After years of studying hard, scribbling revision notes and last minute swotting, GCSE results day is on the horizon.

The Association of Colleges (AoC) has offered top tips to nervous students and their parents awaiting results on Thursday (August 20).

  1. Confirm your place: Once you’ve received those all-important results make sure you contact the college or training provider to confirm your place.
  2. Seek out advice: If you haven’t quite got the grades you wanted, don’t panic. Talk to your school or local college and ask for advice about all the options out there.
  3. Consider all the options: At college you could take a technical or professional qualification which may lead directly to the career you are interested in. Colleges offer BTECs, NVQs, City and Guilds and also A Levels.
  4. Research apprenticeships: Apprenticeships are a great way to earn and learn. Colleges can help you find the right one for you and you can search for apprenticeships here. 
  5. GCSE English and maths: If you didn’t achieve a grade C or above in GCSE English and maths you will have the opportunity to re-take them alongside any other qualifications you do. Colleges will be able to support you through this.
  6. Don’t get disheartened. Whether you have received the grades you wanted or not, there is something out there that is right for you. Don’t panic, look at all your options, do your research and get as much advice as you can.

News Shopper: Harwich and Manningtree: GCSE results are in!

Previous GCSE students open their results

Supporting children through exams can also be very stressful for parents and carers.

The AoC have also offered some additional tips to help those waiting anxiously on the side-lines:

  • Consider what might suit your son or daughter best: A Levels are one option, but at college they could take a technical or professional qualification which may lead directly to the career they are interested in. Colleges offer BTECs, NVQs, City and Guilds and also A Levels. You can find more information here. 
  • Don’t let your son or daughter get disheartened: whether they have received the grades they wanted or not, there is something out there that is right for them. Try not to let your vision for their success cloud your judgement.

News Shopper: nower hill gcse.jpg

For everybody involved understanding the language surrounding those all-important next steps can be confusing. This guide may help:

Levels:

  • Entry level – suitable for students who have gained no GCSEs
  • Level 1 – equivalent to at least four GCSEs below grade C
  • Level 2 – equivalent to at least four GCSEs at grade C or above
  • Level 3 – equivalent to two to three A Levels

16-18 Study programmes include:

  • A vocational qualification
  • Employability skills, such as work experience, CV writing, preparation for interviews
  • Maths and English (if you do not have a grade C or above in these subjects)