worry or not they will be the same.

So be proud of what you did... You can only ever try your best.

As results day approaches having a plan in place for whatever happens may help make you feel more in control and calmer. 

Even though exams can sometimes feel really big, it's important to remember that your exam results will not determine what happens for the rest of your life. They are important but there are always other options available if things don’t go as well as planned. 

 

And don't forget some of the most successful people who've made a huge difference in the world didn't get the grades either... whether in science or sport, inventors or influencers, pop stars or peace prize winners... 

 

Worrying about results

If you're upset, disappointed, or worried about your future, it can really help to talk to someone you trust about how you're feeling. If you're not sure who to talk to Childline have got you covered. 

Take as much time as you need to think about what you’d like to do. There is no need to rush into a decision straightaway.

Feeling unhappy with your results?

 

It can be hard to feel satisfied if you haven't got the results you wanted, even if you’ve done well. Whatever you're feeling, you're not alone.

If you’re not happy about your results or you think you should have been given a better grade, there are things you can do:

  • ask someone you trust what they think about your results
  • speak to a teacher about whether you can get a remark on an exam
  • look at each of your results and think about what you did well and what you could learn from
  • focus on your own achievements, everyone is different and exams are only a small part of what makes you who you are...

What if I don’t get the exam results I need?

First things first - don’t panic. It happens.

 

Take a deep breath and start talking. Speak to your teacher, careers adviser, and whoever else you can to find out what you should do next. 

If you needed to acheive certain grades to get into sixth form or college, check with them to see if they’ll still accept you.

You might have to take resits, which can be done as early as November.

Alternatively, you can apply to other further education colleges and schools or for an apprenticeship or vocational course. 

Intermediate and advanced apprenticeships are available to school/college leavers with GCSEs - and if your results weren't what you were hoping for, you may be able to work towards functional skills in numeracy and literacy while doing your apprenticeship.

For help and advice following results day check out the information on the Youth Employment website or the National Careers Helpline

But whatever you do...

...find out as much as you can before making a decision and remember, this is not the end of the world. Remember you can get help with any decisions you need to make.

There are many extremely successful people out there who didn’t get the grades they were hoping for either. There are lots of paths to success so use your disappointment as motivation to find yours.

BTW

You may want to stay off social media for the day. Chances are there’ll be lots of excited chatter about results that won’t make you feel any better. 

If you got the exam results you wanted...

YAY! Massive well done to you and make sure you celebrate your tremendous achievement. 

But be aware that others around you may not have had such happy news – so tone down the gloating, shrieking and general madness until you know that there’s no one nearby who’s upset by their results.

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