Thousands of students across the country will receive their A-level results on Thursday, August 13 2026. Pupils in Merseyside and beyond will find out what they have achieved after years of hard work.
The ECHO will be covering results day with reporters stationed in schools across Merseyside to celebrate the success of city region students.
What are A-levels?
A-levels, or Advanced Level qualifications, are subject-based qualifications typically taken by students after completing their GCSEs. They are traditionally studied over two years and assessed through exams, although some subjects may include coursework. A-levels are a common requirement for university entrance, and they are also valued by employers. There are over 40 different A-level subjects to choose from, including traditional academic subjects and some specialised subjects.
Key dates and grading
This year, A-level exams were sat between Monday May 11 and Tuesday June 23 2026, with a national contingency day on June 24. Students can usually pick up results in person anytime from 8am, or may receive an email, but arrangements can vary by school or college.
Each exam is graded on a scale from A* to E. Grade boundaries show the minimum number of marks needed for each grade. They are decided by examiners every year and published on results day.
UCAS tips for results day
Results day can be stressful, and UCAS has shared tips to help students prepare. Students should have their application sign-in details for UCAS handy and update contact details if needed. Most results are sent to UCAS and chosen universities or colleges automatically.
A video shared by UCAS said: "At 8am you will receive an email from UCAS updating you on the status of your offer." The UCAS hub will show whether a student has been accepted into their firm or insurance choice, whether there have been changes to the offer, or if they are in clearing.
If applying through clearing, students can start calling universities as soon as they have results. From 1pm on results day, they can add a chosen clearing offer to their UCAS hub. Clearing is open for a number of weeks, so there is time to review options.
Another video shared on the official UCAS Instagram account advised: "Even if you're confident going into results day, spending a little time researching alternatives means you'll have options if things do change so here's how to prepare." It suggested reconnecting with firm choice universities, making a shortlist of courses, and revisiting original five choices as a backup plan.
Clearing is how universities and colleges fill any places they still have on their courses. Clearing is open from July 2 until October 19 2026.
